By OUR CORRESPONDENT
Following a stellar performance in the Singapore leg of the World Rugby 7s series where the national rugby 7s team, Shujaa, emerged second place, SportPesa has made true their commitment to award the team with a bonus.
In a media breakfast hosted by SportPesa and the Kenya Rugby Union Board of Directors, SportPesa CEO Hon. Capt. Ronald Karauri relived the journey the company has walked with the team, making strides to return to the core side after an unfortunate relegation in 2023.
In a gesture of appreciation, he announced that each player and member of the technical bench will receive a reward of Kshs. 75,000.
“Just a year ago, we made a deliberate move to stay in the partnership. We restructured to the SportPesa 7s, the local circuit engagement that birthed this young squad, that went ahead to conquer the Africa 7s and booked their slot in the Olympics,” noted Karauri.
With the quick return into the core side, the team has seen a steady performance and renewed their belief and hope for a podium finish in the world series.
He also took a moment to recognize the achievement of the women’s team, the Lionesses, for bringing pride to Kenya through their performance in the just concluded Challenger Series.
One of the star players, Patrick Odongo is gearing up for the inaugural Rugby Premier League in India and expressed his enthusiasm for future competitions, saying, “For Los Angeles leg in May, we promise to deliver, and we are fully prepared.”
Another standout, the Kenyan – Fijian Jone Kubu, shared the emotional significance of playing against his home country, Fiji.
He remarked, “It was a great feeling to compete against my home country.”
Shujaa co-captain George Ooro expressed deep gratitude for SportPesa’s steadfast support during a challenging relegation period. He assured fans of the team’s commitment to excel in Los Angeles, playfully adding, “we will deliver a bonus performance, tutaikujia tena.”
Head Coach Wambua acknowledged the team’s significant achievement in Singapore, viewing their second-place finish as a major milestone. He confidently stated, “I’m 100% sure we will deliver in Los Angeles.”
This celebration not only highlights the success of the Shujaa but also reinforces the collective commitment to achieving further greatness in rugby in the country.
