Kenya 7s speedster Patrick Odongo has opened up on the pressure that comes with wearing the number 11 jersey previously donned by the country’s all-time top try scorer Collins Injera.
Injera, a two-time Olympian, wore the number 11 jersey with distinction, scoring 279 tries in the World Rugby Sevens Series in a career spanning 16 years.
Despite retiring in 2022, the Kenya 7s icon ranks third on the all-time list for most tries scored in the World Rugby Sevens Series.
Odongo, 22, was impressive for Shujaa in the 24/25 season-opening outing that took place in Dubai where he scored four tries in helping the Kenya team finish 10th and secure three points in the series.
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On the first day, the Daystar Falcon Speedstar, who was making his debut in the Series scored four tries, including two that helped Shujaa edge South Africa 22-17 for their first tournament win.
He also scored a try against France in their opener, where they fell short 24-19, and another against Australia 31-14.
Odongo, while reflecting on the pressure of wearing the number 11 jersey, also shared that playing in the HSBC Series for the first time, particularly at such a big venue, added to the pressure he was feeling.
“It’s been a lot of pressure, especially with my jersey number. For most of us, it’s our first time at this big venue and that brings its own challenges. But we’re coping and I believe things will get better as we move forward,” Odongo said.
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Odongo also stated that with Shujaa having so many players making their HSBC Rugby Sevens debut, finishing in the top 10 counted as a big achievement.
“Performing how we did with a team that has so many new players is an accomplishment because none of us has been here before.
We have given our best, and finishing in the top 10 is an achievement. What’s left now is to go back, improve, and push even further,” he added.
Regarding his tries, Odongo acknowledged that it is all part of the learning process and he will continue working on improving and correcting his mistakes.
Patrick Odongo
“This is a learning curve. Not every day is perfect, but I will keep working on myself, correcting mistakes, and over time, my performance will reflect that. I’m young, and I’m still growing,” he said.
He also shared his approach to handling pressure, particularly at such a young age.
“Handling the pressure is about staying humble, relaxing and focusing on contributing to the game,” he reiterated.
Odongo believes that playing against top teams has provided valuable exposure, as their different playing systems have given the team much to learn.
He and his teammates will go back to the drawing board to focus on key areas of improvement ahead of the Cape Town 7s the coming weekend.
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