This archive report was first published on 22 November 2019.
Kenya's rugby scene has witnessed a significant downturn for Harlequins, a club that has won eight Kenya Cup titles. The last time they claimed the prestigious title was in 2012, with back-to-back victories in 2010 and 2011.
However, the current season has been a struggle for the club, with a poor start to the Kenya Cup league. They are currently placed at the bottom of the 12-team league, having lost all four of their matches and earning only two bonus points.
Quins' losses include a 26-13 defeat to Homeboyz and a 32-20 loss to defending champions Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) away. They also succumbed to newcomers Western Bulls 21-19 at home and Nakuru 25-18 away.
Despite their struggles, head coach Dominique Habimana remains optimistic about the team's chances of turning their fortunes around. Habimana, who returned to Quins for this season, believes that the team will rediscover its winning groove and avoid relegation.
However, Quins chairman Michael Wanjala downplayed the politics between the club and the Kenya Rugby Union (KRU), attributing the team's poor performance to the players' adaptation to new methods introduced by Habimana.
Wanjala also noted that the club is facing cash flow issues, but is confident that they will be able to secure sponsorship deals to alleviate the problem.
The team's next match is against sixth-placed Menengai Oilers at the RFUEA ground on Saturday, which will mark the end of the first phase of the Pool 'A' and 'B' matches before the teams meet their opponents from different pools.
