Triumphant Kenyan sevens players return home to a heroes’ welcome

Traditional dancers greet the Singapore Sevens champions when they land in Nairobi as the nation celebrates first World Series title

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Kenya’s rugby sevens team were welcomed in Nairobi as heroes after scooping the country’s first World Series title – at the Singapore Sevens. Photo: AFP

Published: 3:45pm, 20 Apr 2016Updated: 8:38pm, 21 Apr 2016

Traditional dancers greeted Kenya’s winning rugby sevens team Tuesday when they landed at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport in Nairobi, as the country celebrated its first victory on the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series.

When you talk about patriotism, my boys are the most patriotic

Benjamin Ayimba, Kenya Sevens coach

The dancers – some donning the Kenyan flag – lined up on both sides of a red carpet as the players stepped off a flight from Singapore, where they won their first series tournament by beating Fiji 30-7 on Sunday.

The result adds Kenya to the list of teams in the running to win the inaugural Olympics tournament in Rio de Janeiro later this year.

Kenyan president Uhuru Kenyatta, who had indicated he will personally receive the team, was not at the airport with officials saying he was held up.

Kenya sevens captain Andrew Amonde holds the Singapore Sevens trophy aloft as they arrive at the Jomo Kenyatta international airport in Kenya’s capital Nairobi. Photo: Reuters

Sports cabinet secretary Hassan Wario, who welcomed the team, urged them to help Kenya increase its Olympic medal tally which traditionally has come from track events.

Coach Benjamin Ayimba said in a TV interview the team had gone without pay for five months due to financial troubles involving their main sponsor Kenya Airways, but despite this they were able to stay focused.