KCB Rugby FC has appointed former Kenya Simbas legend Oliver Mang’eni as the acting Head Coach, stepping in following the departure of the seasoned tactician Curtis Olago.
Olago, who joined KCB in 2008 as a player before transitioning to management in 2011, will leave the club at the end of August, concluding a remarkable 13-year tenure as head coach.
Mang’eni, 36, is currently serving as the lineout coach for KCB. His playing career with the bankers spanned 12 years from 2010 until he decided to retire at the end of the 2022 Kenya Cup season.
Additionally, Mang’eni played for Shujaa during the 2014-2015 season under Paul True’s leadership.
KCB RFC Patron Japheth Achola expressed confidence in Mang’eni’s capabilities, stating, “It’s a new dawn for the Club. We have complete faith in Oliver and believe his extensive experience and deep understanding of the club make him the perfect candidate to lead the team at this important time.”
Achola also extended gratitude to Olago for his service, noting, “He has been instrumental in positioning KCB Rugby as a top club in the local rugby scene and has played a pivotal role in the development of the sport in the country. We wish him all the very best in his future coaching career.”
Mang’eni’s illustrious career is marked by numerous accolades. He won the Kenya Cup five times (2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2022), the Enterprise Cup three times (2015, 2016, and 2017), and secured five floodlit titles (2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2019).
Known affectionately as “Olishe,” Mang’eni also led KCB to two consecutive National Sevens Circuit titles in the 2013/2014 and 2014/2015 seasons.
His international achievements include winning the Rugby Africa Cup in 2013 and participating in the 2014 World Cup qualifiers, where Kenya narrowly missed out on qualification.
Mang’eni was part of the team that triumphed in test matches against Hong Kong, Portugal, and Spain in the 2015/2016 season. He represented Kenya in the Repechage in France in 2018 and played in the Currie Cup Division 1 in 2022 under coach Paul Odera.
As KCB transitions under Mang’eni’s leadership, the club and its supporters look forward to a new era filled with promise and continued success on the rugby field.
