Africa-Press – Kenya. Homeboyz RFC have rescinded their decision to pull out of the forthcoming 2022-2023 Kenya Cup season.
A week ago, the Deejays withdrew from Kenya’s top-flight rugby competition to focus on their grassroots development programme.
However, following extensive consultation with the club’s former players, the Jamhuri Park-based side have had a change of heart and will play in the forthcoming season.
Speaking on Thursday, team manager Elphas Etemesi said the old players prevailed on the club to keep their status for the forthcoming season.
“The ex-players approached us when they heard our decision and asked us to honour the fixtures for the upcoming season,” added Etemesi.
He said the club is facing tough financial times and with the Eric Shirley Shield, KRU second-tier league, resuming after a one-year hiatus, it is going to be tough raising money for the two teams especially when they play away from home.
“We will look for the available resources to ensure we honour the matches but it’s not going to be easy due to the current economic situation,” he added. Etemesi asked the Kenya Rugby Union to fund their away matches.
“We have had discussions with the union and we are telling them to help us keep the club afloat. They did it a couple of years back and I know they can assist clubs which are struggling,” noted Etemesi.
He added that the club will now continue with their pre-season programme for the next three weeks ahead of their opening match against Mwamba on November 26.
The club will not play in the Impala Floodlit tournament which kicks off on Saturday with most clubs using it as a pre-season warm-up for the Kenya Cup set for November 26.
Speaking separately, KRU technical director Thomas Odundo said that had Homeboyz stuck to their move, they would have landed in the Nationwide, where they would have reworked their way back to the top tier.
“We gave them the scenarios they faced in the future and we are glad they have listened and will play in the Kenya Cup this season,” added Odundo
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