It’s always a challenge to the hosts and the organizing committees landing willing sponsors and to pick the right carte du jour for big events.
However, in Nile Special and Rwenzori Water, Uganda Rugby Union and the Rugby Africa Men’s 7s Cup hosts and organizing committee, their hopes to host a very successful rugby event that attracts African rugby playing giants got assurance.
Nile Breweries Limited, through their flagship beverage brand Nile Special has pledged support to the Africa Rugby 7s hosts, of UGX200m for the two-day long tournament at Kyadondo. But given the magnitude of the event, the sponsorship could even be bigger than the said amount.
Century Bottling Company will keep their Rwenzori Water flowing running through the two days of the event. SMCG wines from South Africa, KCCA and National Council of Sports are the other sponsors of the event.
“We are privileged to be chosen as the Sponsors for the event. The Rugby speaks a lot to who we are as Ugandans, the action on the pitch and the Party after. We are happy to be a part of something that makes Uganda proud.” NBL coordination manager JP Ssemakula announced.
URU’s Godwin Kayangwe looked delighted for the sponsorships “We are delighted and officially announce Uganda’s successful bid to host the Rugby Africa Men’s 7s Cup. The tournament is slated for the 23rd and 24th of April 2022 at Kyadondo Rugby Club because of our good hosting record on the continent.” Kayangwe announced on Thursday morning before welcoming the event sponsors Nile Special and Rwenzori water on the table of Africa Rugby 7’s men Cup.
The Rugby Africa men’s 7s cup will feature Ghana, Burkina Faso, Tunisia, Senegal, Mauritius, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, hosts Uganda, Madagascar, Cameroon and Burundi.
This tournament is the highlight of the 7s version of rugby in Africa and Uganda has consistently been performing at this stage so being able to host tournaments of this caliber is evidence that URU is moving forward to attain a sustainable environment for rugby in the country and region at large according to URU’s boss Kayangwe.
Africa’s biggest rugby event will also double as the world cup rugby 7s 2022 qualifier with the top three qualifying, and the commonwealth games qualifiers where top two teams will qualify.
Uganda has won this Africa rugby men’s 7s Cup twice, in 2016 hosted in Nairobi, Kenya and 2017 in Kampala. Kenya is the defending champions coming into this tournament having defeated Uganda in the final of the 2019 edition in South Africa.
The 2020 and 2021 editions were not held due to the various impacts of the COVID19 pandemic. Andrew Owor, the Rugby Africa vice president said, “We are excited about the rugby 7s as it presents a wonderful opportunity for African rugby players to show their best potential internationally.”
The chairman of the tournament organizing committee and head of commercial Uganda rugby Phillip Kiboijana expressed readiness to have the event running “We have intense preparations with Kyadondo Club to ensure that the pitch is ready for the games. The pitch at Kyadondo Club won’t have action for about 10 days towards the D-day to ensure that the pitch is in a perfect condition for the games.” Kiboijana said.
According to Kiboijana there will be action both on and off the pitch and they are organizing a carnival like setup for the Rugby Africa 7s UG having different lifestyle coupled with variety of service providers.
Participating teams are expected to start arriving in Uganda on the 20th of April with teams training and acclimatization sessions slated for 22nd at the various rugby venues across Kampala.
Uganda will give opening action to their fans against Burundi a game that will second after Senegal and the 7s defending champions Kenya battle their paths in the very first game of the day to open the two-day long event.
Author Profile
- Mr. Daniels N. Tatya is an affluent Sports Writer, Commentator and Editor. His over 15 years of covering almost major sporting events makes him a revered and an authority on investigative Sports journalism in Uganda. He can also be reached via [email protected] +256(0)758268315
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