'It feels as if I’m in a pro setup' - Kenya Simbas star gushes over South Africa program

Andrew Matoka is one of the four Kenyan players currently benefitting from the High Performance training in South Africa.

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Andrew Matoka is one of the four Kenyan players currently benefitting from the High Performance training in South Africa.

'It feels as if I’m in a pro setup' - Kenya Simbas star gushes over South Africa program

Evans Ousuru 08:43 - 31.01.2025

Andrew Matoka is one of the four Kenyan players currently benefitting from the High Performance training in South Africa.

Kenya Simbas star Andrew Matoka is embracing the high-performance training in South Africa.

Matoka, who plays for Impala, is among four benefiting from the five-month Rhinos’ Rugby high-performance camp ongoing in Cape town.

Other players are Kisumu RFC’s David Williams, who also plays for Morans, Jackson Siketi of Kabras and Kenya Shujaa as well as Mwamba’s youngster Dennis Ndayala who also features for Chipu.

Speaking during his first week of training at the Gordon’s Bay training facility as reported by the Kenya Rugby Union, Matoka said; “Player welfare is top notch – all my on-pitch and off-pitch needs have been catered for. Training is intense, but the coaches have informed us that it will get more intense as the program peaks. It feels as if I’m in a pro setup.”

On his part, South African 7s legend and head coach of the Rhino’s 7s High Performance Program Frankie Horne said: “We have always been keen to assist Kenya achieve their atheletes’ potential and that is why we have always given opportunities to Kenyan girls and boys who are in the national team pathways to join our High Performance programs both in Gordon’s Bay South African and San Clement in LA.”

Speaking about the quartet’s invitation to the HP program, Kenya 7s head coach Kevin Wambua expressed his intention to continue plugging into the Rhinos’ High-Performance Program to boost the Shujaa’s player development pathway.

“I wish the young lads all the best during their stay at Gordon’s Bay and we hope to have them back into our program as better athletes – not only physically, but also in their overall sevens rugby IQ."

The program runs from January to May.