Africa’s fastest man, Ferdinand Omanyala has sparked buzz on the internet tagging along Kenyan rugby Legend Collins Injera for a a challenge in rugby.
Speaking during the Kip Keino Classic press conference , where he finished third behind Kennedy Lachlan and Bayanda Walaza. The 2022 African champion lit up more than just the track. He sparked a nostalgic rugby conversation that had fans and legends alike chiming in.
“I miss rugby… I was planning to play rugby until when athletics dragged me away,” Omanyala said with a grin. “I want to go back and play it in the last years of my career. I still have like 11 years in this sport and then I will call it a day. I would love to go back and play rugby in my 40s, just to enjoy it.”
In true Ferdinand Omanyala style, he didn’t just say it — he made it public. The sprinter tagged retired rugby legend Collins Injera on his recent Instagram story, playfully calling for an invite back to the pitch. Injera’s response? Pure gold.
“Karibu kwa vets ndugu 😂😂,” ( Meaning: Welcome to the Veterans brother ) Injera replied, welcoming Omanyala to the veterans’ league, while humorously offering Kenya’s iconic club, Nondescripts RFC, as his future home.
Collins Injera
Collins Injera, who announced his retirement in January 2023, currently serves as a Liaison Officer in the Office of the Clerk of the Senate of Kenya. He was appointed in mid-2023 through the Parliamentary Service Commission, marking a new chapter beyond rugby.
But Omanyala’s love for the game runs deep. Before his meteoric rise in athletics, he was a fearsome winger at Kamusinga High School and later at the University of Nairobi. Rugby was his first sporting love — one he had to set aside due to financial challenges.
“From day one, I was unstoppable on that wing,” he recalled. “I would outpace everyone, leaving bodies falling behind me. Rugby was, and still is, my love.”
Omanyala also credits his father for pushing him toward academics when life threw curveballs.
“My dad was strict about education, urging us to focus on our studies and excel,” he shared with Olympics. “While he had enjoyed a successful life due to his education, my passion was always rugby.”
