Action from Safari Sevens. Picture by DAVID NDERITU

Listed telecoms company Safaricom has taken up the title sponsorship of Africa’s premier Sevens rugby tournament, Safari Sevens.

Following the signing of a three-year deal with the Kenya Rugby Football Union (KRFU), Safaricom announced today a sponsorship package towards next year’s event which will now be known as the Safaricom Sevens.

The sponsorship is divided into two parts. Ksh22 million will be directed towards the running of the annual tournament. A further Sh3 million will be spent on sponsoring a Media Centre for the event.

Speaking during the signing ceremony, Safaricom Chief Executive Officer Michael Joseph said sport was a key pillar of the company’s engagement with its market.

“Sport is not just a core mandate of our corporate giving but a major component of our expanding brand asset portfolio. We are glad to welcome Safaricom Sevens into this family that already includes The Safaricom Marathon, Safaricom Sportsman of the Year Awards (SOYA) and the Safaricom Gusii Golden Series, among others,” Mr. Joseph said.

“The Safari Sevens is an iconic event, which has been a major platform not just for marketing Kenya as a destination for sports tourism but also giving the sport of rugby a higher profile in this country and beyond. Safaricom, being one of the foremost Kenyan brands, is proud to be associated with it,” he added.

Speaking at the same event, KRFU Chairman Richard Omwela said the tournament would retain its traditional format of 16 teams, although the union is contemplating increasing the number of participating teams.

Invitations to next year’s event had already gone out to all the teams that participated in this year’s tournament, including South Africa, Fiji, and France, Zimbabwe, Tunisia, Uganda, Japan, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Bristol University and Greenoble of France.

“I am delighted that Safaricom has finally come on board after many years of courtship. Being associated with the largest telecoms service provider is a big statement and we welcome Safaricom with both arms,” he said.

Mr. Omwela said the national sevens’ team’s performance in 2008/9 season was “astounding” and hoped they could pick up where they had left off by establishing themselves among the top four in the world.

Since its inception in 1996, the Safari Sevens tournament has continued to grow in strength as more and more quality sides express interest in attending Africa’s premier 7-a-side rugby tournament. Safaricom is promising an even a better event come next year after taking up the title sponsorship.

Released by KRFU Media

Collins Injera scored four tries as Kenya retained the Tusker Safari Sevens Main Cup title, turning in a masterful display in their 40-19 demolition job of the Emerging Boks in the final.

They started the game on a high, restricting the Boks to their own half but were caught cold when  Lewis Marlon slipped through the Kenyan defence to touch down under the posts. Ashwill Peteers converted as Kenya trailed 0-7.

This try seemed to stir the defending champions into action. Upon regaining possession, Lavin Asego played the ball to the indefatigable Collins Injera who ran fifty yards to score under the posts. Asego’s conversion restored parity at 7-7.

Seemingly rattled, the Emerging Boks lost possession, allowing Kenya to score a second try through Innocent Namcos Simiyu. Asego was sure with the conversion.

Kenya 14 Emerging Boks 7.

Ben Nyambu picked up a stray Boks pass, offloading the ball to Simiyu who played in Injera. The Kenya winger was only too happy to do what he does best…score a try. Asego converted.

Kenya 21 Emerging Boks 7.

Kenya retained possession from kick off and squandered an opportunity to extend their lead. They would soon make amends when Injera rode a heavy Emerging Boks tackle to complete his hat-trick. Asego missed the conversion

Kenya 26 Emerging Boks 7 at half time.

Eager to retain the title, Kenya began this half with vigour but were again caught cold when Jacobus Schobart scored his side’s second try. Maarvin Christians converted.

Kenya 26 Emerging Boks 14

Christians soon beat his markers but knocked on on the try line, denying the Boks that crucial try. His side would soon rue this when they conceded a penalty try that Asego converted.

Kenya 33 Emerging Boks 14.

With two minutes left, Biko Adema played in Injera who beat his man to score his fourth try of the match and end the match as a contest. Asego converted.

Kenya 40 Emerging Boks 14.

Dean Scholz scored a late consolation try for the Emerging Boks as the buzzer went.

The crowd broke into shouts of “Okombe!!”, celebrating the 40-19 win over the Emerging Boks.

Kenya team manager, Oscar Osir spoke to Safarisevens.com ahead of the match and said, “the best two teams have qualified for the final. The Kenyan boys are hungry for the title as they would love to end their sevens season on a high.”

And indeed they ended their sevens season on a high.

Kudos to the losing finalists Emerging Boks who were worthy opponents in the final.

Kenyan captain Humphrey Kayange  felt that Samoa and the Emerging Boks added that extra edge to the 2009 Tusker Safari Sevens event, noting that this was good for the game.

He added that with the Kenyan fans asking for nothing short of victory, they simply had to win this tournament.

Hamilton Raiders won the Plate final with a 19-12 win over Chairman’s select.

Bristol were Bowl winners courtesy of that hard fought 5-0 over Les Bleus Sevens while Japan won the Shield with a 22-0 win over Zambia.

Kenya Harlequin FC won the veterans over 35 category with a 17-5 over the RVA Vets. Western Province took the schools title with a 19-0 win over Nyanza while Mwamba I won the ladies title with a 54-0 win over Vivi.

It has been three great days of scintillating rugby action. See you again in 2010!

Radiers went ahead through Wilhem Pieters, Darius Jinka converted. Brian Nyikuli scored a captains try for Chairmans but Nato Simiyu missed the conversion.

7-5 Raiders.

Chairman’s won a penalty after relentless pressure but failed to turn possession into points.Stefan Dutoit scored a second Raiders try right on half time.Jinka converted.

14-5 Raiders.

Second half ,the game started out as a largely midfield affair, Raiders won possession,and continued to attack. Tom Jacobs scored Raiders third try. Jinka missed the conversion. 19-5 Raiders.

Peter Ocholla scored and converted his try at the buzzer for Chairmans. Raiders 19 Chairmans 12

Tom Mitchell was Bristol’s hero, scoring the only try in their 5-0 win over the Les Bleus Sevens in the Bowl Final.

Bristol win the 2009 Tusker Safari Sevens Bowl title.

Japan win the 2009 Tusker Safari Sevens Shield.

Kenya will play South Africa’s Emerging Boks in the main cup final  after beating Samurai 24-0 in their semi final tie.Samurai started this match quick off the blocks,pinning Kenya to their own half. With their first share of possession, Ben Nyambu broke for Kenya, playing the ball to Collins Injera who offloaded to Gibson Weru to score Kenya’s first try. Lavin Asego converted as Kenya led 7-0.

After this it was all Kenya, they attacked from kick off , Allan Onyango’s spadework created brought pressure on  Samurai and inevitably it was Injera who scored Kenya’s second try. Asego  missed the conversion as Kenya led 12-0.

Weru would soon break, playing the ball to Onyango who danced through the Samurai defence before offloading the ball to Humphery “Tall” Kayange who played in Injera for his second try. Asego converted. 19-0 at half time.

Second half and Kenya’s Innocent Simiyu broke but was thwarted inches from the try line. Samurai however failed to repulse the Kenyan attack and Injera  touched down but the referee cancelled his try for an infringement.

Samurai showed brief signs of recovery, piercing the Kenya defence but knocked on five meters from the try line.

Kenya continued piling on the pressure and were rewarded with a second Weru try after Injera had done the hard work. Asego missed the conversion as Kenya held out for a 24-0 win and a berth in the final.

If the first match was lopsided, the second match was a thriller a minute. The Emerging Boks eventually overcame Samoa 27-22 in sudden death after the two sides had tied 12-12 at half time and 22-22 at full time. Earl Lewis was the toast of the Emerging Boks, breaking away from his marker seconds into sudden death to give his side a berth in the final against Kenya. Other scorers for the Emerging Boks were Jacobus Jonker and Ashwill Peters who scored two tries apiece. Peters added a conversion.

(match decided in sudden death)