Kenya rugby team is pride of Africa

It took the national Sevens team’s exceptional performance last season to finally ruffle the wings of Kenya Airways, as the airline brought the team on board in a two-year deal.

Kenya Airways chief executive officer, Titus Naikuni and Kenya Rugby Football Union (KRFU) chairman, Richard Omwela on Saturday sealed a sponsorship deal of Sh15m for the 2009/2010 season.

Naikuni said that the package for the national rugby team would be increased by 12 per cent for the 2010/2011 season with the whole package amounting to an estimated Sh31.25m.

Also to have space on board is the 15s national rugby team that will benefit from a donation of 120 tickets hence enabling the team to comfortably fly anywhere among the 47 Kenya Airways destinations for matches.

Kenya Airways takes over from rivals Virgin Atlantic Airlines, who sponsored the sevens team last season to a tune of Sh7.5m. “This has been a long journey to get here and take the connection,” said an elated Omwela.

“Many have wondered why we had taken other colours to fly around with but we now believe we have build a strong brand that Kenya Airways would like to be associated with. It has taken time to convince Naikuni but the long wait is worth it because they doubled the package,” Omwela said.

Injured players

Omwela said the sponsorship will translate to several things that will enable the sevens team perform better including giving the national coach Benjamin Ayimba regular annual contract besides season’s contract to first team players. “ All we want is to empower Ayimba in that besides coaching the team, he should be able to tour the country and identify players,” Omwela said.

“We also want to uphold consistency by giving at least seven first team players contracts.” Omwela said bonuses will definitely be improved and the team will get them with every stage they reach.

The tickets will also enable them fly injured players back and their substitutes to match venues. Naikuni described the timing as right and unique adding that the move to join partnership with KRFU was due to its transparency and accountability. “I never thought such an occasion would occur and I am uttered proud. I will henceforth not be ashamed to be associated with the national sevens team,” Naikuni said.

Naikuni told the team not to view themselves as a Kenyan team but an African outfit hence should go out there and build other African teams to be as strong. “We have 47 destinations and their choice is huge,” he said.

The team finished sixth overall in the IRB World Sevens Series after reaching the Main Cup for the first time in Adelaide. They reached the semi-finals for the World Cup in Dubai for the first time.

It’s also the season that they managed to beat South Africa, Fiji and New Zealand for the first time. Ayimba and the national 15s team manager Wangila Simiyu welcomed the deal saying it will spur the national team’s performances.