Amonde in emotions and spills of his rugby career

What a time for one of Kenya's most successful rugby players to hang their boots. The next year's Tokyo Olympics may be the stage to leave him after his checkered rugby career that has made him the envy of many while juggling between the game versions of the sevens and the 15s with ease.

Released to the world of rugby just after high school in 2004, Andrew Amonde has established himself as a cunning integral player by winning 50 international matches in 15 and 70 international matches in sevens.

The father of two children, who used to play basketball and handball in high school, taking Kisumu Boys to nationals on several occasions, seems to have discovered what he wants to do after his active days as a player ended in rugby.


Winning the African Gold Cup twice in 2011 and 2013 with Kenya Simbas and captaining the Kenya Sevens team for their historic victory in Singapore Sevens in 2016, are things that Amonde appreciates.

That is why Amonde, 35, who now has one more season in his career as a player, wants to take a slightly different route, but within rugby circles to return him to society.


"I will not be in this game for a long time and with the Tokyo Olympics next year as my last competitive outing, I want to specialize completely in strength training and conditioning exclusively in rugby," says Amonde, who is determined that Kenya qualifies for the Tokyo Summer Olympics, having failed in the 2018/2019 Sevens Rugby World Series.


"We have lacked variety in rugby, the game lacks the right strength and conditioning trainers," explains Amonde, who has now finished with World Rugby Level I training and heads to Level II.

"The needs of rugby are quite different from those of football, athletics and any other sport, so specialization is vital."

Amonde says that while both versions of the game have made him a complete and complete player, his greatest asset and secret to longevity in rugby have been his strength and conditioning sessions.

"I've always taken them seriously and religiously both out of season and in season," Amonde explains, adding that both versions of the game have done a lot in building their culture and motivation, which has led him to be the captain of the Sevens team.



"I observe the rest protocol where I give my body time to rest and recover from the blows."

In addition to the physical challenges facing each rugby player, Amonde says his career as a rugby player has been a roller coaster of emotions.

Amonde explains tha