AFTER 7’S NEWS ARTICLES
When it was announced that San Diego would be the next city to host the annual IRB
USA Sevens, admittedly many fans were skeptical about what the city had to offer.
Rugby and all the reveling and party madness that comes with it is not synonymous
with this beautiful southern Californian city ( at least that was the thought) Come
Feb 8th when the early birds arrived – SHOCK!!Fans were greeted to the gaslamp district
with the endless bars, pubs and clubs all within walking distance or short drive
from hotels and the Ball Park. The truth is a few years ago the downtown area was
more like downtown Los Angeles; full of bustle and hustle by day but empty and desolate
by night. The revitalization was stimulated largely by the construction of Petco
Ball Park. San Diego was literally transformed overnight. Demand for downtown real
estate sky rocketed, the number of establishments quadrupled and the expansion is
still going on. Next year is geared to present more surprises. The Ear on the ground
reveals that San Diego surpassed most people’s expectations and left them yearning
for more. The night spots in the downtown area reflect the unique perfect mix of
quantity and quality of fun. Those who rocked in ole Madrid, Belo, Deco’s and the
likes can attest to this. The ear on the ground also revealed that unlike many cities
driving distances between places in San Diego are relatively short. Its hard to
believe that this is the 8th largest city in the United States; it’s a big city
with a small town feel. See you next year.
BY AM
After a high profile performance in the New Zealand leg of the IRB 7's, high expectations
had been laid on the team for this tour. In Wellington, the team beat all odds to
get to the quarter finals where they lost to eventual winners Samoa by a whisker.
This was a new look team full of chipukizi's with the regular veterans like Sir
Benja and Oscar (dabal O) taking on new roles as coach and manager and not as players.
Pooled together with England, Australia and the home team, nothing short of lights,
camera action was anticipated. As usual, Kenya got the first game of the day and
surprisingly, the same crowd that had left the after hours “after 7” am were there
in numbers ready to rock the stadium in the true Kenyan spirit. "Hatutapiga kelele"
resonated within the 42,000 capacity stadium as the diasporas were treated to some
scintillating rugby. This was by far the largest 7's tournament ever held in the
US with a record crowd of close to 30,000. Despite the obvious disappointment of
its teams 26-14 loss to England in the first game, the crowd remained upbeat for
Kenya's next two games of the day. The boys delivered in the second game by walloping
Australia 21-12. With Kenya’s defeat of Australia and England’s loss to the Aussie
team, the U.S. and Kenya ended up in the consolation bracket competing for the bowl.
The USA won its first match against Kenya since 1999. For them, it was like sweet
revenge from last years bowl final. Despite the loss, fans managed to stay focused
on the positive side of the tour and the weekend shenanigans progressed into the
night. Red, green, white and black were all over the stadium and by the end of the
evening, everyone left the venue with the satisfaction of getting their money's
worth. bowl finals. Sidney Ashioya picked up the only try for Kenya. This was certainly
the best try in the game as the speedster showed the true meaning of pace as he
raced untouched from his own 22 to score in the second half. Though it was too little
too late as Kenya waved the US crowd "Kwaheri".
We wish the team the best in the remaining tourneys and we look forward to supporting
the boys in the future to come. San Diego 7's - A tournament like no other.
We wish the team the best in the remaining tourneys and we look forward to supporting
the boys in the future to come. San Diego 7's - A tournament like no other.
BY T.O
Picture the legendary DJ Pinye, Take over Dj’s- Fully Focus and Babu, DJ Banti ,
DJ Ammo, DJ XP ,DJ Franchise , DJ Josh , DJ Dongar, DJ Dyme, DJ Sam, DJ Dan, DJ
Casey and Mc Nick rocking one party – Sounds like a dream? - well they were appropriately
known as the Dream Team. If your dream of the ultimate after-hours did not come
true – it came awfully close. The Locally based San Diego after7s team complimented
all this with what was termed by many : ‘ the perfect venue.’ ‘it has a carnivore
like feel’ one partygoer retorted. A similar demographic of patrons were asked about
their experience, the resultant responses are reflected in the following scorecard.
Drums Please….!!!
Venue Indoor: A+
The entry way was lined with Tiki torches and outdoor heaters; a large tented area
that included a dance floor and state-of-the-art DJ equipment. The tent was heated
to beat the cold night, but yet comfortable enough to katika the night away without
worrying about strange mkwapa smells.
Venue outdoors: A+
The outdoor had a large outdoor area and BBQ pits that provided a great place to
catch pints and meet old friends and make new buddies (also known as tuning!). Big
ups to mama samosa who put it down serving the chicken (did she say tickets ama
chicken..lol).
DJ Line-up: A++
The Spot also provided the top-of-the-line DJ’s – DJ Fully Focus, DJ Amo and Banti,
DJ XP and D.J Franchize who ROCKED the house till morning -- and I mean 7:00 AM!
And of course, the night was graced by the legendary, DJ Pinye, who span those tunes
taking us to our back-in-the Carni--days…
Crowd: A+++
Lively, diverse and FUN! Need we say more?
If spending your after-hours with After-sevens isn’t already on your list, add it
now, FAST! And bring every one of your friends for total mwenjoyo!
Amenities (aka choos): A++
Why lie – those restrooms were the bomb digi.
Bars: B
The organizers definitely recognized the Kenyan need to have his beer NOW, and have
promised to make a great adjustment to ensure we get our alcohol on, bila domes’.
BUT based on my wide-party hard, liquor drinking spree experience --- they had quite
an impressive bar selection to offer for an after-hours joint. And everything was
tano-tano! Making it a GREAT “LAST CALL” option when you visit Rugby sevens next
year!
The organizers would like to thank everyone who came to make the events fun! We
look forward to hosting you and providing an EVEN BETTER next year!
True story!
By E.M
San Diego was the host city to the annual IRB rugby sevens, taking over from where
Los Angeles left off. Yes, the games are highly entertaining but to the true “hanye”
connoisseur, the nightlife is the most coveted event all weekend long. Punters are
treated to an array of exciting sensations, time and time again, with each passing
sevens event getting more and more hype and anticipation; the only goal being out-doing
last year.
What collective group can stand the pressure and high demands of performing at such
a capacity? Simple: Kenyans.
Key ingredients needed to ensure “the full mwenjoyo” other than the obvious is an
after-hours location complete with djs willing to spin from dusk till dawn and a
lack of police presence. After 7’s provided the location for the after-hours for
the entire weekend and the Dream Team deejays presided over the festivities. Away
from the downtown congestion and more importantly, downtown cops, the after-hours
spot sat in the middle of Sorrento Valley’s industrial area, off of Roselle St.
All systems were a go on Friday night. Saturday night: ditto. Come Sunday, all hell
broke loose. At approximately 2:40AM, SDPD swooped through and cut the party short
as a result of noise complaints they had allegedly received. Patrons and After 7’s
staff alike were baffled; everything was going so well, surely a noise complaint
can’t have been the sole reason for the party’s impromptu termination?
Upon further investigation, what had transpired was quickly apparent: sabotage!
A simple noise complaint would never justify a complete shutdown of an event of
that magnitude (there were 800 plus people in attendance reportedly) without so
much as a warning. So what would merit such a calamity to occur? The decibel level
being too high for nearby residents to permit perhaps. Not likely, the after-hour
spot was in an industrial area, remember? That means no residents. According to
Umoja Entertainment, a Jamaican promoter from LA of ill-repute assembled the group
of Djs that were all under the assumption that they would be paid. Apparently, they
were in for a rude shock as they soon found out that the promoter was under a different
assumption – no payment for the entire 3 nights! The Djs walked off in protest,
understandably, from all the pre-parties that the ‘Jamaican’ promoter had set up
until a more favorable financial situation was accommodated. The promoter had a
retort of his own up his sleeve; call San Diego’s finest on the after-hour event
on Sunday. Tragically, this humongous lapse in judgment hurt the most important
demographic – the patrons who just came down to have a good time. They Instead,
they were involuntarily wrapped up in unnecessary drama as a result of the promoter
being hell-bent on revenge. After7s on this note sincerely regrets the resultant
disappointment and hurt experienced by all patrons. This lack of ethics and poor
business practice has no place in sevens and we must collectively do all that is
possible to ensure this will never happen again. To all promoters and Djs: you can
start by ensuring the people you engage in business relations with are legit and
of sound moral conduct
See you in 2008! BY DK
Being a miro in stato has taught me a lot. One thing I tend to never forget is to
recognize the presence of the boys in blue. I’m not talking about those city council
officers that used to fukuza hawkers huko in the middle of tao, no, I’m talking
about San Diego Police. And for some reason, this blue jamaas were deep that weekend,
yani every where I looked, I spotted a ki ugly blue and white crown Victoria,
SDPD– to Protect and Serve whether it was downtown SD, Mission Beach, Petco, even
outside my hotel room. This karaus were in a mission to make a mwananchis rugby
weekend in Diego very memorable in a very mbaya way. Yani it was as if they had
been tipped by an informant, that ati wananchi are about to come and chafua “ America’s
finest city “. In that case they were ready for us , sijui in piki pikis, blackies
etc, and they were in every corner you can think off. They reminded me of how GSU
and FFU used to vamia campo students when they strike ati coz their tea is bila
sugar. Anyways whoever it was that tipped them, you can only imagine the profile
of a Kenyan rugby hooligan. This is what I think they were told:
Young black male and female dressed in black red, green and white
Very loud, and is a jay walker . Does not obey traffic signs, and more than often
drives under the influence
Parties hard, and can put any rock star to shame (sijui Kid Rock , Dennis Rodman
etc.). Tommy Lee ain’t got shit on this brothers.
These individuals will be sleep deprived due to the late night wild partying. The
eyes will be blood shot , and the blood alcohol level (bac) constantly at 0.16 at
all times of the day. They are known to heckle, shout and sing dirty rugby songs
when in company of their fellow countrymen, can get very rowdy when drunk.
Very well educated, speak the Queens English with a heavy accent
Dressed in latest urban gear, baggy jeans etc with bulging pockets. Except for that
they are not packing heat or strapped (yani he does’nt have a gun). In his pockets
you will most likely find a cell phone, wallet, and a lot of multi colored flyers.
You might also find a bottle of beer (Heineken) or e&j that they hope to smuggle
into the stadium or into club.
All in all, thanks for karaus for maintaining peace. Poleni to the pals who lalad
detox huko downtown county jail. Shit has happened to the best of us, we call it
“ mwenjoyo gone bad”. At least you got free accommodation for a night. You can tumia
that yellowish-green release slip to uliza refund at that holiday Inn you had lipad
for. Word on the street is the bologna sandwich u were given in the morning was
used as pillow for that hard bench……. See u all next year
Nb: In spirit of Pan Africanism, “ Obama for white house” BY RM
