Kitale Rugby Club’s bid to return to the Kenya Rugby Union Championship got a major boost after landing a shirt sponsor.
The club unveiled ANSOFFS Consulting Limited ahead of the 2022/23 KRU Nationwide season which starts in two weeks.
The sponsorship deal was sealed at the club’s training ground at Equip Africa College Grounds in Kitale.
Head coach Ben Amboko said the sponsorship will help the team achieve their targets for the new season, promotion to the Championship.
The North Rift-based club begin their campaign against National Youth Service, Gilgil at Equip Africa College grounds in Kitale on November 26.
Amboko said: “We are working on qualifying for the Kenya Cup in the next two years. “We have beefed up the squad with 10 new players."
"We had a good pre-season where we played in the Victoria 15’s and lost narrowly 16-15 against Eldoret RFC. The game gave me an opportunity to try different formations and gauge the new players,” he added.
The club had a stellar Nationwide season last year which ended with a semifinal defeat, 11-10, to Zetech University.
ANSOFFS' Walter Ongeti expressed his delight at the growth of the partnership between his firm and the community team.
“Supporting sports and especially rugby at the countryside is definitely within the company’s vision of making a positive impact on youth where it is most needed — mashinani (grassroots),” Ongeti said.
Meanwhile, Kitale are set to host a fundraiser at the Crane Suites Hotel on December 10.
The funds raised will be used to purchase equipment, support players as well as run the team through the upcoming season.
On Wednesday, Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya held talks with Rick Rohlin, president of the International Sport Academy, USA where they discussed ways on how to promote sports in the county.
