Felix Ochieng (right) hugs Commissioner for Sport, Gordon Olouch when the Sevens team returned from Hong Kong last year. PHOTO/File
NAIROBI, July 7- Kenya rugby sevens head coach, Felix ‘Toty’ Ochieng has denied widespread reports circulating Wednesday he has resigned from his post.
The tactician whose future is the subject of intense speculation informed Capital Sport he had not stepped down after news of his quitting broke online and on social media platforms.
“I have not resigned, I’m in a meeting,” the head coach briefly said when contacted to verify the reports.
Kenya Rugby Union boss, Richard Omwela, hinted last week the curtains to his tenure would be drawn to a close this week with his South African assistant, Vuyo Zangqa, widely tipped to take over.
Ochieng who succeeded another South African, Paul Treu last December after serving three years as an assistant came under scrutiny after the Kenya 7s side Shujaa finished 13th overall in the 2014/15 HSBC World Series with 46 points.
During the wretched campaign where Kenya failed to bag a top-four finish and automatic qualification for the 2016 Rio Olympics, the team only two Main Cup quarters qualification in the nine-leg tour.
However, the Olympics door have not been shut with the continental qualifiers in November where the winning team of a round robin contest between Namibia, Uganda, Tunisia and Zimbabwe will join already qualified hosts, South Africa in Brazil.
KRU’s Squads and Competitions Committee that met last week expressed doubt with Ochieng’s ability to deliver the Olympics ticket at the helm with reports suggesting they offered him to quit.
The coach declined leading to another meeting, thought to be on Wednesday, was convened where his ultimate future will be decided.
KRU boss Omwela also confirmed he was in a meeting raising further speculation that a decision on Toty’s future is imminent.
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