Government assures investment in robust transition pipeline to maintain Shujaa core status

Capitalizing on the momentum gathered last weekend by Kenya 7s national rugby team - Shujaa, Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports Cabinet Secretary (CS) Ababu Namwamba has set his sights on a future where talent flows seamlessly from the grassroots all the way to the national team.

Namwamba was speaking at a celebratory dinner at the Weston Hotel Wednesday night, aimed at celebrating Shujaa’s remarkable achievement that saw them triumph in the HSBC Madrid SVNS Playoffs, to book a return to the world rugby HSBC 7s stage.

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Whilst presenting a cheque worth Ksh. 5.7 million to the coaches and staff, Ababu reiterated his aim to create a local rugby pathway, where young players are nurtured in local programs, honed in schools’ competitions, before graduating to the U20 setup.

The eventual step, as per the plan, is for players to achieve their dreams on the national stage, ensuring a constant pool of exceptional talent ready to take the world by storm.

“We will provide structured development and continuous support to the players to ensure a steady flow of well-conditioned and experienced players ready to step up and maintain the competitive edge of the national teams,” Ababu said on Wednesday night. “We want to avoid a situation where if our best players retire, a void is left in the team’s roster.”

The CS also pledged to maintain the momentum by continuously motivating the team and pushing them to perform at the pinnacle of their abilities.

With only 50 days to the Paris Olympic Games, Namwamba assured that they were leaving no stone unturned in ensuring Kenyans perform at their best.

Shujaa camped in Miramas, France ahead of their crucial HSBC 7s playoff.

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The same camp will be their base again, throughout their crucial pre-Olympic sharpening period and during the Olympic games.

“For the first time, the teams will have a home in Miramas before and during the Olympics to help them perform at their best. We want the best out of these teams, and we are constantly igniting the fire in their hearts to perform,” he averred.

Namwamba also lauded Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) leadership for their merit-based player and coach selections, noting that investing in local talent was the first hack to excellence.

“If you select Kenyan teams on merit, even our football teams will play at the highest level. Shujaa is built on merit. I am happy for you coach Bling. You make the call, decide which player you are going to draft in, and all the major calls. Coaches must not come from abroad. We have good local coaches,” he urged.