Kenya Harlequin Football Club on Thursday, 23rd October, celebrated Willy Ambaka Ndayara, as he was formally admitted onto the club’s Honours Roll during a special club night.
Affectionately known as “Willy” or “Lomu,” Ambaka’s induction recognizes his outstanding contribution to the club and Kenyan rugby over an illustrious career that began at Harlequins in the 2009/2010 season.
Willy Ambaka journey
Ambaka rose through the ranks to become one of Quins’ most influential players during their golden era, helping the club secure three consecutive Kenya Cup titles between 2010 and 2012, the 2011 Enterprise Cup, and the 2012 National Sevens Circuit. His speed, strength, and eye for the try line made him a standout performer and a firm crowd favourite.
Special club night on 23 Oct as we inducted @Willyambaka onto the Kenya Harlequins Honours Roll. A club stalwart as player and coach, Willy won it all with Quins! Well done Lomu!
Full citation on IG https://t.co/vm1P3hisW0
#NunquamDormio#SureStrongSuperior@dkwere pic.twitter.com/XfDW52ynPw
— Quins (@KenyaHarlequins) October 24, 2025
His brilliance at club level quickly earned him international recognition. Ambaka made his Kenya Sevens debut at the 2011 Hong Kong Sevens and became a key member of the national side during the 2012–2013 IRB World Series season. His stellar performances earned him a nomination for the IRB Sevens Player of the Year Award in 2013.
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Willy Ambaka in dream teams
Ambaka was instrumental in Kenya’s historic 2016 Singapore Sevens triumph, the country’s first-ever Sevens Series Cup win , and went on to represent Kenya at the Rio 2016 Olympics and the 2018 Commonwealth Games. Over his decorated career, he earned multiple Dream Team honours in tournaments such as Wellington, London, Singapore, and Cape Town, and twice finished as runner-up for the Sports Personality of the Year Award (SOYA).
Now serving as the strength and conditioning coach at Kenya Harlequins, Ambaka continues to shape the next generation of players with the same professionalism, discipline, and passion that defined his playing career.
