By Dorothy Nekesa.
Nile Special has committed Ush9.8b Shillings towards rugby in Uganda in a deal running for a period of 3-4 years. The development was confirmed this month by the Nile Breweries Managing Director David Valencia at the Rugby Cranes 7s teams’ appreciation dinner at Kabira Country Club in Bukoto, Kampala.
At the colorful dinner, both the men and women’s teams were appreciated with UGX58M and UGX10M respectively following their engagements at the Africa Men’s and Women’s 7s respectively. The men emerged champions in Kampala while the ladies finished fourth in Jammel, Tunisia.
Nile Special’s package will see the brand take charge of all formats of the game including leagues, tournaments and national teams namely; the Rugby Premier League (ongoing), the just concluded Rugby Africa 7s, the Championship, Rugby Cranes 15s, Women 7s, National team 7s, National 7s league, Regional 7s, Uganda Cup (both men and women), University League plus the annual dinner.
Our partnership with Uganda Rugby has been a journey, not a destination. The difference is that a person that sets out to enjoy the journey will take pleasure in everything along the way, unlike one that simply cannot wait to get to the destination. But like all journeys, this too has had its fair share of bumps. Yet they fade in comparison to the highs we have experienced over the years most recently the Rugby Cranes 7s triumph ensuring World Cup qualification in September this year, in South Africa,” Nile Breweries’ David Valencia said.
Uganda Rugby Union (URU) President, Godwin Kayangwe expressed his delight in the latest development in the game adding that such partnerships will enable national sides attain glory at bigger stages.
“Apart from qualifying for the World Cup and Commonwealth Games, the men’s 7s team also qualified for the Challenger Series which is a pathway to the HSBC Series. With support from Nile Special and like-minded partners, I believe the team will go all the way up in all these events,” Kayangwe emphasized.
Men’s 7s skipper Michael Wokorach is happy to return to the World Cup and Commonwealth Games. He now calls upon potential sponsors to emulate Nile Special by supporting the oval shaped ball game.
The dinner was graced by players, officials from; Nile Breweries, Uganda Rugby Union, National Council of Sports, International Olympic Committee member and former URU Presidents, Andrew Owor, William Blick, Sanjiv Patel, Ian Walker, Andrew Owinyi and URU Trustee Prince Daudi Kintu Wasajja
Sh9.8bn Breakdown
Rugby Premier League and Championship (Sh2.68bn) – 3 years – Title/Beer Sponsor
Rugby Africa 7s (Sh430m) – 2 years – Beer Sponsor
Rugby Cranes 15s (Sh1.77bn) – 3 years – Home Jersey Sponsor
National 7s League (Sh2.15bn) – 4 years – Title sponsor
Women 7s (Sh465m) – 4 years – Title sponsor
National 7s team (Sh1.34bn) – 4 years – Beer Sponsor
Local Regional 7s (Sh280m) – 4 years – Beer sponsor
Uganda Cup Men (Sh250m) – 4 years – Beer Sponsor
Uganda Cup Women (Sh105m) – 4 years – Beer sponsor
University League (Sh165m) – 4 years – Beer Sponsor
Annual Dinner (Sh300m) – 4 Years – Lead sponsor■
