@KenyaRugbyUnion Chairman speech on the naming of #KEnya7s Squad16 to Aldershot, London for final #RWC7s preps: Welcome to the naming of the 16 man Kenya Sevens squad that will proceed to London for a 10 day training camp ahead of the 2013 Rugby World Cup Sevens which takes place 22 days from today in Moscow, Russia. I start by offering my sincere gratitude to Dr. Titus Naikuni, the Group Managing Director and Chief Executive of Kenya Airways for having, long ago, backed our dream to make our rugby sevens team a professional outfit. It is through his support that Kenya Airways, in their capacity as official team sponsors, have availed the finances to employ a Head Coach, Mike Friday and a Strength & Conditioning Coach, Chris Brown. Georgina Ndawa from Kenya Airways also deserves special mention for her dedication. The playing unit has responded to the challenges thrown to them with admirable dedication. We thank them for the sacrifices they’ve made in their quest to attain the requisite physical benchmarks set by the S & C Coach.I also want to pay tribute to the team management led by Head Coach Mike Friday, Felix Ochieng, Chris Brown, George Odhiambo, Steve Sewe and Michael Owino. The staff at the Kenya Rugby Union office, and Mike Mwanja in particular for his performance. KRU Board members including Philip Jalang’o hitherto Head of National Squads and Elite Performance have gone out of their way to ensure that this team is among the best in the world. Terry Sands from our official playing kit supplier Samurai has been of invaluable help to us, we thank him for everything. The team’s great strides would not have been possible with the corporate support of; Kenya Airways, Dasani, Brookhouse School, Performance Products (a firm that has assisted us in nutritional supplements), the Government of Kenya and of course generally, the Kenyan people. I wish to still call upon corporates and the Government to come in with more support because the World Cup is special. The team needs incentives so as to be at their absolute peak. The World Cup, as you know, is the pinnacle and we need our boys to be completely inspired. The Union Board fully supports Mike Friday and wish him best of luck, with the conviction that he is capable of leading the boys to clinching the World Cup.The World Cup will be watched by millions all over the world. And what a time it will be for our country to be portrayed positively if we do well in Moscow! I urge everyone to maintain positive hype in the build-up to the World Cup. Potential corporate partners of Kenya rugby should also note the immense television exposure that the Kenya national Sevens team will bring to the country. We are announcing the team early because they will travel to a camp in England in roughly one week’s time. The Government of Kenya has given us Sh3 million to support this endeavor. The reason for this re-location is so that the team can bond and be free of the many pressures and distractions that would be there if they were training at home. The Team needs a hundred per cent concentration. The World Cup comes once in four years, and this is the time to seize the opportunity, with all the resources we have as a Union and as a Country. I would like to call upon all Kenyans, including the players to up the tempo of the build-up to the competition in Moscow. Let us all rally behind the team, wish them good luck and cheer them on! Mwangi Muthee KRU Chairman
Posted on: Thu, 06 Jun 2013 11:55:16 +0000