Tribute to “Benja” — Benjamin Ayimba
This picture of the cat staring into the mirror and seeing a lion best describes “Benja” — Benjamin Ayimba.
No, he is not the cat, nor is he the Lion. He is the mirror!
Benja is a master at getting the best out of you. At inspiring you to believe that you can triumph over anyone or anything in your way! He dreams big. Really BIG!
He has this impact on teams and more importantly, he has this impact on individuals! One memory brings tears to my eyes when I look back:
This was back in 2009 — a few weeks before the IRB 7s Rugby World Cup in Dubai. Kenya wasn’t yet a top-tier team. No one and I mean absolutely no one expected Kenya to turn heads in this World Cup — well, no one except Benja.
After a gruelling weekend-long training session at Brookhouse School with the Kenya 7s team, he spoke to us: players and the management team.
He spoke, and emphasised, and re-emphasised the fact that we are going to win the Rugby World Cup in Dubai. He detailed the impact that this win would have on our lives as rugby players and as individuals. He shared the kind of impact that this would have on our country. Yet, stressed that with all the fame, money and goodies that come with the feat, that we need to stay humble and keep God first.
I remember going home that day and telling my parents and sister without a shadow of doubt, “Mum, dad, Boyani… WE ARE WINNING THE WORLD CUP!”
I was sold. I did not doubt. Every bone in me believed!
What happened next was remarkable… The Kenya 7s team believed!
We went on to beat Fiji in the Main Cup Quarterfinals 26–7.
This was the first time we had ever beaten Fiji!! We finished 3rd
Strathmore Leos rugby team — Benja’s impact on culture
The first time I met Benja was in 2006 when he came to coach the Strathmore University “Leos” rugby team for the National 7s circuit (a 5 tournament circuit). The top teams in the National 7s circuit were the Kenya Cup teams (the tier 1 league).
At the time, Leos was a newly formed team, predominantly comprised of players straight out of high school — myself included. We were a tier 2 team and playing in the National 7s circuit for the first time.
His training sessions were like none that I had ever experienced before: basically 50% team building and team bonding and 50% rugby practice. He understood the importance of players building a bond, building a culture and building each other up.
Under Benja’s tutelage, “XXVII” moto and the “chest-thumping celebration” at Stratmore Leos were born
Unbeknownst to most, under Benja’s tutelage, 3 things that are core to the Strathmore Leos rugby team culture were born:
- XXVII — “Twenty seven” this is what we call “the sum-of-all”:
“Give your all, in all that you do, all the time (24–7–365)!”
2+4+7+3+6+5 = 27.
This is a moto that Benja epitomised as a person! - Chest thumping celebration — Strathmore Leos players and fans thump their chest and shout after each try and win. Benja stressed the importance of celebrating the fruits of our hard work!
- “My bad” — owning your mistakes. We are all human and we err. If you make a mistake, raise your hand and own up by shouting “my bad” and correct it!
It does 2 things: It deters finger-pointing whilst encourages ownership, honesty and a culture of self-improvement!
Needless to say, we turned heads in the 2006 National 7s circuit:
- We consistently made it to the main cup quarterfinal and thus finished in the top 8
- I became the 1st Strathmore Leos player to get called up to the National 7s team i.e. a player from a tier 2 team earned a call up to the National 7s team
- The cultural practices outlined above, lived on at Strathmore Leos beyond his tenure
- 3 years later, Strathmore went on to win the National 7s circuit in 2009 under Mitch Ochola (Benja’s former teammate at Impala club & Kenya team)
Leader — by example
The first time I got to see Benja was at a Kenya 15s game against Namibia back in 2004/2005. Benja was both the coach and the captain of the Kenya 15s team at the time.
The fact that he was both captain and coach of the national team at the same time speaks volumes about the kind of man and leader that he is!
Benja was a PLAYER-COACH-CAPTAIN of the Kenya 15s Rugby team!
Namibia at the time was a far superior team — they had consistently been to the 15s Rugby World Cup… a feat that Kenya 15s to date has never accomplished. Namibia thumped us by over 50points.
All players in the Kenya team seemed intimidated — they were missing and avoiding tackles! All but one — Benjamin Ayimba. He was different. He was looking for the tackles and driving the Namibian players back on each one!
He was the stand out Kenyan player. He led by example!
I didn’t get to speak to him nor meet him at that game, but that performance has been etched into my memory, never to be forgotten.
His ACTIONS were inspiring!
Kenya’s maiden IRB tournament win — Singapore 2016
Benja was the finest at getting you to believe in yourself more than you ever have. As a coach, this was his strength.
I have often said that while Paul Odera is the most technically gifted rugby coach in Kenya, Benja on the other hand, was the best at building confidence that inspires the team to surpass their limits.
Benja led the Kenya 7s team to our maiden (thus far only) IRB 7s win. This is Kenya’s biggest ever Rugby achievement at the global stage.
This win brought tears to my eyes even though I wasn’t on the pitch. He inspired the team. This win inspired an entire nation to believe that we can conquer the world!
Everything is possible — but first you must believe! For Benja to impart this mindset on others, he clearly had to believe in himself first and foremost! I’ll always remember him telling us “Hakuwezi!”
Lastly, Benja, you gave your XXVII throughout your life, and I pray that we too, may also give our XXVII in all that we do! I thank God for the positive impact that you’ve had on my life and the many others that you’ve coached and led.
