Kenya 7s receive 3 million cash reward from President Ruto
19th September 2023
The reward was presented to the team on Tuesday morning in a breakfast reception ceremony.
- The token came as a result of winning the 2023 Rugby Africa 7s Cup held in Harare, Zimbabwe.
- Shujaa beat South Africa 17-12 in the final to book an automatic ticket to the Paris 2024 Olympics.
- Kenya now join France, New Zealand, Argentina, Fiji, Australia, Uruguay, Ireland and USA in the Paris line-up.
The men’s
national rugby 7s side, Shujaa, received a cash reward of 3 million shillings
from President William Ruto following their title winning exploits in the just
concluded 2023 Rugby Africa Cup that took place from 16-17 September in Harare,
Zimbabwe.
The Kevin ‘Bling’
Wambua coached side completed a whirlwind weekend as they beat South Africa
17-12 in the finals of the continental tournament to book their ticket to the
Paris 2024 Olympic Games as the African representatives.
Upon
landing back to the country on Monday night, the African champions were treated
to a breakfast reception by the Ministry of Youth Affairs, the Arts and Sports
where Cabinet Secretary Abbau Namwamba handed over the reward from the Head of
State.
“The President
has a 3 million token of appreciation to congratulate you for the winning
performance in Zimbabwe. We celebrate the success of the reconstruction effort
that has taken place within the team.
You wanted
to return to the big stage and you have managed to do just that. We now want to
reiterate the government’s position that we will support you as you move
forward,” Namwamba said during the event.
Having won
the tournament, Kenya now join France, New Zealand, Argentina, Fiji, Australia,
Uruguay, Ireland and USA in the Paris line-up.
The final
three places will be decided via the Oceania and Asia qualification tournaments
and the Olympic repechage tournament.
South
Africa and dethroned champions Uganda, who beat Zimbabwe 24-12 to clinch third
spot, will be the two African teams going through the final qualification
Repechage tournament to be held in June
2024.
They will
join teams from Asia, Europe, Oceania, North America and South America with the
winner of that event taking the 12th and final slot to the Olympics.
Cup
Quarters
QF1 | Kenya
26-0 Burkina Faso
QF2
|Zimbabwe 26-10 Madagascar
QF3 |Zambia
15-29 Uganda
QF4 | South
Africa 27-0 Nigeria
Cup Semis
SF 1 |
Kenya 35-10 Zimbabwe
SF 2|
Uganda 14-26 South Africa
Bronze
Medal Playoff
Zimbabwe
12-24 Uganda
Gold Medal
Match
Kenya 17-12
South Africa