Kenya Simbas welcome early sponsorship as Anami calls for longer preparations

Kenya Simbas back-rower Bethwell Anami says increased sponsorship will enable the national 15-a-side rugby team to begin preparations earlier and avoid the setbacks caused by late starts in previous seasons.

Anami said inadequate preparation time had often disrupted the Simbas’ plans and affected their readiness for international assignments, with the team repeatedly forced to begin its programmes later than intended.

He believes increased financial support will allow the team to establish a more structured preparation programme, giving players sufficient time to build cohesion, improve fitness and gain match readiness ahead of their upcoming engagements.

“The sponsorship will help us have early preparations. In previous years, we have started our preparations late, and that has always dented our plans for the season.”

Anami was speaking after the Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) secured KSh2.5 million in sponsorship from Haco Industries, with the funds earmarked for the Simbas’ training and local travel expenses.

The partnership has increased from KSh1.5 million two years ago to KSh2.5 million this year, providing timely support as the national team seeks to strengthen its preparations for upcoming international assignments.

The former Stade Caennais and Maisons-Laffitte player welcomed the increased backing, saying such partnerships are crucial to helping the Simbas start training early and maintain a consistent programme.

“We’re happy to have Amara coming on board this early because, in previous events, we have started our preparations very late. So this time, I am very grateful that we are starting very early, and someone is thinking about the Kenya Simbas this early.”

Anami also stressed the importance of playing more matches during the preparation period, saying increased game time would help the team develop cohesion and sharpen its competitive edge before major tournaments.

“We need to have those early preparations. As our chairlady said yesterday, we need to have more game play so that it can help us going into the tournament. It gets us very ready for the tournament, so we’re very delighted and very happy for Amara thinking about us this early.”

The financial backing is also expected to ease some of the logistical challenges that have previously hampered the team’s preparations, while giving players more opportunities to play together ahead of key tournaments.

Anami called on more fans and corporate partners to support the Simbas, saying sustained investment would be critical to the team’s long-term ambitions.

“We need those fans coming in, we need those partners coming in to support us and chip in in any form so that they can help us get that preparation going, because our main goal and our main cause has always been to try and qualify for the World Cup.”

The Simbas are using the support as part of a broader rebuilding effort, with returning to the Rugby World Cup remaining a key long-term objective.

Kenya’s hopes of qualifying for the 2027 Rugby World Cup were ended at the 2025 Rugby Africa Cup when the Simbas lost 29-23 to eventual champions Zimbabwe in the semi-final. They subsequently suffered a 15-5 defeat by Algeria in the bronze-medal play-off to finish fourth.

Zimbabwe went on to beat Namibia 30-28 in the final, securing Africa’s only direct qualification place for the 2027 Rugby World Cup.

The 2027 tournament, which will be hosted by Australia, will be the first men’s Rugby World Cup to feature 24 teams.