After overcoming injury, Owira eager for rugby restart

Kenyan international Arthur Owira is optimistic of continued success when the rugby season resumes post-coronavirus pandemic .

Slightly over two years ago, the 28-year-old KCB back row, suffered a traumatic femur shaft fracture while playing for Shujaa in a group match against Zambia in the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast Australia, an injury that almost shuttered his dreams.

“The healing process was supposed to be 8 months to one year, so when I came back through the help of every one I resumed well; thanks to my rugby family, club KCB, coaches and the Physiotherapists who helped and contributed to us winning the national sevens circuit,” Owira told Citizen Digital.

Upon returning home and an all-inclusive physiotherapy, Owira accelerated his recovery and 15 months later he played his first competitive match at the Kabeberi Sevens in July 2019 at Kinoru Stadium.

He however says it was not easy to overcome the injury that almost ended his rugby career.

“Life after injury was bad, first I got the injury outside the country while I was on my pick having made the commonwealth team, that time I had so much expectation but the injury shook me and my body; it was so difficult for the entire time that I remained in Australia because I could not travel,” he said.

With all sporting competitions this year halted due to the Corona Virus pandemic, Owira is optimistic of making a comeback to the national team but is expecting stiff competition from his peers.

“After corona dust settles there are a lot of things I expect to do, but I know the competition is going to be more serious, because everyone will start from level zero from where Covid-19 will have left us, for now it’s only training at home and keeping safe,” assumed Owira.

Owira, now a part time farmer, urges his fellow players to engage on a side hustle to help if life gets tough in the game they love.

“Never stop believing in yourself, people sometimes are down and other times up, you only need people around who can help you achieve your dream, also do something else somewhere when you are not playing rugby; currently am a small scale farmer and am able to multitask with rugby and later I may go commercial,” he concluded.

Owira was injured during the Rugby Sevens match between Kenya and Zambia on day 10 of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games at Robina Stadium in Australia on April 14, 2018.