Uganda rugby hires Kenya coach for World Series qualifiers

Source: Xinhua| 2019-01-29 03:01:42|Editor: yan
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NAIROBI, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- Uganda rugby has signed up former Kenya sevens coach Geoffrey Kimani to help their national team qualify for the World Series.

Kimani has a clear-cut task to prepare to be fit to challenge the World Series qualification during the Hong Kong tournament in April.

"For me it's a new turf and I am honored once again in returning to Uganda in the capacity of strength and conditioning coach for the Uganda sevens for the qualification process of the 2019/2020 World Rugby Sevens Series," Kimani said here on Monday.

Kimani, who resigned from Kenya sevens team in October 2018, now returns to Cranes Sevens, where he had also served for one season in 2017. Kimani was part of the Kenya's coaching panel under head coach Innocent Simiyu.

He has also served in the same capacity for Kenya athletics team to the World Championships and the Rio Olympics.

During his tenure with rugby sevens team, Kimani helped Simiyu prepare the team that went on to score 104 points in the last season of the World Series before he declined to take up his job in October.

"Basically, it's a new country but with the same challenge. I am grateful to the Almighty and my family and the fans for their support. I must thank Uganda for believing in me," said Kimani.

Among Kimani's major highlights with the Kenya sevens team was when the team won the 2016 Singapore Sevens, their maiden victory in the World Rugby Sevens Series.

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