Nairobi, Kenya, August 2, 2024 – KCB Rugby Football Club has named former Kenya Simbas legend Oliver Mang’eni as the acting head coach following the departure of Curtis Olago, who leaves the club after a distinguished 13-year tenure as head coach.
Olago, who joined KCB in 2008 as a player and transitioned to management in 2011, will be leaving the club at the end of August upon the expiry of his contract. His departure marks the end of a significant era for KCB, during which he played a pivotal role in establishing the team as a powerhouse in Kenyan rugby.
Oliver Mang’eni, 36, currently serving as the lineout coach for KCB, will step into the role of acting head coach. Mang’eni played for KCB for 12 years, from 2010 until his retirement at the end of the 2022 Kenya Cup season. He also represented Kenya’s national sevens team, Shujaa, during the 2014/2015 season under coach Paul Treu.
KCB RFC Patron Japheth Achola expressed confidence in Mang’eni’s capabilities. “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 acknowledged Olago’s contributions, saying, “We thank Olago for his service to the Club. 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 impressive playing career includes winning the Kenya Cup five times (2015, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2022), the Enterprise Cup three times (2015, 2016, and 2017), and five floodlit titles (2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2019). Known as “Olishe,” he also secured two consecutive National Sevens Circuit titles in the 2013/2014 and 2014/2015 seasons, the Rugby Africa Cup in 2013, and was part of the squad that narrowly missed World Cup qualification in 2014 on point difference.
Additionally, Mang’eni played in test matches against Hong Kong, Portugal, and Spain during the 2015/2016 season, represented Kenya in the Repechage in France in 2018, and competed in the Currie Cup Division 1 in 2022 under coach Paul Odera.
As Mang’eni steps into his new role, the KCB Rugby community looks forward to a new chapter of success and continued excellence under his leadership.
