Gibson Weru reveals ex-teammate he would bring to Menengai Oilers

Menengai Oilers head coach Gibson Weru has singled out Collins Injera as the one former teammate he would love to bring into his squad if given the chance, and if Injera was an active player

The former Kenya Sevens captain, known for his blistering speed and remarkable finishing ability, left an indelible mark on the game, and Weru believes he would be an invaluable asset to the Oilers.

Injera hung up his boots as the world's second-top try scorer in sevens after crossing the line on 279 occasions.

He was part of the Shujaa squad at the past four Rugby Sevens World Cups, reaching the semi-finals in 2009 and 2013.

One of the highlights of Injera's career was winning the Singapore leg of the World Sevens Series in 2016, as he scored two tries and was named player of the final as they beat Fiji 30-7.

He also represented Kenya at the 2016 and 2020 Olympics in Rio and Tokyo, respectively.

"If I could choose one player from my playing days to join Menengai Oilers, I would choose Collins Injera. He was a freak of a player, a freak of an athlete. He was one of those once-in-a-lifetime players. He was phenomenal. He was a player of his caliber," Weru told Mozzart Sport.

Reflecting on his playing career, Weru is content with the effort he put in and has no desire to make a comeback. Unlike many of his peers who continue to lace up for the Legends Cup, he has fully embraced life beyond the pitch.

"I gave it my all. At no point do I feel like I want to play again. Some guys play in the Legends Cup, and I am not part of that. I do not miss it a bit," he offered.

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However, looking back, Weru admits there are aspects of his career he would approach differently. He credits his rise to hard work rather than sheer talent but acknowledges that he could have been even more meticulous in his preparation.

"There are so many things that I would try and change. I usually say I got to where I was not because of talent but because of sheer hard work. I put in a lot of work to make sure I was playing at the top level. If I could turn back the years, I would review a lot of videos and continue working harder on myself," he revealed.

One of his biggest career regrets was becoming too comfortable after experiencing significant success between 2008 and 2010.

He admits that his work ethic declined, affecting his performance towards the latter stages of his career. During that period, Shujaa amassed an incredible 154 points from the international matches played.

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During that period, Shujaa reached the semifinals of the Rugby World Cup 7s in Dubai and secured successive top-ten finishes in the IRB Sevens Circuit.

"At some point in my career, I became too comfortable; after the 2008 to 2010 season when we achieved so much success, I thought that I did not have to work harder on myself and it showed towards the tail end of my career. But something I do not regret is putting on the jersey and representing the country," he recalled.

Away from rugby, Weru is a man of many hats. He juggles multiple responsibilities, including coaching, entrepreneurship, and family life.

"I am a businessman. I am a very busy person. I have a company that runs in six counties, and that keeps me very busy. I am an entrepreneur, coach, and father; I take care of my family, and I continue building myself as a person," he disclosed.

Despite stepping away from competitive rugby, Weru remains deeply connected to the sport through his coaching role at Menengai Oilers, where he continues to instil the values of hard work and excellence in the next generation of players.