THE STONE THE BUILDERS REJECTED: Ayimba has given fans hope despite opposition to his appointment

Rugby Sevens head coach Benjamin Ayimba give instruction during their training at Gems International school, Nairobi, on saturday, Jan 9, 2016. PHOTO: JONAH ONYANGO/STANDARD.

Like the biblical stone that the builders rejected, Benjamin Otieno Ayimba has become the cornerstone of the Kenyan Sevens Rugby house. The Kenya Sevens team have bounced back and once more it is Ayimba who led the local boys to reclaim their glory.

When South African Paul Treu resigned as head coach and not even Felix ‘Toti’ Ochieng’s leadership could produce the desired results, Kenya needed a quick fix, but who would save the sinking ship?

When Richard Omwela settled on Ayimba to lead the team again, protests from a number of Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) directors greeted his re-appointment. Philip Jalang’o, then the union’s vice chairman, led a big section of directors in opposing Ayimba’s appointment.

With the 2015 Safari Sevens tourney just around the corner, Omwela stood his ground and Ayimba began the process of reuniting the national team players after a bitter fallout between the players, technical bench and union.

Whereas Ayimba’s return was not welcome among some members of the union, the players had faith in his leadership. The senior players who were on strike slowly returned and in three weeks, it was full house at the Sevens training camp.

Unlike his initial appointment in October 2006, this time the man from Alego in Siaya County had a team of experienced players who only needed to be in the right state of mind. “These boys would run through a brick wall for me before and I believe that it is only in working together as a team that we will succeed,” said Ayimba.

Speaking exclusively to The Standard from Singapore, Ayimba reflected on his first stint at the helm of Kenya Sevens. He had just retired from playing rugby and the KRU did not have much in terms of resources. “Right from October 2006, we knew that we would one day get here (Main Cup Finals). All we needed was to keep the faith and work harder. The memories of reaching the semi finals during the 2009 World Cup are still fresh in my mind just like our first series Main Cup Finals in Australia the same year,” he said.

And so on Sunday, Ayimba said that the boys were breathing fire and rearing to go. During the half time break, Ayimba explained that he told them to keep up the pressure without taking chances with the ball.