News
Impala Saracens Academy leaves the country on Wednesday to participate in the two week Standard Chartered Tour Aid Festival of Rugby 2015.
The Academy was invited by the Beacon Prep School in the United Kingdom. The squad of ten talented boys will leave alongside two officials on the cultural and sporting event from Wednesday 30th September to Saturday, 10th October.
The tour is part of the wider rugby partnership between Standard Chartered bank and Impala Saracens Rugby Academy which was established in 2012. Under the program, the academy has been using rugby positively to influence the youth in the community around Impala club. It’s through rugby that the program has been able to provide a pathway for the community youth from strained socio-economic circumstances to support the development of key life skills.
Speaking during the 1.7 million shilling cheque issuing, the chairman of Standard Chartered Rugby committee, Peter Gitau lauded the bank’s partnership with Impala for being successful and very positive for all the 12 years they have had the partnership. “It is envisaged that the tour will impact the aspirations of the boys, raise their self-esteem and confidence and develop a new optimism via the youth leaders, role models and mentors it will create,” said Gitau.
Impala Rugby club chairman, Mr. Geoffrey Gangla confirmed that the U-13 team will meet several other players from across Africa who will also be taking part in the event. “The U-13 team will meet boys from Botswana, Colombia, Hong Kong, India, Lao, South Africa, Swaziland and Uganda who will also be taking part in the event. It is expected that the tour will have a great impact, short and medium term not only on the touring boys, but also the children in the host communities,” said Gangla.
The tour is fully funded by Standard Chartered bank as part of a five year deal that was signed between the bank and Impala Club, three years ago. Under the partnership, the bank also provides 2 million Kenya shillings annually to finance Impala Club’s participation in the Singapore sevens tournament.
IMPALA SQUAD
1. Derick Mwangi (captain)
2. Sospeter Otieno
3. Ben Mwaniki
4. Milton Riono
5. Josephat Ingati
6. Henry Owuor
7. Richard Owino
8. Isaac Nyongesa
9. Shaquille Odhiambo
10. Ibrahim Waku
Impala Officials
Nicholas Abok – Team manager
Diana Awino - Coach