No song, dance for Kenya rugby team

A bouquet of flowers and promises from the Sports ministry was all the Kenya seven-a-side team received on arrival in Nairobi after playing in two legs of the International Rugby Board Sevens World Series in New Zealand and USA.

Conspicuously absent were the drumbeats, song and dance which always mark the return of other teams from a major event after conquering the world. Instead, only a handful of die-hard fans, family friends and Kenya Rugby Union Football officials braved the cold night to welcome the team back.

Barely noticeable

Collins Injera, the top try scorer in the IRB Sevens World Series was barely noticeable and only received a mention at the team’s official welcome at an airport restaurant. Injera has cored 20 tries and not 18 as posted on the IRB Sevens World Series website.

But this was perhaps the best reception the team has received in the tournaments 10-year old history. The Minister for Sport Hellen Sambili and Shakeel Shabir, the Member of Parliament for Kisumu Town East as well as the Commissioner for Sports Gordon Oluoch and Sports Secretary Wilson Lagat received the team at the Jomo Kenyatta International airport.

Sambili acknowledged the team’s good performance and promised support. She referred to the team as gallant. “We are proud of your achievements and as good ambassadors. The ultimate goal now is to win the RWC Sevens,” she said.

The Minister confirmed the Government was aware of the team’s achievements. “We will meet and see how best the team could be motivated to do better,” she added. Shabir urged that the players should be considered for awards by the State. The Minister also promised to ensure that rugby was included in the reward scheme started last year to honour achievers.

Humphrey Kayange, the team’s captain described it as the best two weeks as a player. The former Mwamba RFC captain attributed Kenya’s good performance to sheer hard work and commitment by the players, management and the KRFU.

Kayange has already switched on to the monumental task ahead. “We have no time to enjoy the success but focus on the Rugby World Cup Sevens,” he said.

On Monday, the team will meet to review the two IRB Sevens World Series tournaments before embarking on training for the RWC Sevens on Wednesday.

The players will be at Nairobi Baptist Church on Sunday for the youth service from 11 am and later visit Benjamin Ayimba’s mother who has organised a reception for the players and officials.

Ayimba remained humble about the team’s achievements. “We thank God to have achieved our target of 18 points without injuries,” he said.