KCB Rugby and Kenya Simbas fly-half Brian Wahinya has opened up on the mental toll of his missed kicks in the 2025-2026 Kenya Cup final against Kabras RFC, revealing how he picked himself up after a painful afternoon.Wahinya missed two consecutive penalties and a conversion on Saturday, 9 May, as KCB narrowly fell 14-8 to Kabras, who went on to clinch their sixth Kenya Cup title.Download our Mozzart Sport App for more newsThe fly-half admitted the experience was heartbreaking and embarrassing, especially because he felt his teammates had done enough to win the match.“It was heartbreaking and embarrassing. I felt like I had let down my team because everyone played their part that day. Our forwards and backs had the edge over Kabras. It all came down to my kicks, and in that moment, as a senior player, guys were looking up to me. It was a crazy feeling,” Wahinya recalled.The disappointment could easily have lingered, but the support he received from his teammates and coaches helped him navigate the difficult period.##NAJAVA_MECA_62777##Rather than allowing the missed kicks to define him, Wahinya has used the experience as motivation to keep working and pushing himself, even when the memories of that afternoon remain painful.“But my team and coaches stuck with me, and I think that is what builds people and character,” he said.He further argued that while support from teammates, coaches and friends can make a difference, the first step towards recovery must come from within.“Personally, I have been through a lot of challenges as a person and as a player, and mental strength is very important. At the end of the day, it all boils back to you. When you give up or fold, no one is going to save you. You have to save yourself first before other people come to help you,” he said.KCB unleash big guns ahead of tough Impala Floodlit semifinalHe believes accountability allows a player to confront what went wrong, learn from it, and move forward without carrying the full weight of the mistake indefinitely.“The moment I accept that the mistake has happened, part of the burden has been lifted. And that is what makes a great player because not everyone can go through such a thing and keep on pushing,” he explained.Despite the setback, Wahinya remains confident in his ability to withstand difficult moments.“I consider myself a very strong person mentally and physically. Guess my name also came with its blessings,” he added.As October marks Mental Health Awareness Month, Wahinya is encouraging athletes to be honest with themselves when things go wrong and to understand the importance of accountability in their personal and professional lives.Former Kenya Sevens captain Kayange backs Rising Lionesses to shine at Dakar Youth OlympicsFor him, mental strength does not mean pretending that disappointment does not hurt. It means accepting what has happened, learning from it, and refusing to let one difficult moment dictate what comes next.He also believes that taking responsibility for one's actions makes it easier to deal with the consequences and find a way forward.“Always be responsible for your actions. Be accountable; the moment you accept that every action has a reaction, it will be easy for you to deal with it. As a player, be honest with yourself,” he advised.
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