SportPesa continues to bet on Shujaa

SportPesa CEO Ronald Karauri presents a dummy cheque to KRU chairman Alexander Mutai (second left) during the renewal of SportPesa-Kenya Rugby Union partnership in support of Kenya Sevens in Nairobi. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

National rugby sevens team, Shujaa, were painfully relegated from the World Rugby Sevens Series in May for the first time in 23 years.

This was after losing 12-7 to Canada in the play-off final held at Twickenham Stadium in London.

The heartbreaking loss sent Kenyan players, technical bench and the new federation officials back to the drawing board.

After very lengthy consultations, Shujaa have started the tedious walk back to the global series.

The arduous journey was on Thursday supported by gaming firm SportPesa who came on board to boost the national team with Sh22 million. This will cater for logistics.

The gaming firm further injected Sh15 million into the National Sevens Circuit that kicks off this weekend at Mamboleo Showground in Kisumu with the Dala Sevens.

Shujaa will use the local series to identify potential talents to beef up the squad ahead of the Africa Sevens showpiece slated for September. The competition will also act as Qualifiers for the Paris 2024 Olympics.

Shujaa have a tall order to make it to the continental finals, or pray hard that South Africa lifts the event in case they finish third, in order to proceed for the two-weekend Challenger Cup in April 2024.

The Challenger Cup will involve 12 other outfits from across the world who will battle for promotion slots to the  World Rugby Sevens Series.

"This is a great journey which we are continuing with SportPesa. Our hope is to make it to the Olympics and return back to the World Rugby Sevens series," Kenya Sevens vice captain Vincent Onyala told Standard Sports.

"With this support, we pledge to do our best, we will be out to make our sponsors and Kenya proud."

Kenya Lionesses captain Evelyn Kalemera encouraged Shujaa to go for the jugular in their bid for promotion, adding that she is very confident that the boys will wade through the tough journey to make it.

"I'm grateful that SportPesa have come on board to support our brothers. As Lionesses, we too are confident that we will not be forgotten in our journey to conquer Africa and the rest of the world," Kalemera said.

"But the girl child equally has immense untapped potential."

SportPesa CEO, Ronald Karauri assured Shujaa that his firm will walk with the team together to achieve the dream of getting back to the global arena.

"We are passionate about sports, we are here to stay with the Kenya Rugby Union (KRU). Should Shujaa qualify back to the World Rugby Sevens Series we will expand this sponsorship," Karauri stated.

Karauri advised KRU to take care of the players stating that it's the playing unit that makes the federation, rugby officials and Kenya at large to shine.

"We pledge that our brand will be permanently on Shujaa's shirt. We will walk this journey together," Karauri stated.

KRU director Humphrey Kayange believes the financial support extended to Shujaa and the national sevens circuit is going to impact grassroots rugby.

"It is from the national sevens this weekend that we will start to build up the standards of the game. We thank SportPesa for the confidence shown to walk the journey with us," Kayange said.

KRU chairman Sasha Mutai termed their renewed partnership with SportPesa as a new dawn for the sport.

"We accept that KRU lost confidence from corporates and the private sector, but now that is a past," Mutai underlined.

"We are now running rugby as a business, the new office has accountability. Our partners will definitely get value for their money."

Mutai said Kenya already has immense talent and only proper investment is needed to get the country going.

"We urge corporates to have confidence in us, we promise we won't disappoint, we will give you value for your money," he assured.

While accounting the Sh15 million injected into the national sevens circuit, Mutai said Sh5 million will go into KRU administration while each of the hosting clubs will be given Sh1 million.

"In every leg, Sh100,000 will go to the winners, Sh50,000 to runners up and Sh25,000 to third place finishers," revealed Mutai.

"Overall winners of the circuit will get Sh400,000 while second and third place will head home with Sh200,000 and Sh 150,000 in that order.

"Top team in the Division Two category in each leg will get Sh50,000 while first and second finishers in the women's category will go home with Sh70,000 and Sh30,000 respectively."