DEC GGAAMMEE LLIIVVEE!! 2020

PATRICE AGUNDA Staying competitive in business and rugby

PHILA THE LIONESS One on one with Philadelphia Olando

NONDIES FINDS A NEW HOME

WORLD 10s SERIES FOREWORD

Dear Readers IFirsNtly, as always, let me thank you all for taking time to read our small magazine. Let me also thank the partners who have supported us by providing advertising content to reach a wider audience.

We all hope we can resume active rugby as proposed by the League Committee Tand urgeH all to strictIly adhSere to laid down and best practice protocols to keep our players and officials safe. This will for sure provide us with more content and colour for the magazine. IIn thSis editionS we thankU guest wriEter “Ortice” for his quick trip down a long memory lane and we encourage other writers to reach out and we can feature your work in Game Live.

Let me take this opportunity to wish everyone a Good Christmas as we look forward to a much better 2021.

Thomas Odundo Director of Rugby

GAME LIVE | 2 IN THIS ISSUE EDITORIAL 05 PATRICE AGUNDA Staying competitive in "In this month's edition,we get to sit down with Patrice business and rugby Agunda who shares insights into rugby and entrepreneurship. 13 PHILA THE LIONESS One on one with Kenya Lionesses skipper Philadelphia Olando We also chat with Lionesses captain Philadelphia Olando and learn more about Nondies move to their new home 19 NONDIES FINDS A NEW HOME venue. Felix Oloo's transition from player to coach Our regular rugby for beginners segment also features this 24 KRU HOSTS INDUCTION month. FOR SECURITY TEAM Veteran rugby man rests Enjoy the publication and feel free to give us feedback via email [email protected] 26 WORLD 10S SERIES Kenyan stars victorious in Bermuda

29 RUGBY FOR BEGINNERS Michael Kwambo & Wambui Mumbi GAME LIVE | 3

PATRICE AGUNDA Elite rugby player, businessman

Patrice Agunda in previous sevens action for Kenya

When you walk into the Kenya Harlequin club He remembers his first interschool match house every afternoon during training days, where he gave all his defenders hand offs you are guaranteed to find Patrice Agunda in primarily because he didn’t know how to pass the gym doing his extras. If he isn’t there, the ball. rest assured he is on his way as has been his habit over the years. “When some of the seniors led by Oliver Mang'eni saw me play, I received a request to In the thirteen years he has been a Kenya join the school team and that’s how I took Harlequin player, his rugby growth has been this sport seriously.” impeccable and it birthed the idea to start a business of his own, something he’s always His rugby profile started taking shape while wanted to do; be his own boss. in form three when he was included in the Nyanza team taking part in the 2006 Safari Patrice, who has played for Kenya at all Sevens Schools competition. representative levels (U20, Sevens and Fifteens) started his rugby journey in form two at St. Mary’s Yala.

GAME LIVE! | 5 Patrice Agunda in action for Kenya Harlequin against bitter rivals Impala /Photo/OSBKE

POST HIGH SCHOOL JOURNEY

Once Patrice completed his high school studies When it came to his education, Patrice had a in 2007, he joined Nondescript RFC before well thought out plan where he dedicated moving to Kenya Harlequin. himself to his rugby club for two years after which he approached them and asked for In typical Ngong Road banter, he added that financial support for his academics. something about Impala just didn’t seem fit for him. His father was a lecturer at University of and that meant that he had a certain On his first day at the Quins’ ground, he found percentage of the school fees covered and the likes of Victor Sudi, Chris Oduor playing all Quins’ needed to do was cover the rest. touch and was excited since these were some of the players whom he had idolized while in Seeing how good he was, the club went school. ahead and agreed to pay his fees and he studied Psychology.o Chris Oduor asked him to join the team training and later that evening he learnt that there was a gym available in the same premises. From that moment onward, he has never looked back.

GAME LIVE!|6 Patrice Agunda in 15s action for Kenya against in Nairobi

LESSONS FROM RUGBY INSPIRATION TO VENTURE INTO BUSINESS

“Patience is the one thing I can confidently say Agunda, was a regular on the national sevens rugby has taught me,” said Agunda. team, Shujaa, for close to five years between 2011 and 2015, playing regular on the HSBC He has learnt that one needs to be very Sevens World Series. patient with their teammates because it’s for the greater good of the team when everyone It was during one of the series tours where he fully understands their role both on and off noticed the variety of boots available, something the pitch. He also added that being selfless is that was scarce back home. another thing rugby has taught him. That was the beginning of his business, Bijon “As a rugby player, you learn to look at the Brands Africa and Fanatics Boots. bigger picture. You may find yourself given the smallest role in the team but that shouldn’t At first, he only shared pictures on social media dampen your spirit because at the end of the for people to look at and not really make a sale day, you’re playing a role that’s helping the but later, he slowly started selling to the few whole team.” These values are also relevant in who’d ask for the shoes. our day to day activities.

GAME LIVE! |7

Kenya's Patrice Agunda takes USA's Zach Test in past HSBC Sevens World Series action

His time with Shujaa ended in 2015 and when The more I shared photos, the more clients I his sister asked him to look for an internship, started getting and along the journey, I it was a gentle nudge to start focusing on his learnt of the many other things I could do business formal employment has never been based on the questions I got from my an idea he entertained. clients.”

“I’ve always wanted to live on my own terms Patrice started off selling sports shoes and and this is why I chose to start a business,” he attires and his business has grown to added. merchandising and business development.

Going back to his online shop, he was The growth came through his keen ear determined to share photos of what he where clients would ask if he was able to intended to sell regardless of whether people brand items for them and he always knew bought the products or not. just the right person to help him out. The relationships he has made with people “I was determined to do my part, which was have been very impactful on his journey. posting all the photos of items I had. I didn’t care if people would buy them or not, I just “I love listening to clients because it wanted to put everything out in the public. presents an opportunity for me to learn new things. “he added. CHALLENGES, ADVICE AND FUTURE PLANS

Capital is always a challenge when starting your own business but his daily mantra is this, “you can’t lack capital and a business idea if you claim to be an entrepreneur.”

He believes that if you lack capital, you can and should identify those who would support your business idea, go pitch to them and await their feedback. Your character will also play a role in their willingness to support you, that’s why Patrice is very vocal about how one behaves off pitch.

“There are very many businesses I have transacted without money and the reason for this is that those I worked with, trusted me to come through.” He said.

Being a business man means that Patrice has people looking to him for their salary. Patrice Agunda in full flight/Mid-Ego In times when the business has had a rough month, he ensures that he has means to “I also learnt that the way I carried myself on pay his staff even if it means he gets and off the rugby pitch played an integral role nothing.. in getting clients for my business. This is propelled by his willingness to Rugby builds character and this is something listen to his people and put himself in their some of us forget, character isn’t just about shoes. That gives him a better how you perform on the field, it’s about how understanding of their point of view thus you behave off pitch when making him work harder to ensure they are interacting/relating with different people. all paid their dues.

We need to use our playing years as a stepping Popularly called “Kamau” within the rugby stone for the greater things ahead of us. fraternity, Patrice notes this name was given to him because of his ability to However good you are as a player, never let it deliver a service or product within the get to your head so much so that you start promised time. being proud and thinking that others are beneath you. He plans on expanding his business exponentially in the years to come and is Learn to be humble even in victory.” also considering working on his coaching credentials and will use them later in life.

PHILA THE LIONESS One on one with Kenya Lionesses skipper Philadelphia Olando

Philadelphlia Olando (left) with Kenyan Sports Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohammed (right)

Philadelphia Olando is the current Kenya GAME LIVE: Did you always love sports? And if Women's skipper and will be looking to lead so, which sport did you play before rugby? the Lionesses to an impressive outing at the Tokyo Olympics set for July 2021. Phila: I have always been fascinated with sports since I was young. Football was my first sport. KRU's Wambui Mumbi recent had a sit down with the Lionesses skipper and this is how it GAME LIVE: How did you get into rugby? What went. was the inspiration?

GAME LIVE: Who is Philadelphia Olando? Phila: Well,I was playing football and was on my Phila: I am a strong willed, loving, never say die way to playing for the national team. My friends person, born in Migori county and partly raised were the inspiration for me to join rugby; former in and its environs. I went to Migori Lionesses Captain Doreen Remour, who was also Primary and St Vitalis Nanga. I am a trained life a former football player who we used to skills personnel, FIFA Level 1 Coach, First compete with from time to time played a major woman in Kenya to receive the World Rugby role in luring me into rugby. Strength and Conditioning level 2 Certificate, an Olympian (2016) and a KCB volleyball team Strength and Conditioning Coach. GAME LIVE! | 13 GAME LIVE: Given that rugby is largely perceived to be a man's sport, how did your family and friends react when you decided to play rugby?

Phila: Sports disciplines in general are male dominated and as such women are seen as intruders. My family did not know about my decision to play rugby but with time my dad learnt of it but he neither discouraged nor encouraged me.

At the beginning, my close friends were discouraging me but on seeing the progress I was GAME LIVE : How does it feel captaining the making, they turned to be great supporters. national team? Many of them ended up joining me. Phila: It is first and foremost an honour and a GAME LIVE: What are your best and worst rugby privilege to lead the national team but it’s also memories added responsibility on my part.

Phila: Facing South Africa in the 2014 CAR It's carrying the weight of the nation on your Women's 7s finals in Machakos after defeating back. It's being a leader and a role model. Tunisia in the semifinals. Irene Otieno and myself had been cited in the quarters after It's both fun and demanding in equal measure. facing Senegal and we weren't sure if we’d be You have to lead from the front, both in the allowed to take part in the remaining games. good and bad times. Everyone will never agree Luckily, we were allowed back to play the with you all the time but they will always final after a one-match ban though we respect you if you lead by example. It's never eventually lost. easy and people expect you to be perfect and always having solutions for everything, which My worst moment is when we lost captain is never the case. fantastic Aberdeen Shikhoyi after the 2012 first leg in Uganda, she was such a As a leader sometimes it's lonely as you try to talent and I’m honored to have been captained by ensure that the team is focused and that you her. are all focusing towards the desired goal. Being a captain in Kenya is not for the faint GAME LIVE: How did it feel breaking into the hearted but when we go out there and national team? represent the Nation and come back victorious, the feeling is unmatched Phila: It was very exciting and challenging. I honestly wasn't sure when it was going to happen since we had more seniors in the team who were still active and I was only 17yrs old at the time

GAME LIVE! | 14 Philadelphia Olando in acton during the 2017 HSBC Women's Sevens qualifiers in Hong Kong/Photo/Jan Perlich/Ministry of Rugby

GAME LIVE: You were part of the squad that GAME LIVE: How does it feel being a woman in a represented Kenya at the 2016 Olympics in Rio, high profile sport? what was that experience like? Phila: It feels wonderful; I could not have asked Phila: The experience was unbelievable. for a better time than this. Everything was top notch. We have our challenges in getting sponsorships It was the epitome of professionalism in every and the game is still not played in school but the aspect of the sport from the set up tide is slowly changing with more publicity, more organization to the athlete themselves. You drive to get more women participating in would have to experience it to understand it. management and at the board level it's surely a The memories are unforgettable. good feeling in general.

Fantastic is an understatement.

.

GAME LIVE! | 15 Philadelphia Olando in acton during the 2019 Women's Elgon Cup /Photo/Arigi Obiero/Ministry of Rugby

GAME LIVE: What are some of the challenges Fifth: Lack of inclusion of girls rugby in Kenya women in sports encounter? primary school’s sports association, Kenya Phila: First: women in the African context are Secondary Schools’ Sports Association and looked at in terms of their chores that they are Kenya University Sports Association calendars. supposed to perform at home, this limits them from participating as more time is taken by Six: Media coverage when it comes to women home activities. sports hasn’t been as big as it is for the men, thus resulting in lack of information about Second: the game does not pay due to lack of women games to a larger audience who could be sponsorship thus Women cannot depend on it potential players. to earn a living. Seven: Shortage of women role models for the Third: is lack of facilities for women to train. girls to look upon and aspire to be like in rugby. washrooms and changing areas are not women friendly thus keeping them away. Lastly: There’s been a misconception that the sport is just for men but in the recent past, that Fourth: teenage pregnancy, early marriage and narrative is slowly eroding. outdated traditional practices are a major challenge. GAME LIVE! | 16

Philadelphia Olando in acton during the 2019 Women's Elgon Cup GAME LIVE: We all know that COVID19 has hit sports hard. How has it affected you and how are you dealing with the situation?

Phila: Rugby is a team sport and not being able to train as a team has not been easy. There is no surety that other team members are training and thus no team cohesion.

I have been doing individual training. I am grateful to NOC-K for providing us with some training equipment to enable us keep fit. I have also taken it as a time to do rehabilitation of my body and to learn more about the game through online courses and video analysis.

GAME LIVE: What lessons have you learnt from rugby?

Phila: That there are two sides to the journey of life, the good side and the bad side. When facing these sides, the core values of Rugby should always reign Supreme.

GAME LIVE: Any word of advice you can give to young women interested in taking up sports?

Phila: Try, try and try again. If you fail, keep trying and working at it until you get it right.

. GAME LIVE! | 17

NONDIES FINDS A NEW HOME Founded in 1923, Kenya's oldest rugby club moves to a new residence

The wall of fame inside the new club house/photo courtesy

By Steven "Ortice" Otieno The Red Lion’s 1st home was at Parklands Sports Club from 1923 to March 1996 when the After staying nearly close to 20 years at the management decided to end their lease ASK Jamhuri Park, The Red Lion shifted its contract. residence to the Ngong Race-course Jockey Club. This led to them settling at the St. Mary’s School-Nairobi, where they called home up until Being the Oldest Rugby Club in East and Central the year 2000 after which they moved to their Africa, Nondescripts RFC boasts as the most famous ASK Jamhuri Showground base. decorated rugby club in Kenya with a wealth of over 15 Kenya Cup titles, 25 Enterprise Cups just Through this period Nondies maintained its to mention a few. establishment as a core member of the Kenya’s top tier Rugby competition (Kenya Cup) winning Nondescripts RFC or as they are fondly known various accolades while producing some of the The Nondies Rangers/The White Shirts/The Red most exciting top talents in Kenya Rugby. Lion was formed on 11th July 1923 at The New Stanley Hotel-Nairobi.

GAME LIVE! | 19 Nondies vets in a past match at the Jamhuri Park

The 1st match to be hosted at the Jamhuri Park was on 17th June 2000 pitting Nondies against the London Scottish of England, which also initiated the grand opening of the famous Red Lion Lounge at the Park.

During the stay at The ASK Showgrounds Nondies was not fortunate enough to replicate its form in winning major honors’ as it managed to win the KRFU-U-18 15s Cup and the 2012 Impala Floodlit tournament alongside,

2000-Dubai 7’s veterans Cup Safari 7’s Vet’s Cup wins from 2001-2010 2002-Great Rift 10’s aka Nakuru 10’s 2002-Driftwood 7’s 2002-Kenya Harlequin’s Christie 7’s 2012-Dubai 7’s Veterans 2013-Frachatti 7’s Rome-Italy Source; Paul Okong’o – Kenya Rugby Historian GAME LIVE! | 20 Nondies last won the Kenya Cup and The titles in the year 1998 captained by Overall Team Captain Mike B. Evans and Field Captain Neil McRae.

The Last Major Cup won by Nondies, captained by Joseph Wachira was against the Impala Floodlit tournament’s favourites Mean Machine at the Impala Sports Club which ended at 17-12 in favour of the white shirts.

Away from that Nondescripts is still the most successful team in Kenya in terms of Kenya Cup (17) and Enterprise Cup titles (25).

GAME LIVE! | 21 The grand opening of the Nondies club house Nondies enjoyed the sole ownership of the Jamhuri Park as its home for a long time until recently when the ASK Showground management decided to put in restrictions on the number of days allowed to access the training grounds in order to accommodate other teams.

Now this proved to be difficult as the club could not be able to attain its set goals at a particular season prompting the Nondies Management to seek greener pastures.

A deal was struck between Nondescripts RFC and the Jockey Club of Kenya to allow the leasing of part of the grounds for a 10-year period with an option to extend the lease.

The move is aimed at enabling the attainment of the club’s ambition of going back to the glory days when it consistently competed for the major honors in Kenyan rugby.

The Red Lion Club house was opened to public on the 17th of October 2020 during a colourful party attended by the larger rugby fraternity and the club members.

As we wait for the official resumption of the games here at home, the excitement of starting a new chapter at the new grounds cannot be imagined. Until then, see you at the new Red Lion Club House!!

GAME LIVE! | 22

K.R.U HOSTS INDUCTION COURSE FOR SECURITY TEAM

The weekend of 2nd to 4th October saw the volunteers who work as the KRU Security team hold a retreat that served several purposes.

It was a bonding and familiarisation trip as well as introduction and induction for new volunteers. Finally several brief talks were held that completed the weekend.

Alan Khakame, who heads the volunteers spoke before the course, saying, “In this challenging times, Event security and Safety is of utmost importance for any Organization.

The Security trainings we have undertaken are a refresher course, compliance training and fitness checks, introduce new Standard of Operating Procedures (SOPs), and to gel the team together.”

The Course was facilitated by Third Eye Solutions Limited – a private security firm that deals with various aspects of personal and corporate security.

Evans Okeyo, Director of Strategy and Marketing at Third Eye Solutions said, “The aim of the course was to provide a creative approach to understanding; Corporate Security & Policing, Briefing& Debriefing, Media & Communication, Digital Surveillance and Diplomacy & Sensitive information.”

GAME LIVE! | 24 ” With this in mind the content was not too heavy and easily assimilated by the attendees.

“The training was tailored to blend in all our security teams, build endurance, team work and better team coordination for the realization of KRU events safety and security protocols, Covid- 19 measures and emerging crime trends”, adds James Pamba, Director of Training and Operations at Third Eye Solutions.

A total of 32 persons attended the event and obtained certificates for the same. The Chief Guest for the weekend was Thomas Odundo – KRU Director of Rugby who was impressed by the turn out, the activities and the outcomes for the course.

“The enthusiasm showed by all the attendees for the activities and the content was very impressive. Some tasks, especially the hike were not easy, but everyone worked to make sure they all made it.

The spirit of volunteerism is very high in the group and was touched that some travel from as far as Garissa and the border area to lend a hand and ensure KRU events are successful. With this spirit, we are encouraged to look for bigger and better events.

GAME LIVE! | 25 WAmbakaO, AmoRnde, DLenis Dand In jer1a vi0ctorioSus w ithS SX10E in BeRrmudIa ES

SX10 overturned a 14-0 deficit to beat Ohio SX10 faced the Asia Pacific Dragons in Aviators in the final of the WTS Cup at the quarter final three and produced a classy National Sports Complex in Hamilton, Bermuda. performance to prevail 19-0. Cecil Afrika crossed for a brace of tries and A brace of tries from the Cup’s top points scorer crossed for a first half score. The win set up Collins Injera and the winning try from South a semi final contest against Phoenix. It was African, Craig Hunt, was enough to ensure the South African Craig Hunt who scooted in for win for Frankie Horne’s side. the first score, sprinting away from the covering Phoenix defence to open the SX10 The Aviators sprung into an early lead thanks to account. JT Jackson added a two-point scores from Riekert Hattingh and Brad Tucker to conversion to make it 7-0 at half time.The put themselves in the ascendancy, but the never second half was closely fought with Phoenix say die attitude of the SX10 squad, a team that putting in a spirited performance. After a spent the opening round of the World Tens long period of possession, the ball was series League in self isolation following a turned over and Kenyan 7s star Oscar Ouma positive COVID-19 result, was enough to get scored the match winning score two minutes them over the line and see them lift the WTS Cup from time.

GAME LIVE! | 26 in action at the World 10s series

The Aviators started the WTS Cup final in the same fashion as they had played all day. Their brute strength again coming to the fore. Riekert Hattingh went over for the first try off a brilliant set piece move, before Brad Tucker extended that lead.

Two Ben Cima two-point conversions saw the Aviators 14 points ahead. From then on, it was all about SX10.

Collins Injera, the top points scorer for the WTS Cup, pulled a try back before half time and a JT Jackson two-point conversion reduced the arrears to seven points at the break.

The Kenyan flier had his second score on the 15-minute mark and then a brilliant break from Willy Ambaka gave the Cape Town based franchise great field position.

From the resulting phase of play Graig Hunt broke the line for what was to be the winning score. JT Jackson had an unblemished record off the tee to make the final score 21-14 to SX10.

GAME LIVE! | 27

R. F. B Rugby For Beginners Positions

"Rugby union has always been characterised by the notion that it is a game for all shapes and sizes

Uniquely, each position requires a different set of physical and technical attributes and it is this diversity which makes the game so accessible to all.

GAME LIVE ! 29 GAME LIVE! | 30 GAME LIVE! | 31 Our partners We're on social media

@OfficialKRU

KENYA RUGBY

KENYA RUGBY TV

Advertise with us

Tel: +254 714 256 179 Email: [email protected] Website: https://www.kru.co.ke