Achayo: Stiff team competition the secret to Kabras Sugar rugby success

Kabras Sugar RFC assistant coach Edwin Achayo has credited the club’s success and dominance in Kenyan rugby to the stiff competition between junior players to prove their worth in the team.

The Kenya Cup champions recorded their third league title in a row last month, thanks to a 29-5 win over archrivals KCB.

“Kabras environment is very competitive and every year there are students who complete their form four education. So these students are given two years to acquire the best training, and they must show that they are better for them to be selected and recruited into the team,” Achayo said.

“We pay for their rent, give them food and training programs plus best coaches, but on condition you show us you will be an asset to the club and not a liability,” he added.

According to Achayo, Kabras Sugar rugby team is partnering with schools like Vihiga High School, Kakamega High School, Koyonzo Secondary School, Butula High School and Kibabii High School, in tapping and nurturing talent before absorbing them into the team.

“We are reliant on scholarships offered by schools who have partnered with us in nurturing the rugby students. After their education then we fully come in and absorb them into our structure, especially those who have challenges like orphans or those who come from poor families,” according to Achayo.

The Kakamega-based rugby club also offers sponsored courses to players, to give them skills that can help them after their playing career.

“You will realize that one of the rules that have helped us, is that one must first of all choose a course to study before we take them as our player into our first team,” Achayo said.

He added, “Either into the tertiary school or secondary school, one must select a course he wants to pursue before we take him through another level.”