Crown Paints colors Shujaa's path to Hong Kong

Crown Paints has returned to Kenya Rugby, after striking a deal to sponsoring the 7s national team, Shujaa.

The paint manufacturing giant has committed Ksh2,625,000 to support the team as they prepare for the fifth leg of the HSBC SVNS Series in Hong Kong, scheduled for Friday, March 28 to Sunday, March 30.

The sponsorship will also extend to the competition's Singapore and Los Angeles legs.

Out of the total sponsorship, Ksh1,625,000 will be directly injected into Kenya 7s’ preparations for the remaining legs of the series.

This will cater to various essential needs, including player welfare, nutrition, analysis, and mental preparation.

The remaining Ksh1,000,000 will be donated in kind; paints and will go towards the Kenya Rugby Union’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities.

The paints will go to schools that emerge victorious in the Term One Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) rugby competitions.

Speaking at the sponsorship unveiling at the RFUEA Grounds on March 20, Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) Director of Rugby Paul Odera emphasized the significance of financial backing beyond just salaries.

“People do not realize what support does. It goes a long way, from mental preparation, nutrition, and even petrol for the body; to food. The ecosystem around a high-performance program has a lot that goes into it,” he noted.

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KRU’s Director of Commercial Services, Harriet Okatch, acknowledged the ripple effect of such sponsorships, noting that Shujaa trains alongside other national teams, including the Lionesses, Simbas, and Chipu, thereby benefiting the broader rugby ecosystem.

On his side, KRU Chairman Sasha Mutai expressed gratitude for the continued partnership, highlighting how it will aid Shujaa in their quest to maintain their status in the HSBC SVNS Series.

“This is not the first time Crown is coming to rugby. When I was director and head of 7s, crown used to mark the pitches. They are now coming in terms of money and products. It is more of a CSR to rugby schools getting the benefits. It will come in handy for Shujaa who are left with three legs of the HSBC and are looking to maintain their status,” Mutai said.

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Crown Paints’ Group Chief Operating Officer, Richard Muturi, shed light on the company’s strategic decision to invest in rugby, citing shifting demographics and the growing enthusiasm for the sport.

“Rugby has been growing for the past seven years, and statistics show that it could surpass football. There is so much work that goes into developing talent to bring teams that play for the country,” Muturi said.

He added that the sponsorship will be split between game development and continuing the company’s tradition of marking rugby pitches.

Heading to Hong Kong, Shujaa has been placed in Pool C together with Spain, Great Britain, and France.