Kenya rugby international Tony Onyango dead

Tony Onyango (with ball) of Kenya Simba's scores a try against Mathew Mcivab of Zimbabwe during their Africa Gold Cup rugby match at the RFUEA Ground in Nairobi on June 30, 2018. Simba won 45-36. Photo[Stafford Ondego, Standard]

Kenya Simbas, Kenya Sevens and Kenya Commercial Bank rugby player Tony Onyango is dead.

Onyango reportedly collapsed on Tuesday night, March 3 at his home in Ngong, Kajiado County after returning from training.

The player was said to be in good health and even attended training in the evening with his current club KCB ahead of the Kenya Cup playoffs set for this weekend.

His body has been taken to Umash Funeral Home.

The club has led the rugby fraternity in mourning the loss of the tough-tackling fullback.

"It is with seismic disturbance that we announce the sudden death of our KCB Rugby player Tony Onyango Opondo. This happened at his home in Ngong on the 3rd of March 2020. We will update on further details. We ask for your prayers during this trying time," read a statement from KCB confirmed by Team Manager Philip Wamae. 

Kenya Rugby Union mourned him as a player who represented the country diligently.

 "We join the entire Kenyan rugby fraternity in mourning Tony Onyango Opondo of KCB Rugby Club who passed away on Tuesday 3 March 2020. Tony had played for the Kenya national team across all representative levels," said KRU.

Onyango won the National Sevens Circuit with his former club Homeboyz in 2016 and Kenya Cup title with his current club KCB and was part of the golden Strathmore Leos squad that reached the Kenya Cup final in 2013.

His former Strathmore Leos team manager Fahad Adil remembered him as a great sportsman.

"A great player, a great fullback,” he said.

Onyango got his maiden Kenya Simba call up by coach Michael Tank in April 2012. He featured for Kenya U19s in 2010 and played for Kenya Sevens Rugby under Paul Treu in 2015.

The Simbas regular was a skipper for Maseno School during his High School days, with his friend Godfrey Okoth remembering him as a great athlete.

"I have lost a good friend, a father and a rival back from high school to club rugby. Tony Onyango. Our last conversation on Whatsapp you were consoling on the death of my bro in law. I can't believe that you're gone. Someone make it make sense please. Broken. Umenimaliza bro,” tweeted Okoth.

The cause of his death is yet to be established he has left behind a wife and a son. 

Go well Tony!