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Two tennis superstars that Kenya Sevens' Nygel Amaitsa taught Sheng during Olympics
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Reading Time: 3min | Mon. 02.09.24. | 08:02
The charismatic youngster met two tennis superstars at the Olympic Village and quickly found common ground with Nadal and Djokovic with the trio striking up a friendship
Kenya Sevens rising star Nygel Amaitsa is one of the players who debuted for Shujaa during the Paris 2024 Olympics.
While the Strathmore Leos’ centre and fly half's performance at the Olympics was undoubtedly impressive, one particular highlight still lingers in his mind; his unexpected encounter with tennis legends Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic.
The charismatic youngster met the two tennis superstars at the Olympic Village and quickly found common ground with Nadal and Djokovic with the trio striking up a friendship.
One of the most memorable moments of their time together was when Amaitsa decided to teach the tennis stars a few sheng phrases.
“I met lots of stars like Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic. I taught them a little Sheng like ‘rada’,” he happily recalled.
‘Rada’ is a sheng word that could have various meanings depending on the context but it is commonly translated to mean ‘You’re good?’ in English.
Besides that memorable encounter, the youngster noted that he learned lots of invaluable lessons that he will be keen to apply in his rugby career.
“I learned different modes of the game; keeping my cool under pressure, playing under pressure, and most importantly, I understood my roles well. Playing on that stage was a dream. I shared the pitch with some of the biggest names in the world and it felt so good,” he revealed.
What still wows him is the opening ceremony experience. Amaitsa still marvels at the grandeur and emotion of the event, describing it as a moment almost impossible to put into words.
“It was fun and glorious. I have never seen anything of that sort. Sailing on that river (Seine) in front of the cheering fans, and how we Kenyans were on the boat together was so much fan. The architecture in Paris was amazing. I enjoyed every bit of it,” he recalled.
At the same time, the youngster aims at an upward career progression. He plays a position previously held by retired former Kenya Sevens ace Billy 'The Kid' Odhiambo.
Odhiambo announced his retirement from rugby in November 2023, and Amaitsa is on the right course towards filling the huge shoes of his predecessor.
The veteran is one of the most capped players. He is among five players who have scored 100-plus tries for Kenya in the World Sevens Series. He played in 68 tournaments and landed 111 tries in a Kenya Sevens jersey.
Each time Amaitsa pulls on the jersey, he is reminded of the high standards set by Odhiambo and the dedication it takes to reach that level.
“I aim at becoming better. I look up to Billy Odhiambo. I play his role in the sport,” he offered.
With the 2025 HSBC SVNS Series fast approaching, Amaitsa expressed a strong desire to perform at his best. He admits that competing in the Challenger Series, Olympics, and the ongoing National Sevens Circuit has given him the much-needed experience to compete at the highest stage.
“The series does not scare me. I love challenges and I am not scared of that stage. It will be my rookie season and I expect to get into the game as fast as possible. The circuit is giving us much experience, but it cannot be compared to the level of rugby we expect in the series,” he concluded.
The 21-year-old made his national team debut during the Africa Men’s Sevens cum Olympics qualifiers held in September 2023 in Harare, Zimbabwe.
He scored a hat-trick of tries in Kenya’s opening match against Nigeria to lead the team to a 34-10 victory. His fine form continued when he scored another try as Kenya beat Zambia 38-12 in the final pool match.
He was on the scoresheet again, scoring a try in the semifinal when they defeated Zimbabwe. He was also a key player for Shujaa as they beat Samurai 19-0 to retain their Safari Sevens title last year.
