Simon Odongo is a Kenyan rugby union coach and former player. He was born and grew up in Nairobi. His position as a player was Flyhalf / Center / Wing / Fullback and he played for Mwamba RFC, and Homeboyz RFC. He has been the Homeboyz head coach twice now 2018-2019 replacing Paul Murunga[1] and 2021, replacing Jason Hector.

Simon Odongo
Full nameSimon Peter Odongo
Place of birthNairobi, Kenya
Height1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Weight85 kg (13 st 5 lb; 187 lb)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Flyhalf / Center / Wing / Fullback
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2007-2009 Mwamba RFC ()
2009-2014 Homeboyz RFC ()
Coaching career
Years Team
2014–2018 Homeboyz RFC (assistant coach)
2018-2019 Homeboyz RFC
2019-2020 Homeboyz RFC (assistant coach)
2021 Homeboyz RFC

Playing career

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Odongo played his club rugby at Mwamba RFC after graduating from High School, where he played from 2007 to 2009. He eventually moved to Homeboyz RFC in 2009, which was formed the same year, and helped them win several titles before retiring in 2014 due to a stubborn ACL injury.[2]

Coaching career

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Simon became the academy coach and assistant coach at Homeboyz Rugby Club in Nairobi, Kenya straight after retiring. He was the assistant coach to Paul Murunga and worked together with The Late Benjamin Ayimba. In 2014 he helped establish a rugby team at Milimani Primary School where Homeboyz used to train. When Homeboyz shifted their base to Jamhuri Park, he continued coaching the academy and reserve team that was later promoted to the senior side.

Simon joined the Kings Rugby Development Academy as the Head coach in 2016 where he coached different age groups and earned some of his coaching badges.[3] He is currently serving as the Director of Rugby.

After Paul Murunga got called up to the Kenya 7s team as an assistant coach for the 2015/16 HSBC sevens series and the Rio 2016 Summer Games, Odongo stepped in as the coach and under his guidance, Homeboyz went ahead and won the National 7's circuit in 2016.[4] After working as the assistant coach of Homeboyz RFC for four years under, head coach Paul Murunga (2014-2018), Simon was appointed Homeboyz' head coach in 2018, when they won the Enterprise Cup Final and the overall National 7's Circuit.[5]

In 2019, Simon coached the Homeboyz Rugby team in the Kenya Cup, where they failed to make the playoffs. He however led the reserve side to the Eric Shirley Shield Finals for the first time since the club was promoted.

South African, Jason Hector was then appointed head coach for the Homeboyz Rugby team for the 2019-2020 Kenya Rugby season with Simon slotting in as his assistant coach. However, the season was called off due to the COVID-19 pandemic and Jason left for his home country with Simon being appointed the Head Coach of Homeboyz Rugby in 2021.

Honours

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Player

Manager

References

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  1. ^ Njuguna, William (2018-11-09). "Odongo is new Homeboyz' head coach". The Star Newspaper.
  2. ^ Dave, Mwaura. "How ACL injury led Homeboyz' Simon Odongo into coaching". Scrummage.
  3. ^ KRDA (2016-05-15). "KRDA Coach Profile". Kings Rugby Development Academy.
  4. ^ Otieno, Raymond. "Homeboyz win sevens series with a leg to spare". The Star Newspaper.
  5. ^ Njiru, Eric. "Homeboyz win enterprise cup". Raga House.
  6. ^ KRU, Media. "Safari 7s Results 2016". Kenya Rugby.
  7. ^ Brian, Murumba. "How menengai oilers lifted main cup". Standard Media.