After engaging in rugby drills and life skills lessons together with Standard Chartered staff, 24 deserving players from The Standard Chartered Impala Saracens Rugby Academy were last Saturday 29th April 2017 awarded education scholarships in an excitement filled event at the Impala Club.
‘The Academy, which has been in existence for more than 15 years now has experienced tremendous growth. 5 of the players selected in the provisional Kenya XV 2017 test squad are products of the academy system. The players are: Eric Kerre, James Kubasu, Samson Onsomu, Seje Owade & Simon Muniafu. Judith Auma, who was Most Promising Player during the recently concluded KRU Women’s League, is now within the Kenya Women’s Sevens fold and we are confident of her debut when the team jets out to Tunisia for the World Cup qualifiers,’ said David Lukalo, who has been working with the Ladies side since inception. ‘The partnership with Standard Chartered has dared us to dream. Along the way, we’ve managed to create very good relations and hope that we continue working together in creating solid social impact in the communities that these kids are part of,’ concluded the highly optimistic Lukalo.
A surprise visit by former Kenya 7s coach and Impala old boy who guided Shujaa to the semis of the 2009 World Cup and to winning the 2016 Singapore Sevens was acknowledged by Impala Saracens General Manager – Mr. Willy Ombisi. When he stood up to speak, Benjamin Ayimba, OGW stressed the need for a continued partnership between Impala Saracens and Standard Chartered. He also added that if he were afforded the support the kids at the academy have been accorded when still a teenager, he would have grown to become an unrivalled rugby superstar.
Former Impala Chairman and current Kenya Rugby Union Secretary General, Mr. Geoffrey Oduor Gangla who at one time acted as volunteer coach for the under 18s thanked Standard Chartered for their continued support. He went ahead to assure the Peter Gitau led StanChart delegation of a continued results driven partnership that will aim to make consistent social impact.
Current Impala Saracens Chairman, Bill Githinji, who was pioneer coach for the Kenya 7s squad and is an unrivalled rugby great, wore a hat of confidence when called upon to share the Academy journey, ‘We met Standard Chartered in Singapore on an Impala veteran sponsored tour. After a series of meetings, it was thereafter decided by the local office in Nairobi that we be part of the social impact programme in Kenya. The fruits of this partnership are visible & it is no doubt that the 1000+ children who are part of this programme are benefitting immensely from the life skills lessons we impart on them through our in school and out of school sessions. Our target was kids from 7-18 but over the years, we’ve grown to appeal to children who bring even younger siblings to our academy.’
When he stood to speak, Mr. Peter Gitau, Standard Chartered Head of Technology and Operations, Kenya and CIO East Africa, congratulated the teachers, players, coaches led by Stephen Juma, the Impala Saracens leadership and the Standard Chartered delegation for a job well done. ‘We are beginning to see what we continuously want to see. We see children coming through the programme, getting into high school, excelling both in academics and sport, build social skills gathered through the years and come back to teach younger ones,’ asserts a happy Mr. Gitau. I asked Spencer Obiero, one of the Academy players who is currently undertaking his academics at the famed Nairobi school about what he does to benefit his community and I was happy to hear that he is not only a leading role model in terms of discipline at his school, but also helps with the coaching at the academy during the holidays,’ added Mr. Gitau. ‘If we compare this Impala programme to that in Singapore & the one that was in HongKong, I confirm that this one is the best performing set-up,’ he concluded, to applause vividly expressing approval by Regina Mukiri, Director, Sustainability and Community Engagement, Helen Nangonzi Head Corporate Affairs, Brand & Marketing, Kenya & East Africa and Betty Sande, Senior Operations Risk Officer at Standard Chartered Bank.
Judy Auma, Most Promising Player from the KRU Women’s League finally earned an academic scholarship & will soon be joining college to study supply management. Diana Owino, the coach who introduced her to rugby also won herself a scholarship that will see her further her education. Consistent players like Doris Akumu & Isaac Nyongesa also won themselves the highly sought after scholarships. Other children who received the scholarships are:
Kevin Njenga, Valarie Akelo, Peris Wamboi, Vivian Njeri, Janet Kemunto, Doris Akumu, Daisy Zubeida, Rachel Adhiambo, Joyce Akinyi, Fiona Akhola, Veronica Wesonga, Sylvia Khalumba, Fridah Mwikali, Maureen Nabwire, Bennick Otieno, Brian Injeshi, Shirlyn Mwende, Linda Natasha, Jackton Litunya, Renson Yeye, Spencer Ochieng, Isaac Nyongesa, Diana Owino, Judy Auma.
‘I can confirm that these academic scholarships are awarded after a rigorous process which takes into account, not only performance on the rugby pitch, but also academic excellence. We wish them the best of luck in their journey.’ concluded Mr. Ombisi, who was also MC for the day.
