Monday 17 September 2012

Safaricom Rugby Sevens receive major boost from Multichoice Kenya

By Fred Maingi
All is set for this weekends  Safaricom sponsored Safari Sevens Rugby
tournament that will feature over 20 teams  drawn from all over the
world.
  By today(Monday  September 17) over 17 teams had already registered
.Zambia  will be the last team to jet in Nairobi on Thursday.
Speaking during a press conference on Monday morning at the Nyayo
National Stadium after receiving a cheque of Kshs. One million from
Multichoice Kenya Ltd, Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) chairman Mwangi Muthee
 pleaded with Kenyan fans to come out in large numbers to support the
Safaricom Rugby Sevens that gets underway at Nyayo National Stadium in
Nairobi from Friday to Sunday.
  Both  MultiChoice and SuperSport  boosted the kitty with
Sh8.5million.Sh1 million has been donated in cash while Sh7.5 million
in production costs of the three-day event.
While presenting the donation to Muthee, MultiChoice Kenya General
Manager, Danny Mucira and SuperSport Head of Africa, Andre Venter
reiterated their long-term commitment to the Kenyan market through its
investment in local content and talent.
Muthee said top preparations have already been made and it is the fans
that are needed to come out in large numbers to fill the stadium to
make this year’s edition memorable.
The chairman is not subjecting the fans to cheer only Kenyan teams
saying they are free to praise their favorite squads that will be in
participation.
“If you are a Samurai fan go for it, if you are for Spain then cheer
them, we are not demanding that you cheer only Kenya,” said Muthee.
KRU that is currently putting up structures to develop the game is
trying to establish a culture where fans would leave the comfort of
their homes and throng stadiums to help market the sport locally to
bring back the lost glory.
 “Our Kenyan teams that will be participating in the Safaricom Sevens
need to be given ample time, we are in the process of preparations and
very soon we will be confident world beaters,” said Muthee.
Star studded Samurai were the first squad to arrive in the country
yesterday for the Safaricom Sevens.
Zambia will be the last team to jet into the country on Thursday night
as the Southern Africans still have international qualifiers to be
completed in the week.
Kenya will have to do without sensational power forward Humphrey
Khayange who will be captaining his university side Bristol in the
championship. Kenya will also field a universities side team to gain
exposure in the tournament.
It is the first time in history that the championship will be captured
in high definition (HD) using state-of-the-art technology Outside
Broadcast Unit to ensure broadcasting of top quality live sport in
East Africa.
.“Through our channels such as SuperSport, we shall continue making
extensive investments in the production of local sport with
considerable investement,” said Venter.
Meanwhile,South Africa Sevens academy has released their squad for the
weekend championship as stated below.

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