For Leeon Nyang, Embu was once the place where his rugby career came to a heartbreaking end.Download our Mozzart Sport app for more newsA year later, it became the place where he began writing a remarkable new chapter.On Sunday, 24 August 2025, Nyang was playing for Kenya Harlequin in a fifth-place playoff against Kabras at the Embu 7s. It was a cold afternoon, with hundreds of fans watching from the stands, when disaster struck just three minutes into the match.Details of Christie 7s' new trophy unveiled to mark 60th anniversary [PHOTOS]Nyang picked up the ball before being met by a crunching tackle that sent him crashing violently to the turf.The mood inside the stadium immediately changed.First aiders rushed onto the pitch as Nyang lay injured, with minutes seemingly turning into hours before he was eventually stretchered off. Among those watching was his mother, who had travelled to support him.##NAJAVA_MECA_9946125##Unknown to everyone at the time, that would be the final match of Nyang's playing career.But Embu would not have the final word.One year later, Nyang returned to the same venue, this time from the technical area. Rather than leading Kenya Harlequin as a player, he was part of the coaching staff guiding Quins Queens through the National 7s Circuit.Battle for overall circuit title goes down to the wire as Christie 7s pools are announcedAnd this time, he left Embu with a title.Quins Queens secured their maiden National 7s Circuit crown after edging Kiambaa Ladies 14-0. The sweet victory gave Nyang a remarkable opportunity to exorcise the demons of the place where his playing career ended.“When we were coming to Embu, I was telling the girls that this is one of the places I was dreading to come to because this is where my story ended,” Nyang said.##NAJAVA_MECA_9945923##His return was not guaranteed.Nyang revealed that he had initially been reluctant to make the trip, but Sheila Chajira insisted that he be part of the travelling contingent.“It was a battle the whole week with Sheila Chajira. She insisted and made sure that I was part of the travelling contingent,” he added.Ntabeni Dukisa outlines areas that denied Kabras maiden Embu 7s titleOnce in Embu, however, Nyang had a different battle to fight: helping Quins Queens overcome the mental and physical challenges of the tournament.Queens had suffered a setback in their final pool match, but rather than allowing the defeat to derail their campaign, Nyang used it as a lesson from which they could grow.“We slipped in the final pool match, and I told them that I have seen what a loss that humbles you can do in day two,” he said.##NAJAVA_MECA_9945924##The response was emphatic.Quins Queens recovered to produce a strong performance in the knockout stages before delivering one of their most significant victories of the tournament in the semi-final against Mwamba. They whitewashed the reigning champions 20-0 to reach the final.For Nyang, beating Mwamba was about more than simply reaching the final.Amonde highlights strengths that propelled KCB to Embu 7s gloryIt was about removing another psychological barrier that had stood in the team's way.“Breaking that mental log that we have had against Mwamba, and doing it perfectly, was a good score for us,” he said.The victory set up a final in which Quins Queens completed their historic run and lifted their maiden title of a National 7s Circuit leg.##NAJAVA_MECA_9945933##For Nyang, though, the achievement belonged firmly to the players.“This victory is for the girls. I am very proud of them,” he said.His transformation from player to coach has also been shaped by the mentors around him, particularly Paul Murunga, whose influence Nyang says has helped him blend experience with the energy of younger players.KCB’s Elvis Olukusi reveals how he earned Monaco Rugby Sevens opportunity“Picking notes off someone who has mentored me in playing and coaching, Paul Murunga, I think blending in the experience, the upcoming, and the ones who are learning has been the edge for us,” Nyang explained.But perhaps the most important part of Nyang's coaching philosophy is that he sees the players as more than rugby players.“These girls are not just playing rugby; they are doing more in life. They are more than just on the pitch,” he said.##NAJAVA_MECA_9945978##The team's reach extends beyond Nairobi, with players travelling from different parts of the country to be part of the Quins programme.“We have students travelling from as far as Rongo, Kinale, coming to Quins. That for us makes a big difference, and we owe it to God,” he added.For Nyang, the journey from the Embu turf to the coaching box has been one of resilience, acceptance and reinvention.Strathmore University lecturer explains decamping Leos for NondiesThe injury that ended his playing career could easily have marked the end of his rugby story. Instead, it opened the door to a new career.“I will always be grateful to Embu. A door that I saw was closed, and I had people who held me up and showed me that it was just another bump,” Nyang said.That bump, he says, has become smoother.##NAJAVA_MECA_9945972##“The bump is smooth so far; coaching is sinking in,” he averred.His work with children at DBA Academy has also played an important role in his development, allowing him to grow while helping young players discover their potential.“The platform that DBA is giving to kids for development is something that is working on my edge. I am learning and unlearning; being a coach is not the easiest place to be, but I am glad I have people who are seeing my efforts, and they are working with me to make me a better person,” he said.Brian Tanga opens up on balancing fatherhood with demanding rugby scheduleA year ago, Embu represented the end. Now, it represents a beginning. Safe to say that the demons of Embu have been exorcised.