New rugby pitch to be opened in Malindi to boost sports tourism

Sports tourism has received a major boost in Malindi after stakeholders initiated the establishment of a modern rugby pitch, the first of its kind in the region.

The facility will host national and international tournaments in the resort town. The project is at an advanced stage at the Malindi Golf and Country Club. It will complement golf sport, which is already attracting tourists from all corners of the nation.

At the weekend, Sandies Plan Group of Hotels Malindi comprising Diamond Dream of Africa, Dream Gardens and Tropical Village; Malindi Golf Club, Fuso Kenya sponsored the first-ever rugby tournament to help raise funds for the completion of the pitch.

Hundreds of tourists, including foreigners who reside in Malindi and people from Nairobi, Malindi and Mombasa, flocked to the club with their families for the fun-filled event.

Besides rugby matches, there was a golf tournament, children's play facilities and lots of food for people to enjoy their day out, socialise and build connections.

Top Kilifi county officials, led by Gender, Culture and Sports executive Anisa Omar, and prominent business personalities in the resort town were among those present.

Alexander Zissimatos, the general manager of Africa Plan Group of Hotels, Malindi, said as a hotel they were proud to achieve other things such as sports, especially the rugby field, which will be the biggest in Kilifi county.

Zissimatos said their vision is to complete the project soon to help the younger generation grow and develop rugby.

"We hope that it's going to succeed and help the tourism industry here and bring teams from all over the country; everybody has a great time in the afternoon," he said.

Zissimatos said with golf, rugby and hotels, the tourism sector will get a significant boost.

"With the sponsorship that we have provided and all the support we have heard from stakeholders, within another month or so, we, hopefully, can complete this project," he said.

Matches involving big teams will attract lots of people and many tourists, he said.

He said the sector is already picking up following Covid vaccination efforts by the county and national governments, adding that in his resort, over 90 per cent of workers have been jabbed.

"I do believe that if things stay the same by November, you will see a lot more international tourists coming. Even in their own country they are stuck, but things are opening up now and people want to travel," he said.

Omar, for her part, said developing the Malindi Golf and Country Club will help promote the tourism sector. She cautioned Kilifi residents against forgetting sports, including athletics and football.

The CEC member said county and national governments should also support sports as some children are talented in sports.

"We are at the Malindi golf course and we celebrate the spreading of good ideals through sports. We have seen a rugby pitch being developed, which is a positive move. In my department, we are here to support sports," he said.

Coast Region Rugby Development activities officer Lubang Alion said he was happy to witness the development of the rugby field for the Malindi rugby team as it would help in nurturing talent.

He said the region has a lot of untapped sports talent. He said the project will promote tourism and boost livelihoods.

"Having initiatives like these will help teams from Nairobi to come and play against Malindi Rugby Club. They will come with their fans, sports tourism is a growing sector globally. We have seen countries and cities hosting tournaments and cups, which help the tourism sector as players and fans need hotels," he said.

Malindi Rugby Club captain Sammy Kabiri said they used to depend on a school field that was closed down after the Covid-19 pandemic and they were left with nowhere to practise.

He said their aim is to play in the top league, specifically the champions league and Kenya cup, and with the pitch, they will host a tournament or matches.

Kabiri said they are organising a mass recruitment drive to get players to develop a strong team.

"I urge every stakeholder to come and help develop these talents," he said.

Once sports tourism picks up in Malindi, it will add to the already existing products such as beach and safari tourism, which have global fame.