T. NashipaeBenjamin Ayimba legacy tournament set for April in Machakos
Reading Time: 2min | Mon. 30.01.23. | 20:56
The tournament will have three categories: men, women, and developmental
The County Government of Machakos has collaborated with the Kenya Rugby League Federation to initiate the Benjamin Ayimba Legacy annual tournament.
The tournament will take place at the Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos from 7-9 April 2023, and is set to honor the departed rugby legend and icon Ayimba who co-founded the Masaku Team and the Kenya Rugby League Federation.
"A rugby brother so loved, we will cherish his international rugby achievements for Kenya and all the emerging countries in the rugby world.
Nice work by #RugbyLeague officials in 🇰🇪 who’ve announced a new tournament in partnership with @Machakos_Gov in memory of @KenyaSevens legend Benjamin Ayimba, who co-founded @OfficialKRLF #Kenya #Africa #Nairobi #Machakos #OutofAfrica #NRL #SuperLeague #InternationalRugbyLeague pic.twitter.com/2FbeaW4H8P
— Jason ‘Costo’ Costigan ❤️🏉🎥 (@CostoJason) January 28, 2023
The tournament is a celebration of his life and all the massive work he did in rugby development." Said KRLF Chairman Quicks Nyakwaka.
Part of proceeds from the tournament will be used to support Machokos' Children's Home and rugby development activities.
Machakos County Governor Wavinya Ndeti welcomed the idea, saying that it is their (Machakos County) responsibility to take Ayimba's impressive performance to another level.
"Indeed Ayimba was among the greatest of all time in the world of coaching and he did us proud as a nation. The light he lit for us on the global stage should not be dimmed. It is our responsibility to take the stellar performance he left us to new heights," the governor said.
The tournament will have three categories: men, women, and developmental.
According to Machakos' Sports Minister Onesmus Muasyia, the tournament will be a gauge of Machakos' capacity to host major sporting events, as well as nurturing and promoting rugby talents in Machakos.
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"It is a great privilege for Machakos to host the legend's tournament in our first year in office. This will help showcase the capacity of Machakos to host major sporting events, identify, nurture, develop, and promote rugby platers in our county."
Ayimba passed away on 22 May 2021after battling cerebral malaria. The former Kenya 7s coach had been in and out of hospital since late 2020.
He was the first Kenyan and African coach outside of South Africa to win a World Rugby Sevens Series Cup title in 2016 at the Singapore Sevens.
