Kenya: Ocholla And Leos Roar Loud And Clear

Charles Ouko

29 May 2011

Nairobi — Is 33-year-old Mitch Ocholla Kenya’s next biggest thing on the rugby coaching scene?

One can not help but seek answers to this question as Strathmore RFC, which was formed in 2006, continues to sweep away all opponents in their path.

Already, this year alone Strathmore have won two big tournaments, that barely 90 days into the new season.

In April, they beat pre-tournament favourites Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) to win the title in the 27th edition of Impala Floodlit tournament and then quickly followed that up with a podium finish in the 21st Great Rift Valley 10’s held from April 22-24 at Nakuru Athletics Club. There, they were declared joint tournament winners with the hosts.

Captained by Brian Okwomi, the varsity lads fought to a ferocious 12-12 draw with the Ben Chirchir-inspired Nakuru RFC but after added time in fading light produced no further scores, the Leos were compelled to share the trophy with the hosts for six months each.

Study in sports management

On April 16, Strathmore had clawed their way back into the match from 0-12 down to emerge the Impala Floodlit champions courtesy of a 28-12 victory.

Earlier in the tournament, they had beaten Kenya Harlequin 27-0 and Mwamba RFC 27-24 in a sudden death semi-final to set up a date with Howard Okwemba’s Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) Lions.

Undoubtedly a study in focused sports management, Strathmore can only inspire.

In a interview last week, Ocholla had the following to offer on what makes Strathmore tick: “The university administration provides an excellent environment to work in in the sports department. Things are done professionally and in a good model.The university supports all our ideas and there is no lack of input as regards transport, good accommodation or sports scholarships.”

Ocholla, university’s rugby head coach since the team’s inception in 2006, added: “Of course we have lost matches during that time. However, the Strathmore model is long-term and not about short-term expediency; hence my continued stay on the job.”

Three-on-the-trot titles

In the 2007 season they emerged champions of both the Eric Shirley Shield (ESS) and the Mwamba Cup, thus earning promotion to the premier Kenya Cup League in 2008.

The following year they swept all aside as they won the Western Union-sponsored national Sevens circuit. In 2009 they also won their first of three-on-the-trot Great Rift Valley 10s titles.

Last year they shared the title with Mwamba and achieved the unusual feat of again sharing it in 2011.

Single and currently pursuing his Level 3 part one international (UK) coaching licence, Ocholla comes from a family with an interesting sports pedigree.

He is the eldest of four sons of the late Tom Ocholla, who was an official of the Kenya Youth Sports Council.

His mother Alice is a long-time school nurse at Lenana School and held the Siaya District girls’ sprints title while a student at the famous Lwak Girls High School.

Ocholla’s siblings are Dominic, Peter and Owen. Peter is the current fly-half on the national sevens rugby team, Dominic played basketball for Posta and Owen still plays rugby for HomeBoyz RFC.

A former Kenya rugby international at both the sevens and XV code, representing Kenya with distinction between 1999 and 2004, Ocholla wore the national colours at the Mar del Plata Rugby Sevens World Cup in Argentina in 2001.

After Benjamin Ayimba captained Kenya in the inaugural World Cup rugby 7s, the pioneers opened the doors that have seen the country become a permanent fixture at subsequent tournaments.

Kenya made the Hong Kong edition in 2005 and played with distinction at the 2009 Dubai RWC 7s where they narrowly lost to Argentina in the Cup semis.

Prominent on emblem

Isaac Mwangi, 35, who narrowly lost in his bid to become a Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) director at the recent Annual General Meeting of the union, is the director of sports at Strathmore.

He oversees implementation of the strategic sporting plan that encompasses sports across the board at campus.

Leo is Latin for ‘lion’, a prominent feature on the university emblem. In addition to the rugby Leos, mention must be made of Strathmore’s hockey, basketball and football teams.

Their football team, SUFC, are in the Nationwide League, which is just a rung below the elite Kenyan Premier League (KPL). The men’s and women’s basketball teams are called Blades and Swords, respectively.

The women’s hockey team is named the Scorpions, but it is the men’s of whom special mention must be made.

Last month the reigning national hockey champions, aptly named Gladiators, finished runners-up to Kenya Police in the continental Vaisakhi Hockey Cup as the Scorpions came second to Telkom Orange.

The Vaisakhi attracts regular participants from beyond Kenya’s borders, among them Ghanaian and Egyptian clubs.

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