Thirteen Kenyan rugby players are staring at a painful case of what might have been after visa delays denied them the chance to take part in the inaugural Ultimate 7s Championship and potentially earn millions of shillings.
The players, selected across all six franchises for the new global sevens competition, were expected to join their respective teams just before the Embu 7s, as the franchises began putting their squads together.
However, of the 14 Kenyan players selected, only one managed to travel, with the other 13 unable to secure the required Schengen visas in time. The Schengen visa is a short-stay visa that allows travel across the Schengen Area, generally for up to 90 days within any 180-day period.
The championship got underway in Madrid on September 12 before moving to Cardiff, Biarritz and London, leaving the Kenyan contingent facing an agonising wait as their international counterparts took to the field.
The Kenyan players were spread across all six franchises.
Clan Taran: Sheila Chajira, Vincent Onyala and John Okoth.
Sol Feroz: George Ooro and Moreen Muritu.
Pacific Current: Kevin Wekesa, Tony Omondi and Freshia Oduor.
Atlantic Novas: Chrisant Ojwang.
Foudre Bleue: Patrick Odongo, Festus Shiasi and Sinaida Mokaya.
Albion Athletic: Nygel Amaitsa and Samuel Asati.
A player who spoke to Two5four on condition of anonymity revealed the financial details contained in their contracts, saying the Kenyan players had already signed agreements with their respective franchises.
According to the player, the contracts were structured into three payment tiers. Tier One players were to earn €15,000, approximately KSh2.25 million, Tier Two €14,000, about KSh2.10 million, while Tier Three players were guaranteed €12,000, approximately KSh1.80 million.
The player said half of the contracted amount was to be paid one week after arrival, with the balance payable after completion of the tournament.
“We had already signed the contracts. The agreement was that once we arrived, after one week we would receive half of the full amount we had agreed on, then the rest would come after the tournament,” the player said.
For players accustomed to the relatively modest financial rewards available in Kenyan rugby, the opportunity represented far more than another tournament.
It was a chance to secure potentially life-changing earnings on an international stage.
But frustration has now replaced excitement.
The player questioned how the visa process was handled and suggested that the players’ failure to travel may not have been purely accidental.
“We feel someone hand-led it for us to miss the visas. Personally, I feel it was a deliberate move,” he said.
The allegation remains the player’s personal view and has not been independently established by Two5four.
There could, however, still be a final twist to the saga.
The Ultimate 7s Championship is set to conclude in London, and the Kenyan players could potentially make their entry into the competition if they are able to travel for the final leg.
The player revealed that their London visas are ready, raising hopes that some of the Kenyans could still feature and salvage part of an opportunity that has already slipped away.
Ultimate 7s is a new private global rugby sevens competition backed by BIA Sports Group, bringing together six franchise teams featuring elite men’s and women’s players.
For the 13 Kenyans left behind, what was supposed to be a breakthrough moment has instead become a frustrating visa saga.
They had the contracts. They had the selection. They had the opportunity. What they did not have in time was the visa that could have opened the door to a potentially life-changing payday.
English