Malindi Turtles are the 2024 inaugural Watamu Beach Rugby Festival champions after emerging top in the round-robin fixtures hosted at Watamu Beach in Kilifi County.
They solidified their place in history as the first-ever champions of this exciting new touch rugby tournament in Kilifi.
Watamu Beach Rugby Festivals
The festival, which was one of a kind, drew crowds to the picturesque Watamu beach and it featured 12 teams, eight for the seniors and four for the juniors.
The tournament was organised by the Tajiriba Sports management in collaboration with the County government of Kilifi as a need to embrace the new sport in their calendar.
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Tajiriba Sports CEO, Leon Lubang’a, who was the tournament organizer, expressed his enthusiasm for the event’s success in a post-match interview with The Scrummage and stated the importance of the sport.
“The Watamu Beach Festival is a dream come true aimed at bringing together sports enthusiasts and the local community for a unique sporting experience,” he stated.
Leon Lubang’a displaying the Watamu Festival award. Photo by Scrummage Africa
“We couldn’t have asked for a better outcome since all the teams came prepared and each ready to carry home the inaugural trophy, ” he acclaimed.
Adding on to his statement, Lubang’a congratulated the champions Malindi Turtles.
“The Malindi Turtles played exceptionally well, their victories were well-deserved and we look forward to making this an annual event so that teams can hone the need to secure the title,” Lubang’a remarked.
Wilfred Okoth Watamu MVP/PHOTO Scrummage Africa
According to the tournament organizer players, the MVP and the top try scorer are set to have a two-day treat at the Diamonds Hotel in Malindi.
Wilfred Okoth from the Karen Crusaders managed to bag the two-day treat after he emerged as both the top try scorer and the Most Valuable Player in the tournament.
Kilifi Titans won the under-14 category while Gede scooped the U18 trophy .
