Harper signs off with positive thoughts

Roger Harper signed off from coaching Kenya with some positive messages about the state of the game in the country, despite recent poor results.

Harper, who took charge in January 2006, steered the side to success in the World Cricket League but turned down the offer of an extension to his contract as he wanted to return home to his family in Guyana.

"We have had our high points and also times when we could have done better," he told reporters in Nairobi. "I would like to think that we've made some positive steps as a team and some of the young players have grown, and even though I wouldn't be here, I look forward on them to building on the foundation that has been laid and even going to greater things."

Harper took over a side which was rusty from three years of inactivity and which was far from united. Through example and tough training regimes, he built a strong unit.

"Beating the top-ranked teams is never going to be easy," he said. "Kenya did well in winning the Associate tournament but we were a little of bit of disappointment in our performance at the World Cup and the Twenty20. The players did not believe on themselves when it came to playing against the big teams."

Cricket Kenya is advertising for replacements and hopes to start conducting interviews early next month.