How Menengai Oilers keep team afloat when players join National team

It is every coach’s dream to train players so well that they advance to the highest level possible.

For local rugby players, joining the national team is often considered the pinnacle of achievement.

But what happens when a majority of a team’s elite players receive a national selection or are called up to a training camp?

Mtaa Wangu caught up with Menengai Oilers head coach Gibson Weru, alias Gibu, to discuss what happens in such instances.

Gibu begins by explaining that it’s a double-edged sword when most of his elite players receive a call-up while the season is still ongoing.

“First, you are happy because it’s evident you are doing a great job with your players when they get selected for the national team. However, on the flip side, it becomes a worrying situation when this happens while your season is still in progress. If it happens during the off-season, you can release your players without any concerns,” Gibu says.

As a contingency plan, Gibu says the club is intentional about having at least three to four players in each position at the start of the year.

Should one player receive a national call-up, the others can step up and cover the gap.

“We do this not only to accommodate talent scouted from our team, but also to safeguard ourselves in case of injuries. This ensures we have an optimal team for both the 15s and 7s to compete in the highly competitive Kenyan league,” he explains.

The only challenge, he notes, is when multiple players in the same position receive a national call-up, considering recruitment is not allowed mid-season.

Gibu is also quick to point out that not all players who receive a call-up transition to the national team. He says some players decline the offer depending on which side they have been selected for.

“There are players who receive call-ups for the 15s side when their stronghold is the 7s. More often than not, they tend to decline the offer.”

Additionally, whenever players who receive a call-up to the national team have a break, they can bounce back to their clubs and play if they do not have any matches at hand.

“The elite players from the team blend seamlessly with the rest. In most cases, their positions are filled by those playing in the second-tier Eric Shirley Shield (ESS) tournament, ensuring continuity. However, whenever they get a chance, they can re-join the squad, depending on their form, and support their teammates,” he remarks, noting that their playing time is at the coach’s discretion.

11 players from Oilers received the alignment call up to the Kenya Simbas team.

The 11 held a joint training camp with five other players from Nakuru RFC (Wanyore), a move that Gibu applauded, saying it did not disrupt the clubs’ preparations for the playoffs.