Kenya Simbas' Jone Kubu opens up challenging one-year injury setback
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Reading Time: 3min | Mon. 11.11.24. | 17:12
Reflecting on the long journey back to fitness, Kubu explained that his time on the sidelines was not a walk in the park
After spending nearly a year on the sidelines due to a serious injury, Kenya Simbas utility back Jone Kubu has finally made a memorable return to the field.
The Kabras Sugar RFC halfback’s injury came during the 2023/24 Kenya Cup opener against Kisumu RFC, cutting his season short and forcing him to miss the sport he loves.
However, Kubu made a comeback in the Elgon Cup played on Saturday 9 November coming off the bench to score three points for the Simbas in an emotional return.
Reflecting on the long journey back to fitness, Kubu explained that his time on the sidelines was not a walk in the park.
"I am very happy. It has been like a whole year on the sidelines. Watching my teammates do what we love to do every day was just heartbreaking because I could not do it.
I watched from the sidelines. Just watching them running inside the pitch, and I could not do it, felt bad," he shared.
Beyond the physical demands of rugby, Kubu also missed the camaraderie and sense of unity among his teammates, who remained a constant source of support throughout his recovery.
"Apart from the rugby action, I missed the camaraderie of the boys. Sometimes, I had to be on bed rest because of the injury, but being back to action is amazing,” he added.
Despite the difficult road to recovery, Kubu credits his teammates, friends, and the Kabras RFC management for their unwavering support.
"It was quite tough. But my teammates, friends, and Kabras RFC management have been there for me. We were also in communication with the guys from Simbas.
I strongly believe that they were part of my recovery, something I am very grateful for," he said.
As he reintegrates into the team, Kubu is focused on improvement, bearing in mind that the Simbas’ journey is far from over.
“We have to go back to the drawing board, watch some footage and see where we need to work on, brush up a few things, and see where we can be in the next couple of days,” he averred.
The Simbas will play Uganda Cranes in the Victoria Cup slated for Saturday 16 November at the King’s Park Arena in Kampala.
Kubu has been a rare gem for Kabras RFC, steering the team to its first-ever Kenya Cup victory in 2016, before recapturing the title on other several occasions, including the concluded 2022/23 and 2023/24 Kenya Cup seasons.
The Fijian-born rugby player also propelled the Sugarmen to their maiden Enterprise Cup title in 2019, which they have since retained.
Kubu arrived in Kenya in 2015 as part of the Samurai team for the annual Safari Sevens and was part of a group of Fijian players signed by Kenya Cup side Kabras Sugar.
While his mates stayed for a year and left, Kubu found a new love for Kenya and felt right at home. Six years later, he received a call-up to the Kenya Simbas team by the then head coach Paul Odera, courtesy of a change in the rules of eligibility by World Rugby.
He played for the 15s side and also received some call-ups with the sevens, but it was in the longer version of the game that he found a home. Only time can tell what he holds in the 15s game.
