Emotional Amonde on how family welfare made him drop Kenya Sevens for KCB

KCB Rugby head coach Andrew Amonde has revealed that securing his family's welfare made it an easy decision to remain with the Bankers after his exit from the Kenya Sevens technical bench.Download our Mozzart Sport app for more newsAmonde confirmed that he is no longer part of Shujaa's coaching setup after receiving a termination letter dated August 9, ending his Kenya Sevens stint under head coach Kevin Wambua.While the contents of the letter remain confidential, reliable sources indicate that the Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) invoked a clause in his contract barring national team coaches from simultaneously holding coaching roles at club level. Shujaa centre relishes chance to test himself alongside new teammates at Ultimate 7sAmonde had been serving as KCB RFC head coach while also working with Shujaa alongside Wambua and assistant coach Louis Kisia.The former Kenya Sevens captain admitted the news hit him hard, revealing that he broke down in tears after receiving the letter before finding comfort in the support he received from members of the rugby fraternity."From my playing time, Kenya Sevens is a home and family. It was sad that day that I got the letter; I teared, I cried, I spoke to people," Amonde said.##NAJAVA_MECA_9907460##"The good thing is that rugby is a family. The guys have spoken to me; they have encouraged me. I am still part of rugby; I will still be helping at the club, I am still mentoring guys; I am still here, and if an opportunity comes, I will take it. But for now, I am focusing on KCB,” he continued.Despite the emotional attachment he has with the national team, Amonde insisted there was little hesitation when it came to deciding where his future lay.The KCB boss pointed to the club's comprehensive welfare package, which includes medical insurance and educational support for his children, saying it offered security that he could not overlook.KCB focused on quick rebound after bitter Driftwood 7s weekend"It did not even take me time to make a decision. I look at my welfare and my family's welfare. I am a family man; my kids have insurance and scholarships. That was an easy decision.I know Kenya Rugby cannot cover most of the things that KCB does, so it was easy for me. I just told them that if they felt that it was a burden for me to be at the national team and be at KCB, then I would rather be at KCB,” he said.Amonde's departure comes only weeks after he attained his World Rugby Level II coaching certification, further strengthening his credentials as one of the country's rising coaches.##NAJAVA_MECA_9907485##However, his exit has sparked debate within Kenyan rugby circles over what many perceive as selective enforcement of the union's dual-role policy.Kabras Sugar head coach Carlos Katywa, for instance, continues to serve as an assistant coach with the Kenya Simbas and recently formed part of the technical bench for the Kenya Under-20 side. Previous national team coaches have also retained club coaching positions or continued with their professional careers while serving the national teams.How Kilwake balances KCB playing duties with JKUAT Cougars coaching roleAmonde's appointment had been widely viewed as a major boost for Shujaa, with his wealth of playing experience and coaching expertise complementing Wambua and Kisia. His addition also reflected a growing trend among leading World Rugby Sevens nations, which increasingly rely on expanded technical teams with specialist coaches.Traditionally, Kenya's sevens setup has operated with a lean technical staff comprising a head coach, a strength and conditioning coach and a team manager. ##NAJAVA_MECA_9907511##By comparison, the United States, which recently secured promotion back to the HSBC SVNS top tier, operated with a significantly larger backroom team.Had Amonde chosen to challenge his dismissal, there is recent legal precedent in Kenyan sport. Former Shabana FC coach Sammy 'Pamzo' Omollo was awarded Ksh2.4 million in damages after a court ruled that his dismissal by the club had been procedurally unfair.Even so, Amonde has opted against pursuing legal action, instead choosing to quietly move on from the Kenya Sevens setup.