*Undated
The New year sees a promising future for sports enthusiasts more so women's rugby in Kenya where the first ever all women's league is currently running concurrently with the male version: Kenya Cup. The new women's teams include; Yamanashi Impala Saracens, Mwamba,Top Fry Nakuru, Northern Suburbs, Ruckit and Homeboyz.
Diving into the scene of brave ladies, Teamkenya.co.ke had the chance to meet Basemath Ebisiba, a rugby coach and development officer for North Rift Kenya who didn't shy away to detail the long journey womens rugby has had to endure plus her own insights on the growth of the sport itself amongst female players.
“Considering the fact that I really didn't get to play for long, because of injuries. At the time Women's rugby was only in Nairobi so when I left, that was it. I got into refereeing then coaching. I got a slot as a rugby development officer for North Rift Kenya,”Basemath began.
“My pride is; just because I didn't get a chance to wear the National team’s jersey, I wouldn't mind giving that chance to almost 500 or 1000 kids. It is more beautiful to just know that you have the brains/impact behind a number of people’s reasons to wear a jersey. I look at achievements for simply just playing for a team. I look at the reason why every evening or training time someone would want to change and wear training attire on the pitch; for me that is an achievement.”
“It's a milestone because I have seen and learnt things that new players haven't learnt. Since I also have the heart of a giver more than a receiver, this makes me happy. More to it is that my bigger knowledge in coaching and refereeing is bringing more to wear the National team’s jersey,” Basemath said having also played a crucial part in formulating Kenya’s first ever women’s under-20 team…soon dubbed ‘Shibli’ (Swahili for for a cub).
“Yes there are plans to include more teams in the league. For a longer time it was just the Nairobi team but after the harsh covid period, we’ve had teams from outside; teams from Western, Nakuru, Eldoret, and Kitale. The good thing is that universities are including women's rugby. From that we will get the centres because now when you have a centre at University, a girl who clears highschool can easily play rugby. We are getting teams playing rugby even from polytechnics which is good.”
“We want to have rugby at every level. When the kid finishes primary school, she can go to a highschool that has women's rugby, from there onwards to an institution. Funding is still currently a problem since KRU is doing everything on its own; mens rugby, teams, growing the Kenya Cup and more. For anyone who would like to support women's rugby in the country, they don't necessarily have to give us money. If the person can come on ground and help out in any way, that could definitely work. My aim is to have girls be transported from one area to another, go play, have food and be safe.” She explained.
“What we are pushing right now is having many leagues; not just have all teams play in Nairobi but also different parts of the country. All in all a lot has changed. If you look at when I joined rugby compared to right now, I smile because it's been progressive.” Indeed for Basemath and many others intertwined with the game at the grassroots level, growth is gradual and sure with the sport being slowly designed to fully accommodate girls and women alike.