Milestone man Injera lays it all bare ahead of Rugby Sevens World Cup

Veteran Shujaa winger Collins Injera says the support from rugby fans, family, fellow players and the coach inspired him to hit the milestone of becoming the first Kenyan player to feature in three successive Rugby World Cups.

Injera first featured in the 2009 edition under coach Benjamin Ayimba in Hong Kong, 2013 in Moscow, Russia under Mike Friday and is primed to make another stab at this year’s edition in San Francisco, USA under Innocent Simiyu when they launch their campaign tomorrow against Tonga.

In the 2009 edition, Injera, then a youngster, played alongside Simiyu, who has since graduated to the dug-out and will be barking instructions to him as he bids to put-up yet another towering display in his already decorated career.

“I would like to thank the fans for the support; my family for the sacrifices they’ve made so that I can be where I’m; the unity and support I have from my fellow players and the coach’s inspiration,” Injera, appearing calm and relaxed told Citizen Digital ahead of the rigorous campaign that kicks off tomorrow and in which he is expected to feature prominently.

He went on: “I’ve a quote from the coach that inspires me a lot that says:  ‘it’s not about the opportunity of a lifetime but it’s about the lifetime of that opportunity’.”

In 2013 in Moscow, Russia, Shujaa came close to the finals losing 5-12 to England in the main cup semi finals and according to Injera, the passion to play the game usually gives them motivation to win games.

He added that the favourite teams in the world have world class facilities but for them they’ve had to do with the little they have.

Injera who is the Kenya’s top try scorer with 272 tries in the HSBC World rugby series and second to Dan Norton of England who has 299 tries also opened up about their style of play.

“Our style is to try and attack the space early and it’s very exciting for us; like when we are on song, I sometimes wonder; is this us playing? We really play some good ball.”

“We may not have the fancy steps or the footwork but when we attack, we usually attack the space and that’s when we play best,” Injera explained.

On fans support, he said: “It’s amazing getting support when you are playing far away from home and you see a group of fans with the Kenyan flag shouting; let’s go Kenya.”

Shujaa face Tonga at 11.01pm this Friday at the AT&T Park in San Francisco, USA.