Against all odds: The grass-to-grace story of Rayvon Ambale

The fairytale story of Butula High School in rugby 7s would be incomplete without mentioning the name Rayvon Ambale. The school coached by Shimenga Libondo came too close to winning the 2022 Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) rugby 7s title but lost 31-0 to giants Koyonzo High School at the final stage.

It was at that moment that Ambale showcased his skills on a bigger stage to be crowned the 2022 KSSSA Most Valuable Player (MVP) and the tournament's top try scorer.

He ended the tournament with 128 points having scored a total of 20 tries and drilled in 14 conversions in the two-day tournament.

Little did he know that his impressive performance would open unimaginable doors for him.

Today, Ambale studies at Bryanston School, which is one of the best schools in the United Kingdom and is under the tutelage of Nick Williams.

Where did it all start?

The youngster was born 17 years ago in Kakamega, Kenya. His story unfolds in the rural areas of Kakamega, where he lived with his grandmother. Both his parents are farmers and his sister studies in Eldoret.

Ambale's family struggled to make ends meet, and there were days when a hearty meal was nothing more than a distant dream. In these tough times, Kabras RFC became a beacon of hope for the hungry young boy. The rugby team would often distribute bread after their training sessions and Ambale saw this as an opportunity to fill his stomach.

"I first heard about Kabras RFC when I was as young as six years old through my friends. We all started going there because the club gave us bread after training, not really because we knew much about rugby! Kabras was the only place we all had to go in our spare time so of course we all then developed a love of going there every day," Ambale told Mozzart Sport.

Days turned into weeks, and weeks into months. Ambale's routine remained unchanged. He would attend the rugby training sessions, grab his share of bread, and disappear into the dusk. Yet, something unexpected began to happen. The more he watched, the more he absorbed.

He would then join the Kabras RFC Junior squad where he honed his skills under the close watch of coach Edwin Achayo and the club's chairman Edwin Esilaba.

The duo recognized the potential within Ambale, not only as a promising player on the field but as a young mind eager for education.

Understanding the financial constraints of his humble family, they extended a helping hand, ensuring that his education and pocket money were sorted. His coach Shimenga Libondo alias Shim was also a pillar of support, as he would buy him necessities to ensure he was comfortable in school.

"Kabras are the main reason I have been able to pursue rugby. Firstly, my coach Eddy Achayo looked after all age-grade players like more than just a coach. He actually felt like my guardian and every time I was sent home from Primary School for fees, he would be the one with Edwin Esilaba the club Chairman, to try and solve the problem. I am sure they did this for many players and did a lot more behind the scenes for us than we know," Ambale started.

"We would even get pocket money to take back to school thanks to the club. It is only now that I am out of Kenya, that I can really see what the club and certain individuals have done for us and me in particular. I really thank them all so much and hope I can repay them one day," he continued.

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Breakthrough moment

For Ambale, his moment of breakthrough came after his impressive showing at the KSSSA rugby 7s games in 2022. He ended the campaign with 128 points having scored a total of 20 tries and drilled in 14 conversions in the two-day tournament.

Following that, Coach Shim posted him on social media, and the post caught the attention of Dream Believe Achieve (DBA) Africa Founder Storm Trentham. Storm became the gateway to his success, an ordeal Ambale will live to remember.

The youngster could not help but smile when he recalled how his passport and visa were processed within six weeks, just in time for the school's pre-season. He was grateful to DBA Africa director Lyle Asiligwa and James Kamah who pulled it off.

"When I won that award last year, Storm Trentham saw Coach Shimmy’s post on social media. She has known Shimmy since 2015 and follows his success so she asked about my background and rugby. In May this year, Storm met with former Shujaa coach Damien Mcgrath who said his ex-England international Joe Lydon was working with Bryanston in the UK and they wanted to give a Kenyan a rugby scholarship. Damien had heard about me but didn’t know how to find me, and together with Storm, they set the foundation for my career," Ambale recalled.

The 17-year-old is now living a dream in the UK. What further excited him was the simple act of having breakfast at a civilized 7:30 am which is a stark difference from the early mornings in Kenya, where he rose as early as 3AM to ensure he reached school on time.

"At Bryanston, everything is really planned out for you to succeed in both areas. Training is scheduled around studies, often early morning or Tuesday and Thursday afternoons, and then there is so much support for all your subjects if you are struggling to manage both. In Kenya I would wake at 3AM to start my school day at 4AM - here in England we go to breakfast at 7.30AM ..." he excitedly told Mozzart Sport.

At his new school, the youngster hones his skills under the close watch of inexhaustible rugby coach Nick Williams.

Future plans

Ambale who is currently trying out with the Under 18 Bath Academy will be hoping to make the cut, as well as play propel his team to greatness in the upcoming Rosslyn Park 7s tournament slated for March 2023.

He has also set his gaze on representing the Kenya U20 national team; Chipu in upcoming tournaments, as well as the Shujaa in the future.

"I hope that my playing in the UK inspires others at home and I want to do really well at Bryanston so they, or other UK schools, will want to bring more East African players over on a sports scholarship. I am able to fly back to Kenya 3 times a year so I want to return to help coach at Kabras age grade and Butula so I can give back the knowledge I am gaining from here," he concluded.

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