Kenya teams get major financial boost to honour international competitions

NAIROBI, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- Kenya government has dispensed 400,000 U.S. dollars to fund foreign competition of three of its national teams affected by the sudden withdrawal of their sponsor over a row on gambling taxes.

Sevens rugby, boxing and football will have to share the loot to prepare for their foreign assignments as Kenya remained adamanat to charge an exorbitant tax of 35 per cent on all proceeds gained from gambling.

Rugby Sevens, who are in the World Series circuit with six legs left this season, gained the most with 310,000 dollars, football will enjoy 30,000 dollars while boxing, which is due to fly out to training camp and competition in India took 60,000 dollars.

Sports Permanent Secretary, Peter Kaberia, confirmed that the three federations have received their money. "We wired the money to Kenya Rugby Union last week," said Kaberia.

Meanwhile, Kenya Sevens rugby team will still return to the government for more support to take care of its planned participation in the Rugby World Cup Sevens slated for July 20-22 in San Francisco, U.S.

Kenya are currently ranked eighth on the World Sevens Series log with 35 points after four tournaments.

The remaining six legs in the World Series will be held in Las Vegas, Vancouver, Hong Kong, Singapore, London and Paris.

This follows the withdrawal of gambling giant firm SportPesa from all their sponsorship contracts with Kenya teams in protest of the huge gambling fees imposed on them by the government last month.

Football Kenya Federation are preparing for the Africa Nations Cup 2019 qualification and have two international friendly matches lined up. Coach Harambee Stars coach Paul Putt wants to overhaul the team's technical bench.

The development, if approved by the Football Kenya Federation (FKF), might see current assistant coaches Stanley Okumbi and John Kamau and other members of the technical bench displaced. Enditem