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Kenya Sevens ace Vincent Onyala has explained the biggest thing he learnt from playing alongside Billy Odhiambo who hung up his boots this month.
Kenya Sevens co-captain Vincent Onyala has revealed the biggest thing that Billy ’no longer the Kid’ Odhiambo taught him before retiring from international rugby this month.
Odhiambo decided to call time on his career on his 30th birthday after years of playing high level rugby, having been part of the Kenya Sevens setup for a long time.
His retirement effectively marked the end of Kenya’s historic golden generation which won the 2016 Singapore Sevens title, and it now effectively means that there is a completely new crop of players that will have to be the ones to bring the country back to its former glories.
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Ahead of taking part in the Safari Sevens tournament for Shujaa, Vincent Onyala, who played alongside Odhiambo at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, has revealed the biggest thing he learnt from working with Odhiambo.
“Just do your part, that is Billy Odhiambo,” Onyala told Pulse Sports.
“Billy Odhiambo is one of those players who, when he stepped onto that field, he always gave his all.”
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Onyala has aimed a dig at the young players who have been coming through, saying they lack the kind of dedication and sheer determination that Odhiambo had.
“Most of these young players just want to come and be part of the team in terms of ‘I played for Kenya Sevens’, but what will you be remembered for?," he posed.
“So, having the experience of Billy Odhiambo and now that he has retired, he taught me that, when you enter that field, you have to give your maximum best.”
Odhiambo's retirement echoed not just in the realms of rugby but also among the hearts of fans who had witnessed the rise of a legend.
His story wasn’t just about the tournaments or the tries; it was a tale of resilience and unwavering dedication that spanned over a decade. The decision to retire at the age of 30 marked a transition, but the impact he made was indelible.
Odhiambo got to experience both the highs and lows of being a Kenya Sevens player. Despite the fact he experienced being part of a winning team in 2016, he also had to endure the pain of suffering relegation as Kenya lost its 19-year core status at the top of World Sevens rugby.
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