KCB RFC coach Oliver Mang’eni’s future uncertain after underwhelming campaign

KCB RFC head Coach Oliver Mang’eni’s future at the den hangs on the balance after finishing the 2024/2025 season without silverware.

Mang’eni, a former KCB player, fell short in both the Kenya Cup and Enterprise Cup in his debut season with the team and now uncertainty has clouded the Ruaraka-based club on whether their decorated player-cum-manager will continue at the helm.

Speaking exclusively to Citizen Digital, Mang’eni was uncertain on whether his contract, which expires at the end of June, 2025, will be renewed or not.

“I have not received any formal communication from my employer with regards to renewal or non-renewal of my contract. However, we did not have a successful rugby season at KCB this time around and if it means that some restructuring has to happen, it is not within my powers and I feel it is only fair if it's official,” said Man’geni.

“I'm not aware of any commitment or non-commitment and I feel I will have to wait because I'm still on contract till the end of June.”

The former lock says the team fell short of the expectations set out at the start of the campaign, but still believes him and the current technical bench have what it takes to lead the team to the next level and eventually bring back the glory days.

“There are so many other factors that contributed to the results we got and as a coach, I can't run away from the responsibility. It is always the responsibility of the coach to produce results and now that the results didn't come, it is justifiable for maybe KCB to say, you know, we didn't get what we wanted and maybe there's someone else who can get us what we want. It is their right,” noted the tactician.

“It's within their right to make a decision. According to me, there's an opportunity for this technical bench to take the team forward but if it's otherwise, maybe there's a reason it shouldn't, then well and good,” he added.

Mang’eni started out as a lineout’s coach at The Den before being promoted to be head coach after the departure of long-serving and the most decorated KCB head coach Curtis Olago at the end of the 2023/2024 season.