KCB rugby coach Oliver Mang’eni is keen to create a high-performance environment as the bankers eye a ninth Kenya Cup title this season.
Mang’eni, who took over the reins from long-serving coach Curtis Olago in August, believes they will see an improvement in results if they put their act together.
“The key is to have a high-performance environment like the top rugby clubs in the world. Once that happens, results will automatically come,” Mang’eni said.
The Thika-Road side has played second fiddle to Kabras for the last three seasons and the former Kenya Simbas lock admits the club did not handle the transition of older players well.
“When players like Andrew Amonde, Curtis Lilako, and Darwin Mukidza retired alongside others, we took long to replace them but right now we have started the process, and very soon, we will get back to the top, ” Mang’eni said.
So far, the bankers have won all three matches in the Kenya Cup, thrashing debutants South Coast Pirates 90-5, Kisumu 82-3, and Strathmore Leos 43-8 and the coach believes there is room for improvement from his team.
“So far, the results have been excellent but tougher tests are expected from the likes of Oilers, Blak Blad, and the champions Kabras. We know we will be tested accordingly, especially in the new year,” Mang’eni said.
The towering lock, who has five Kenya Cup titles with the club and three Enterprise Cup titles in his long-decorated career, said he is mentoring some of the young players who have come through the club.
“Apart from the regular training sessions, we are also encouraging the players with life skills and other issues which will prolong their rugby career as well as being good citizens in society,” Mang’eni said.
The bankers have a partnership deal with Western Province Rugby Club in South Africa and in March next year, the province forwards coach Rito Hlungwani will be in the country.
“Our partnership with Western Province is still on. We expect to have Rito here in March and other members of the KCB technical bench will tour French Rugby Club in Toulouse and English rugby giants Exeter Chiefs,” Mang’eni said.
The bankers will be in action in the Enterprise Cup on Saturday when they face winless Mwamba in their final game of the year.
