Kayange says Kenyan rugby needs more financial support

Former Kenya Sevens captain Humphrey Kayange has cited financial constraints as the chief reason blocking the growth of rugby despite sustained success on the international scene.

Kayange, who retired at the start of the start of the year after a glittering career with the Shujaa, urged more corporates to sponsor local clubs and called on the government show them more support.

Speaking during a Embu Rugby club dinner, Kayange said that the sport has improved in recent past but many clubs are struggling due to lack of support from different quarters in the country.

He added that there is need for the partnership in the sport and nurturing talents as well as ensuring that rugby sport in the counties starting from the schools.

“Rugby used to be popular in Western, Nyanza and Nairobi but now it has been received well in Mt Kenya and Eastern and teams from these regions are performing very well.

“Schools like Kangaru and Meru School, for example, have improved compared to schools from Nairobi and parts of western Kenya,” Kayange said.

Moses Mukabane the Chairman of Embu Ruby club said that the team has struggled due to lack of finance and sponsorship and that the reason they came up with the idea of hosting a dinner to look for funds to support the team.

Mukabane said that it is the high time all stakeholders in sport come up with support and sponsorships to support rugby teams in the country.

He revealed that the sport has grown at a high rate in even in the counties and there is need to for continued support in a bid to nurture talent among the young people in the country.

Mukabane said that team which has also launched its new kits will work hard and ensure that they team joins national league coming season.

The team is supported by Privamnuts EPZ Kenya, KenGen and Embu county government and all stakeholders need to support rugby which is still young in Embu and developing so as to take the sport in the remotes areas to promote competition and talent.