.jpg)
French-based Bethuel Anami contrasts differences in Kenyan and French rugby
Reading Time: 3min | Mon. 26.05.25. | 17:21
Having seen firsthand what a structured rugby environment looks like, Anami believes there is plenty Kenya can borrow to enhance its game
If there is one player who wears the Kenya Simbas number eight jersey perfectly, it is Bethuel Anami Muteshi.
Follow our WhatsApp channel for more news
The French-based backrower is on a three-month break from his professional duties, leaving the timing perfect as it coincides with the Kenya Simbas’ early preparations for the 2027 Rugby World Cup qualifiers.
Anami plays for Maisons-Laffitte, Saint-Germain-en-Laye, and Poissy (MLSGP) in the French Federal 2. Before moving to MLSGP, he played for Stade Caennaise RC and has been in France for three years now.
He had just landed in the country hours before the Kenya Simbas and United Arab Emirates (UAE) friendly match on Saturday, 24 May at the RFUEA Grounds, and he did not miss a beat.
The former Strathmore Leos ace powered through defenders to score Kenya’s first try. That iconic try reminded fans exactly why jersey number eight fits Anami like a hand to a glove.
Having seen firsthand what a structured rugby environment looks like, Anami believes there is plenty Kenya can borrow to enhance its game.
.jpg)
“There is more that we should borrow from outside in terms of structures, how we approach the game, our set pieces, and our attitude going into the game.
Those are the things we should borrow from outside and apply them to our game,” he told Mozzart Sport after the UAE game.
The agile flanker further emphasised that the Simbas are currently in a building phase, and the friendly was just a ground to polish their overall execution.
“We were just trying to see how our plays are going on because we are in a preparation season, so we are just trying to build up and polish on our plays, structures, and set pieces in terms of scrums, lineouts,” he offered.
Despite being away for more than 1,000 days, Muteshi seamlessly fitted in with the team. He is, however, hungry to learn more and play a key role in Kenya’s World Cup qualification.
“I am proud because I have not been around for three years, and now, I am very happy to be home with the team. Guys are very welcoming; I am trying to learn the new structures.
In terms of playing, I don’t know much, but guys are trying to put me into the structure and system and show me the way forward. It is just one day here and I am very happy about it,” he revealed.
What did he miss about Kenya?
“I missed my people, my family, and the vibe around the team, and the Kenyan food,” he revealed.
Muteshi played for Strathmore Leos before storming into the limelight, going on to become one of the few players in the country to play professionally. He wore jersey eight when Simbas finished second in the 2022 Rugby Africa Cup.
