Diaspora honour Kenya Rugby team in Vegas

By Chris Wamalwa

Las Vegas, NEVADA- Kenyans living in the US Thursday evening turned up in large numbers to welcome and honour their heroes, the Kenya Rugby Sevens team.

Hundreds of Kenyan rugby fans who had traveled from almost every state in the US jam-packed the Boulevard Theater, 3765 Las Vegas Boulevard, the venue of the grand welcome party hosted by the Kenya government through its embassy in the US.

The Kenyan ambassador to the US, Mr. Elkanah Odembo told the team management and Kenyan fans assembled that Kenyans from around the world are keenly following the team and are hopeful they will do well in the tournament.

He said Kenyans, among them the Kenyan Rugby Patron Deputy PM Musalia Mudavadi and Prime Minister, Raila Odinga who are currently competing to succeed president mwai Kibaki in state house had sent their best wishes to the team.

“I have a message from the Patron of Kenya Rugby the deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi, he sends his best wishes, I have a letter from the Prime Minister himself who said give them my very best and tell them we expect nothing but a trophy from them”. He said.

Head Coach Mike Friday said that the team was very conscious of the fact that they carry the Kenyan flag wherever they went and that they are committed to performing well in the tournament. “As the coach, as management and as a team, I want you to know that every time we out to play we visualize that we are representing every Kenyan around the world. Everything we do, everything we try to achieve we don’t only achieve for the team but for Kenya and that is the responsibility we try embrace”. He said.

Speaking at the same function, the chairman of Kenya Rugby Union, Mwangi Muthee said the team is well prepared because they have been training hard. “The development this team has made in seven months is more than what we have achieved in ten years”. He said.

Under restrictions to maintain a high level of mental and physical preparedness, the players were not allowed to join their fans at the party. The ambassador explained that they had to retire to bed earlier to get ready for the first game scheduled to take place on Friday afternoon against Canada.

The streets of Las Vegas are flooded with Kenyans who apart from being here to cheer the team, many are also using the occasion to vacation and have a good time. Kenyan entertainment organisers who have lined up different gigs and have booked most entertainment venues.