Shujaa were initially sponsored to a tune of Ksh126 million over a three-year spell in December 2022.
SportPesa CEO Ronald Karauri has revealed why Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) and the gaming company had to restructure its original sponsorship deal for Kenya Sevens following their relegation from the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series.
Shujaa were initially sponsored to a tune of Ksh126 million over a three-year spell in December 2022, but following their relegation from the World Series, SportPesa and KRU agreed to restructure the sponsorship deal to cover the National Sevens Circuit.
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This comes after SportPesa agreed to sponsor the National Sevens Circuit.
Karauri reveals that the deal had to be restructured in order to help KRU spot talent during this year's circuit that will help give Shujaa options in order to help them earn promotion to the World Series again.
“Before SportPesa was closed, it was a totally different environment for all sports in Kenya and the amount we could spend at the time is totally different from now,” Karauri said.
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Shujaa were relegated from the 2022/23 World Sevens Series but the vice-captain is optimistic the side can bounce back.
In December 2022, SportPesa got back to sponsoring Shujaa, but following their relegation from the World Series, they had to revisit the partnership before agreeing to sponsor the National Sevens Circuit this season.
The Kasarani MP also added why the company decided to continue sponsoring Shujaa.
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“It is not that we are not struggling as a business, but once we make a commitment, we like to live through that commitment. We were shut down for no reason at all but we got back into the business, and even after getting back, it was difficult to get back into sponsorships because of the financial constraints.
“We started the partnership with Shujaa last season and I remember when we watched the team get relegated from the HSBC Sevens, people speculated that SportPesa would probably not sponsor the sevens team again. We could not do that. We only decided to restructure the sponsorship.
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“We believe getting back into the Sevens Series is something achievable. We are sponsoring the National Sevens Circuit because if we are to get back, we have to start from down here. Previously we were just sponsoring Shujaa which was the pride of Kenya and was pulling other countries all over the world. We have to get back there.
“If we get back to the World Series, at that point, the amount will significantly jump because the sponsorship will match where the level is playing. We are committed to KRU.”