Kenya Sevens skipper Andrew Amonde's final match with the national team saw Shujaa thrash Ireland 22-0 to finish ninth at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Amonde, who is hanging up his boots after a 12-year stint with Shujaa, was delighted to see the team finish on a high after failing to make it to the quarters.
“To me, it’s done! My years have caught up with me. I have done service to the country and it’s good enough to see the young players that we have mentored come in and give them a chance to showcase what they can do,” said Amonde.
Amonde steered the side to their second win of the tournament after beating Japan 21-7 on Tuesday. This was after losing 19-14 to the USA, 14-5 to South Africa and 12-7 to Ireland in the preliminaries.
“The boys did not disappoint. They played their hearts and have done the country proud by finishing on a high,” he added.
Amonde has had a distinguished career for the national side as he lifted the Singapore Sevens crown in 2016.
On the club level, he led KCB to three Kenya Cup titles as well as the national sevens circuit. He has hinted at going into coaching, especially on strength and conditioning, upon retirement.
The KCB stalwart said the team is in good hands with the emergence of the likes of Johnston Olindi, Vincent Onyala and Daniel Taabu.
"We have a good crop of players who have been exposed to elite rugby including at the Olympics. I have mentored them and they are going to do the country proud in the years to come," he observed.
Head coach Innocent Simiyu saluted Amonde, saying he has been a true servant of the game.
"He has been an excellent leader and we want to wish him well in his future endeavors,” said Simiyu.
In the classification match against Ireland, Johnstone Olindi, Jacob Ojee, Willy Ambaka and Daniel Taabu scored a try each with Olindi kicking over one conversion. Kenya led 5-0 at the interval.
Following the completion of the Olympics, Shujaa will now turn their attention to the resumption of the World Seven Series in September with Vancouver and Edmonton legs in Canada on the cards.
