In Summary:
- Olympic Committee of Kenya sponsored tSevens rugby team ifor their Paris 2024 Olympic Games qualifier.
- The sponsorship is part of the Olympic Committee strategy to support 2024 Olympic Games pathway.
The National Olympic Committee of Kenya has today sponsored the Kenya men’s Sevens rugby team in an event held at the RFUEA grounds as they prepare for their Paris 2024 Olympic Games qualifier event to be held in Harare, Zimbabwe.The event was graced by NOC-K Secretary general and Treasurer Eliud Kariuki.The sponsorship is part of the National Olympic Committee of Kenya strategy to support teams on their Paris 2024 Olympic Games pathway. Shujaa becomes the third team sport to receive this kind of support after the women’s hockey team and the malkia strikers who recently got crowned African champions.
Shujaa who are scheduled to leave the country on Thursday 14th of September 2023 for Zimbabwe have had a two week training camp in Nakuru county after which they moved to Nairobi and have increased their training at the RFUEA grounds to finalize their preparations.
Speaking during cheque handing over,NOC-K Secretary General Francis Mutuku touched on the criteria used to arrive at the team to support.
“We have sat down as a board and evaluated and seen that our men’s rugby team is one of the team sports with high prospects of making it to Paris. As they begin their campaign this weekend we want to affirm our support to them through this qualification period” added Mutuku.
Co-captain Vincent Onyala expressed confidence in the team’s ability to make it to the games
“We have had very good training sessions and the boys are in a good mood and high spirits therefore I believe we will be in Paris come next year” Said Onyala
Kenya Rugby Union Chairman Sasha Mutai thanked NOC-K for the boost to the team as they look to get a ticket to their third Olympic Games since rugby 7s was introduced at the games. He is optimistic that shujaa are equal to the task ahead.
“We are in a transition period and we are therefore taking and welcoming all the support we can get. I want to thank NOC-K for continued support especially during this time when we are on a hunt for the Paris 2024 ticket”
