Seven days after Kenya's fifteens rugby national team, The Simbas, launched an online drive in order to keep their hopes of participating in the 2023 Rugby World Cup qualifiers alive, they have penned a Ksh10 million deal.
The Simbas have secured a sponsorship deal From Teita Sisal Estate through its lodge, The Hildana Lodge, ahead of the Rugby Africa Cup which doubles up as the Rugby World Cup African qualifiers set to take place between July 1 and 12 in France.
Speaking after sealing the deal on Tuesday, June 28, Kenya Rugby Union Chairman, Oduor Gangla, noted that the sponsorship will be central in helping the team prepare for the games.
"The Kenya Rugby Union appreciates this timely partnership that will certainly be a boost to the Simbas who have been in intense preparations over the past two years for this assignment.
"Our preparations started with the Rugby Africa Cup Pool B fixtures that we hosted last year in Nairobi before two tours of South Africa in November last year when the Simbas played in the Stellenbosch Quadrangular, and the more recent tour that saw the team participate in the Currie Cup First Division competition between May and early June this year," Gangla stated.
Teita Sisal Estate, on the other hand, stated that the sponsorship deal will bolster the teams preparations ahead of qualifications.
"On behalf of Teita Sisal Estate and the Hildana Lodge, it is our honor to be associated with The Simbas and the KRU. We are delighted by our continued investment in the sport of rugby in the country. This is not just an investment, it is a commitment to society through transforming and developing the sport of rugby in Kenya. The future of the game has to be promoted to ensure consistency in performance and growth of the game to taking the team to the Rugby World Cup in 2023," the company explained.
The fifteens team, which has embarked on preparations to jet out of the country, will face Uganda in their opening match.
Simbas Head Coach, Paul Odera, explained that the sponsorship will help the team record an improvement and eventually qualify to the 2023 world cup.
"This partnership couldn’t have come at a better time. We are fully focused on the task at hand, which is to secure Kenya’s first ever qualification to the fifteens Rugby World Cup. We go out there with hopes and dreams of the millions of Kenyans and we will make you proud. Thank you once again for this gesture," Odera remarked.
Before the deal, the Simbas had launched online mobilisation campaign on June 21 with the hope of raising funds to settle their bills.