Charles Nyende
24 October 2008
opinion
Nairobi — Kenya will be the proud hosts of the 2009 IRB Junior World Rugby Trophy. Have you heard that one?
No, not being the hosts, the tournament.
Not many know about the competition. The IRB Junior World Rugby Trophy is a second tier international rugby union competition, a sort of inferior tournament to the elite IRB Junior World Championship.
Now, the IRB Junior World Championship is contested by the worlds' top 16 men's national teams at the under-20 age level.
The inaugural tournament was held in June in Wales and replaced, the Under 19 and Under 21 World Championships.
The Junior World Trophy, the lower level of the new
IRB under-20 international tournament structure, was also inaugurated this year in Chile and featured eight teams.
Second edition
On September 29 Kenya were confirmed hosts of the second edition of the tournament to be held in April.
"The IRB is delighted that the IRB Junior World Rugby Trophy tournament will be hosted in Africa in 2009 and awarding it to Kenya is another significant development in the evolution of this exciting international age grade competition" said IRB chairman Bernard Lapasset on their website.
He continued: "The Kenya Rugby Football Union is uniquely placed to host a successful IRB Junior World Rugby Trophy that will deliver excellent facilities and will provide the platform to showcase rugby within Africa. The union has an excellent track record in hosting major international rugby events including the successful Safari Sevens and CAR (Confederation of African Rugby) regional tournaments."
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Please spare us the lyrics. The tournament is less than six months away but there is nothing the union has done to sell it to the Kenyan public.
You know, make the tournament known to Kenyans, entice the whole country to feel proud of the tournament, feel like they want to own it.
The tournament will feature over 250 players, coaches and support staff together with travelling fans. Amongst confirmed countries so far are Namibia, Cayman Islands, Papua New Guinea, Romania and USA.
Imagine all the good this will do for the country's international image.
Thus it is imperative that we host a successful tournament. I hear IRB officials have been to the country to inspect facilities. What facilities I ask?
Which venues will be used to host the matches? I am trying to imagine the decrepit RFUEA ground, our - can you imagine - premier rugby venue, with its severe lack of facilities playing host to an international tournament.
On a scale of one to 10 the ground would score zero on its suitability to hold an international tournament.
Come on KRFU, tell us what you are doing to give this tournament a legacy in Kenya.
2016 Africa Nations Cup
Speaking of tournaments, the KFF are still intent on bidding to host the 2016 Africa Cup of Nations. Federation secretary Sam Obingo reiterated that this week.
Please KFF, not with the current facilities we have, not with the current administration and not with the current disposition of the Government towards investment in new sports facilities like stadiums and gymnasiums.
Better we dream like the hung up Gor Mahia fans who recently won a decidedly very watered down KFF Cup (they were the only KPL club who participated) to earn a ticket to next year's CAF Confederation Cup.
Some were even saying the club was back to its winning ways of yesteryears. I will not fault them. A win is a win.
Good luck next year K'Ogal, you will need plenty of it.
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