From selling mandazi to scoring tries: the inspiring journey of Lamech Ambetsa

Whenever the name Lamech Ambetsa is mentioned, one cannot help but marvel at how the 23-year-old fleet-footed Kabras RFC winger has been putting smiles on the faces of Kabras faithful in Lurambi with his try-scoring prowess. But where does his journey begin?

Ambetsa's journey can be traced back to the humble background of Nalondo village in Bungoma County. Born in Butere, his family relocated to Nalondo, where he spent many formative years.

His rise in rugby has been inspirational, marked by overcoming numerous challenges and defying the odds. During these challenging times, Ambetsa ventured into selling mandazi with his mother, all the while carrying the hope that one day life would tell a different tale.

His sporting story begins in Nalondo, where he initially pursued football during his primary school years. However, upon joining Bungoma High School in 2015, his sporting aspirations took an unexpected turn. After being dropped from the school music team, Ambetsa discovered a new passion for rugby.

“I got into rugby in Form Two after being denied a chance to go for the National Music Festival. I started as a team water boy and didn’t give up since I liked the game,” Ambetsa recounted.

With the support of his classmate and teammate Beldad Ogeta, who now plays for Menengai Oilers, Ambetsa honed his rugby skills. Under the guidance of Vincent Barasa, the Bungoma RFC and school coach, Ambetsa's talent began to shine, earning him a place in the school's starting team and later in the nationwide side, Bungoma RFC.

Though he had significant support at school, things at home were different. Both his parents were against his desire to play rugby. At one point, his father threatened to stop paying his school fees if he continued playing rugby. However, Ambetsa managed to change his father’s stance by achieving good results in school, which eventually led to his father’s support.

"At first, they (his parents) didn't like the idea at all. My dad even wanted to stop paying fees because he felt I was giving rugby too much time compared to academics. But luckily enough, I improved my academic performance, and that's when he started supporting me," Ambetsa explained.

His breakthrough came when Bungoma RFC faced Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST) in a nationwide competition. Ambetsa's performance caught the eye of the MMUST rugby team, leading to a successful trial and a scholarship to study Civil Engineering.

He made his debut for MMUST in a home match against Eldoret RFC. In the 2020 Championship season, MMUST earned promotion to the Kenya Cup, with Ambetsa contributing significantly to their semifinal victory over Mean Machine. In 2021, Ambetsa made his Kenya Cup debut against Kabras RFC, scoring his first try against Mwamba RFC. His impressive performances for MMUST did not go unnoticed, and he received an offer to join Kabras RFC in 2022 after graduating.

Ambetsa’s dedication paid off immediately. He cemented his position in the Sugar Millers' starting team, and his impressive run in both the sevens and fifteens versions of the game saw him win two back-to-back Kenya Cup titles and numerous seven circuits. He stands out as a player who hasn't lost a single match with Kabras. With it came a call-up to the Kenya sevens national team, 'Shujaa.'

To the surprise of many, the young man from Butere made the final cut in Kenya sevens head coach Kevin Wambua's travelling squad to Montevideo, Uruguay, for the second round of the Challenger Series in March 2024, where he made his debut alongside Patrick Odongo. Ambetsa impressed by scoring two tries. His second tour with Shujaa came when he was retained a fortnight ago for their trip to Munich.

Shujaa is now headed to the HSBC SVNS playoff in Madrid after finishing second overall in the standings at the close of the HSBC Sevens Challenger Series, whose final tournament was played in Munich last weekend.

Today, Lamech Ambetsa is recognized as one of Kenya's promising young talents in rugby. His journey from selling mandazi to excelling in national and international rugby is a testament to his perseverance and passion for the game. Reflecting on his journey, Ambetsa credits several individuals for their support, including his high school coach Vincent Barasa, mentor Beldad Ogeta, and MMUST Coach Dr. Ahaya.

"Kabras Coach Carlos Katywa has been instrumental in my Kabras stint. He is like a father to me," he added.