This archive report was first published on 9 May 2020.
May 13, 2017, will be etched in the memories of rugby fans for years to come, thanks to a thrilling match between France and Kenya at the Rugby 7 tournament in Paris. It was a day that saw Kenya's Dennis Ombachi make a name for himself on the international stage.
With a storied career representing the Kenya Sevens team, Ombachi has earned numerous caps in the World Sevens Series and was part of the Shujaa squad that played at the 2013 Rugby World Cup in Russia. His most memorable moment, however, came on November 15, 2015, at the Barnard stadium in Johannesburg, where he helped Kenya Sevens write history by qualifying for the Olympic Games.
As a skilled carpenter and cook, Ombachi has found a new sense of purpose during the coronavirus crisis. His love for cooking was inspired by his mother, who taught him the importance of being hands-on in the kitchen and on the farm. 'My cooking story has a lot of influence from my mum,' Ombachi says. 'Ever since I was growing up, she raised us to be hands-on in the kitchen and in the farm.'
With rugby activities on hold, Ombachi has taken the opportunity to perfect his cooking skills and try new recipes. His creativity in the kitchen has been inspired by his travels across the world on rugby duty. 'The cooking passion really intensified when I joined the national team and started travelling the world tasting different cuisines and foods,' he says.
Former Kenya Sevens coach Benjamin Ayimba, who guided the team to the 2016 Singapore Sevens title, labels Ombachi as a hard worker. 'His resilience gave me a reason to try him and when I gave him the opportunity to play, he showed how much of a hard worker he was. He was a very instrumental part of the Sevens system,' Ayimba says.
