Faith Nzilani

Celebrated Kenya Rugby Sevens coach Benjamin Ayimba who succumbed to Celebral Malaria on May 21, was, yesterday eulogised as a great leader, a passionate and inspirational sportsman who will be remembered for changing rugby in Kenya.

The most successful rugby coach in Kenya, 2016 will go down in history as his career highlight year when he led the national Sevens team, Shujaas, to their maiden Olympics Games in Rio as well as the team’s first and only victory so far at the World Sevens Rugby series.

He was honoured by the Rugby fraternity as a player and coach who pushed all he came in contact with to play better and believe in themselves and commit to whatever they believed in.

He put his body on the line and was punishingly demanding of himself and asked the same of his teammates and players he coached.

Additionally, those who gave their tributes during the event held at the RFUEA grounds, attended by people from all walks of life among them former Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka, spoke of Ayimba’s love for coaching the young players, mostly his teammates’ children, even when he was not officially their team’s coach.

Ayimba foundation

Kalonzo called on KRU to consider starting a foundation in his honour.

“Dad was strict and direct, loving and very genuine. He was more of a friend to his sons.

While he loved coaching, he made sure that he never coached us as he felt that would have taken the credit away from us.

He was, however, our biggest support system on the pitch and in life. I am grateful for how Kenyans have stood with our family for the last five months.

Our father has left big shoes to fill and we have to live according to his life lessons that were immense,” said Ayimba’s eldest son Brian Ayimba.

Alvas Onguru, the president of Ayimba’s former club Mwamba RFC said that there is need for the sports men and women, clubs and federations to come together and find a way to put their players on a long- term insurance plan that would outlast their playing days.

“It has to start from somewhere and the onus is on us to come together first before asking for the government’s and corporate world help in ensuring our people, active or otherwise have a safety net for life after the game.

We all know what happened when Benja fell ill and that should not happen for any of our heros and heroines.

Onguru celebrated Ayimba as a fighter who exhibited leadership skills since they met at Maseno School where his rugby skills were horned.

“I was at Maseno School on my internship when this form one very athletic student joined and said he wanted to learn the sport.

I happened to be one of the coaching staff and played some friendly matches in the area (illegally of course as I was not a high school student- he chuckles).

Even as a form one, you could see the older students going to him, when he finally got the hang of the sport, for advice. He went on to become a better player and coach than I was,” Onguru remembered.

Fred Ollows a World Rugby trainer reiterated Onguru’s sentiments on a need for better medical care and welfare for the players from the onset of their career adding that mental health welfare should be at the core of each club and Federation.

“I knew him at the University team before I joined Kenya Sevens where we interacted more. He was a master of getting people believe in themselves. He dreamt big, and he brought the same energy to any team.

He had a tremendous impact on Leos in the six months he coached the team,” Strathmore Leos’ Phillip Muturi said in his tribute.