The Sports CS is keen to see Kenya establish a state-of-the-art high-performance training facility to help churn out rugby talent on a regular basis
Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba has promised that the government will help Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) come up with a high-performance training centre to churn out rugby talent and ensure the country stays on top of its game like some of its rivals.
While hosting Kenya Sevens players to breakfast following their triumphant return to the country after qualifying for the 2024 Paris Olympics, Namwamba said he was encouraged by the giant strides the team has made since their relegation from the World Rugby Sevens Series in May which shows Kenya has talent but what lacks are the mechanisms to harness it.
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Namwamba feels investing in youth is the way to go as it will help feed the national team with players on a regular basis to avoid the issues witnessed in the recent past when a lack of succession plan left Shujaa bereft of experience, leading to a string of poor performances.
“We want to invest in a high-performance training school. I want us to stop talking about punching above our weight, I want us to have the weight,” said Namwamba.
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“We are a nation of 53 million people, what is the size of Samoa or Fiji? We are big, Kenya is big, we want to build muscles and for us to do that, we have to be deliberate in investment. So, we must invest in a high-performance training facility.
“On this, there is no choice. Ten years ago, when I was appointed Sports Minister, I visited a number of training centres and I went to Stellenbosch, South Africa where the Springboks and Blitzboks train. It is truly elite, it’s on another scale.
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“The facilities, swimming pool, gym, field, and even the meal plan. We must put you in a training environment that puts you in a position to compete with the best and this government will walk with you.
“We have 50 acres of land at Kasarani and we want it developed into a training facility for rugby in Kenya.”
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Kenyans will be hoping that the plan comes to fruition given the promises made on the same in the past where the implementation did not happen.