Why Paul Murunga is under no pressure despite Kenya Harlequin’s poor run

Kenya Harlequin head coach Paul Murunga is not under pressure despite a three-match losing streak that has seen them drop to fifth in the Kenya Cup standings.

The Quins have lost three consecutive matches to Nondies (26-24), Menengai Oilers (42-26), and KCB Rugby (38-16).

They still have an uphill task as they face Enterprise and Kenya Cup defending champions Kabras Sugar RFC in the upcoming cup quarterfinal match and Kenya Cup match week eight respectively.

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Pau cited the lack of title defence pressure and relegation battles as key reasons for his composure.

Quins currently sit fifth on the log with 22 points, far behind leaders Kabras RFC, who have amassed 35 points. While their form has been inconsistent, Murunga insists there is no cause for alarm.

“I am not under any pressure. The guys that are under pressure are those defending their title and those battling relegation. We are in the middle of the table, and it can only get better,” he told Mozzart Sport.

Their latest outing saw them struggle in a 19-6 first-half deficit against KCB, a game they ultimately found tough to turn around. Murunga admitted that conditioning played a significant role in the defeat.

“The first half was a bit tight. We were behind 19-6, and it was an easy game to chase. But KCB were well-conditioned to chase and play better than us. I think what did not work for us is conditioning,” he explained.

With crucial fixtures ahead, the former Kenya Sevens tactician is focusing on strategic player utilization to secure good results. However, he acknowledged that conditioning is not something that can be fixed mid-season.

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“Conditioning is a long-term thing that we cannot fix mid-season. It is an off-season thing, so now it is more of maintenance to make sure we will play these games and head to the playoffs,” he averred.

Despite their struggles, Pau remained optimistic about the squad’s potential.

“We have good players—young and talented. What we need to do is just condition more," he concluded.

While they may not be in the title race yet, Pau’s sentiments suggest they are building for a stronger finish to the season.

Last season, they reached the quarterfinal stage but were eliminated by Nondies RFC. During the 2022/23 Kenya Cup season, the team reached the semifinal but went down to defending champions Kabras RFC.