Secret behind Kevin Wambua’s coaching prowess

A historic return to the HSBC World Rugby 7s Series, a direct Olympic slot, Safari 7s triumph, and significant wins over arch-rivals South Africa and Germany have characterized Coach Kevin Wambua’s reign so far.

Wambua was appointed Shujaa’s coach on August 4, 2023, replacing Damian Mc Grath who had a rather unceremonious 14 months stay in the office.

When he took over, few gave him and his young team a chance of winning so soon, let alone qualifying for the Paris Olympics or even the unimaginable; HSBC World Series return.

Together with the new technical bench, they were given only four months to prepare the team.

The tactician inherited a team that had lost some of the brightest stars like Collins Injera, William Ambaka and Billy Odhiambo to retirement.

His first assignment was the Africa Cup, and he picked a young squad, recalling only three seasoned players - Vincent Onyala, Anthony Omondi and Herman Humwa - to the squad.

Patrick Odongo (Daystar), Samuel 'TinTin' Asati (KCB) and Nigel Amaitsa (Strathmore Leos) were some of the new players in the team.

But what is the inspiration behind his unique coaching style?

In an exclusive with Mozzart Sport during their homecoming ceremony, Wambua revealed that he finds a profound source of inspiration and motivation from the legacy of the late rugby coach Benjamin Ayimba.

Ayimba succumbed to cerebral malaria on Friday 21 May 2021 while receiving treatment at the Kenyatta National Hospital at just 44 years of age.

A former player himself, he transitioned into coaching, leading Shujaa to numerous milestones.

Under his guidance, they reached the first-ever World Series final in 2009 and achieved a historic Rugby World Cup Sevens semi-final finish that same year. Their impressive performance guaranteed them an automatic qualification to the 2013 World Cup in Moscow.

In memory of Benjamin Ayimba

His second stint as head coach, starting in 2016, was just as remarkable. He steered them to qualification for the inaugural Rugby 7s Olympic Games in Rio and masterminded a stunning victory over powerhouses Fiji in the 2016 Singapore 7s final.

The then Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) board declined to renew his contract after the Rio Olympics and instead replaced him with Innocent Simiyu whose contract ended in 2018.

Several coaches have come and left, but Ayimba’s memory still lives on. He achieved unforgettable feats with Shujaa, and coach Wambua constantly cites his influence as a cornerstone of his coaching philosophy.

Pomp and color as triumphant Shujaa return home

“This win is a big feat, slightly compared to the great Ayimba who was one of the greats of the game. I take motivation from that and it can only get better,” Wambua offered.

Drawing from Ayimba’s example, Wambua stressed the importance of nurturing young talent and building a cohesive team culture.

“I believe that I am still growing, I am still learning and I will continue to trust the process and work hard to get better,” he averred.

He dedicated the win to the players for their zeal and determination throughout the Challenger Series. He also lauded fans for their unwavering support.

Government assures investment in robust transition pipeline to maintain Shujaa core status

“This win is big for the players. Most of them, this is what they do for a living. Also, for the fans who have been pushing us hard, this is just for them,” he revealed.

With just over a month till the Paris Olympics, the team will rest and resume training to further sharpen their skills.

“A podium finish in the Paris Olympics is within reach. We are optimistic,” Wambua said.

Shujaa roared back to the HSBC World Rugby 7s Series on Sunday, 2 June after a triumphant 33-15 win over Germany in the promotion qualifier playoff match played in Madrid, Spain.

That result ended their one year in the cold. They were relegated from the prestigious global event in May 2023 after narrowly losing 12-5 to Canada in the relegation playoffs final at Twickenham Stadium in London.

Resilient Shujaa whip Germany to reclaim World Sevens Series core status