Where is our Cullen?

It is always good to hear something positive happening for the sport. This week has been a good one. That the Kenya sevens team has secured another sponsor is indeed great news. That tusker safari sevens has secured sponsorship is also good news. I have seen numerous attacks on EABL by disappointed funs following their withdrawal. I will not follow suit, I will thank EABL for coming through and helping the sport and turning the Safari sevens from a small club tournament to the premier sevens event on the continent (an event that evokes more passion and memories than the George sevens and the new Namibian sevens tournament its awkward timing notwithstanding) EABL has contributed so much for the growth of Kenyan sevens to deserve the lions share of credit for the achievements of our team so far. The sponsorship given towards running the event has been unprecedented in our countries Sporting history. A lot has been said about EABL using the event as a profit making venture. But you have to understand the reasons for their being. They are a commercial enterprise and not a sports trust!!! Although corporate social responsibility makes us reach out to the environment to be seen to be engaging in some activities that are not perceived profit making or margin driven. We should never forget the shareholders overriding needs of profit maximization. If it has come to the realization of EABL that their support for rugby is not creating the value they desire or providing the justified returns then we should aim to position our brand in line with their emerging strategy to draw from their huge coffers.
But if the partnerships were terminated on account of a rogue unaccountable union we are truly sunk as any new partners will in the shorter than long term pull out as well. I will still drink my Tusker with pride and joy not for lack of other options but for the mere fact that EABL has appeared to support the safari sevens for the past thirteen years. If Heineken or Keroche decide to put their money where their mouths are, I will be forced to put their bottles where my mouth is.

My best news of the week however was that a borehole is finally being sunk at the RFUEA grounds. I have read cheeky remarks on the timing of this seeing that the rains are here. I would rather look at the long term, the rains will go as they came, and if we did not invest in water storage having being warned of el-nino rains from the beginning of the year what use are the rains for!!! This investment goes directly to the most important people in the game i.e the players. I hope their days of grass burns injuries from a hard dry pitch will soon be over.

My worst news, in the year so far. Gray Cullen is not in the sevens team shortlist. If this is due to any reason other than unavailability due to injury or something. It would be the biggest oversight of a most deserving player. Please, anyone tell me why he is not in the team.