What Abud Omar wants Kenyan football to borrow from rugby

They say in rugby, the final whistle is merely the referee's invitation to the bar.That saying perfectly captures one of the National Sevens Circuit's most cherished traditions. Once the action on the pitch comes to an end, rivalries are quickly set aside as players and supporters gather for the famous after-party.##NAJAVA_MECA_9901535##It is a culture that Harambee Stars defender Abud Omar believes football should consider embracing.The experienced full-back was among the notable faces at the Kabeberi 7s over the weekend, where he immersed himself in the unique atmosphere that has become synonymous with Kenyan rugby. Omar seemed to thoroughly enjoy the experience, from the thrilling action on the field to the lively post-match celebrations.Reflecting on what football could learn from rugby, the Tusker FC captain pointed to the after-party culture as one of the sport's greatest strengths.Akonnor hails Gor Mahia’s character after comeback win over Migori Youth"Football can borrow the after-party culture from rugby. In rugby, whether your team wins or loses, people still stay behind for the after-party. Football is much more emotional. You can organise an after-party, but if a team loses, many fans become disappointed and may not even attend," Omar said."In rugby, people come to support their teams and, regardless of the result, they still enjoy themselves. There are a few things football can learn, although it is naturally a more emotional sport. With time, I believe we can get there," he continued.Akonnor reveals why Harambee Stars defender ditched Gor Mahia for TuskerOmar also called for greater interaction between fans of different sports, insisting that supporting multiple disciplines would benefit Kenyan sport as a whole."If you look at events like Vurugu, many footballers, including myself, went to support it. Now we have rugby, basketball and other sports. If people simply come to the grounds to support different disciplines, it will be good for Kenyan sport as a whole, and we will all grow together," he said."During CHAN, rugby fans came out to support us. Now it is our turn to support you guys," he added.FEASSSA 2026: Yala, Green Commandos kiss competition goodbye after Tuesday's unwanted resultsOmar's comments come from a position of leadership within Kenyan football. At international level, he has spent more than 12 years as one of Harambee Stars' defensive mainstays, helping guide the team through major continental assignments, including the African Nations Championship (CHAN).At club level, the experienced defender recently completed a return to Kenyan Premier League side Tusker FC, where he was immediately entrusted with the captain's armband by his teammates, further demonstrating the respect he commands both on and off the pitch.Babu identifies key weakness to fix ahead of Migori Youth’s FKFPL debut