#TBT, Throw Back Thursday. A popular ‘hashTag’ used on social media to reminisce about the good old times and how far each and every one of us has come.
In many ways, the recent re-appointment of Kenya 7s head coach Benjamin Ayimba can be termed as a #TBT worth reliving. Napoleon said that the world has a habit of giving room to the man, who through his words and his actions, shows that he is headed somewhere. Love or hate him, Ayimba has truly earned his room in the rugby fraternity.
#TBA Throw Back Ayimba
They say before you know where you’re going; you have to know where you came from. 2006/2007 season, when Ayimba was first appointed the Kenya 7s head coach. It is a time when no sponsor was at sight and a time when Kenya 7s culture was blurred and hazy.
A time when Benjamin Ayimba began his maiden international coaching career, competing with coaches who were far more experienced and learned, but he took the challenge and faced it head on. During his period at the healm, Kenya 7s would become a household name in the IRB sevens circuit.
We finally got a sponsor in the name of Virgin Atlantic and with that history followed. Kenya 7s began to take down giants of the sport namely England, New Zealand, South Africa, Fiji. Collins Injera became the first Kenyan to win the Top try scorer award and was also nominated for the player of the season award, alongside brother and captain Humphrey Kayange.
Kenya 7s reached a main cup final and finished fourth in the 2009 sevens world cup. If that’s not enough Kenya 7s won the safari 7s with the biggest score line in a final to date, against the Emerging Boks.
“A man who has been in the rain and found shelter will be more reluctant to go back in the rain than a man who has been under shelter all along.”
#PTA Present Time Ayimba
2015/2016 the present season, once again it looks like we have started all over. A time when Kenya 7s sponsorship has been on the rocks, were this 2006/07 our current series position would have meant that we would be relegated from being a core team.
A time when the Kenya 7s culture looks blurred and hazy, once again. A time that man Ayimba will be tasked with competing among far more experienced in the IRB. This surely is a #TBT wouldn’t you agree?
In the book, A man of the people, chief Nanga says that, “A man who has been in the rain and found shelter will be more reluctant to go back in the rain than a man who has been under shelter all along.” Take a moment to reflect on that quote.
Ayimba has been in the rain for four seasons and has finally found shelter. As you hear him speak about his appointment in interviews he comes out as a man who has identified his failures in the past and he is keen on rectifying them.
He returns surrounded by men with insane work ethic, in an assistant namely Paul Murunga, who has an eye for identifying young talent and who has brought up teams from inception to become power houses like Homeboyz and THE National Under 19 side.
A team manager, Newton Ongalo who always puts the players first and works his ass off, and finally Mr. Flyman himself the Strength and condition coach Geoffrey Kimani, everything he touches seems to turn to gold. He was the sprints coach back then in 2008 but he has come a long way and perfected his craft to be a certified S&C coach. This looks like a match made in heaven but only time will tell.
#FFA Flash Forward Ayimba
Ayimba is no stranger to head waves, he is a man who never minces his words and speaks his mind. For that, people might dislike him or call him bitter. But one thing you can’t take away from him is that, every path he walks he lives a mark.
For the years he has been away from coaching he founded the Masaku 7s that the whole country is talking about, either positively or negatively.
You and I may have our reservations about his appointment. That, maybe the international game he took a break from, four years ago has changed tremendously and he might not be able to match up. We should remember, just like in 2006, when he was first appointed, the sport was far ahead of him but he managed to catch up and dance with the big boys. Will he be able to do it again? Only time will tell.
Conclusion
As I conclude and take you through a personal #TBT where I appealed to the Union to look closer home I have to give credit to them for this brave move.
The truth of the matter is that the problems that we as a fraternity face, were either inherited or created by us. The harsh reality is that no outsiders, not even a mother Theresa is going to come and fix them for us. We have to take the plunge and find our own solutions.
To Ayimba and team, the road might look hard and difficult but its nothing you haven’t gone through before. We wish you all the best. Take Kenya 7s to the Promised Land and give as a #TBT worth retweeting.
Haya Basi!!!!!!