You are bound to struggle to find anyone talking badly about Strathmone Scorpions' captain Jeriah Onsare.
And two weeks ago, she led the students to a maiden Kenya Hockey Union Premier League title, adding respectability to her growing attributes.
Onsare is emerging as an exceptional talent for club and country. On and off the field, she has demonstrated respect and a work ethic and she is the reason the Scorpions won their first league title with two matches to spare.
The unassuming 23-year-old star from Nyamira county is becoming a national treasure and no one is more deserving.
This has catapulted her to continental prominence but you won’t notice a change in her behaviour. There’s no ego that needs tempering, she continues to go about her business quietly as always. That humble manner is exactly why Onsare is destined for the very top. She is every manager’s dream.
On the training ground, she is eager to learn and very attentive to every detail as far as the game is concerned. Scorpions' coach Meshack Senge and national women's coach Jacquiline Mwangi have always vouched for her and have never been disappointed.
Onsare made history by becoming the first 'Strath' captain to lift the league gong since Senge took over duties in 2009. The 14-year title drought ended two weekend's ago with the 4-2 win over the Spartans, handing the students the elusive trophy that has evaded their cabinet for the last couple of seasons-after finishing as multiple runner-ups.
"The title glory brought a whirlwind of emotions to me in particular. Winning it with two games left albeit unbeaten makes it even more special. It was unthinkable at the start of the season considering the calibre of the players we had," Onsare revealed in an exclusive interview.
The onset of the Coronavirus pandemic saw hockey take a two-year break. That meant Scorpions lost the bulk of their squad, making the transition inevitable.
Only five players had Premier League experience at the start of the season. They included Gilly Okumu, Onsare, Kipsang Tamnai, Anjela Wema and Diana Awino as Senge faced the insurmountable task of finding the rhythm in the rookie team.
"Despite our inexperience, the vision of winning the league was constant but the idea of facing one game at a time was the strategy. It was a step-by-step process," Onsare maintained.
"Our rivals didn't know the kind of players we had. It was easy to presume the team was weak but behind the scenes, vigorous training became a routine."
The skinny midfielder enrolled for a degree in International Studies in 2018. She was on and off the team with cameo appearances off the bench becoming her trademark. However, her commitment to the Senge project was never in doubt.
In 2019, she became an established member of the team as she found her place in midfield after failing to make a mark as a winger.
"It took me almost a year to adapt to Strath's style of play. It is always difficult to transition from school hockey to a club game. Admittedly, I felt some hiccups but that didn't bother me so much."
The 23-year-old captain's leadership skills were nurtured by her predecessors Yvonne Karanja and Gilly Okumu. The latter is in contention for the player of the year award after becoming the fulcrum of the team.
Her goals, assists, and all-around displays were crucial and even when the students had an off day, the burly attacker would come to their rescue. Lucky for Okumu, she has had professional stints in Germany, and her role as Kenya's captain at the Commonwealth Games further proved her worth.
"Karanja advised me to find a home in midfield and she continuously challenged me to become tough to play against. Even though I played with her for only one season, she prepared me for the task ahead."
"As for Okumu, she is an inspiration and instills confidence in us even in times of adversity. She is one of the most consistent players not just for the Scorpions but the national team as well.
Unlike teams that tend to slow down after achieving their targets, Onsare insists that this is not the time to take the leg off the gas peddle as Strath seek to end the season unbeaten.
"The level of focus won't go down as much as we have won the league. We still have KUSA matches and next year's African Club Championship. This is what we have been working for and we can't wait to rub shoulders with Africa's finest in the prestigious extravaganza."
Beating record champions Blazers in dominant fashion in their third match of the season set the tone for Scorpions, who had never beaten the nine-time champions. They did it in style with a 2-0 win, sending shivers down their rivals' spine
The pacy students ended the first leg with maximum points and coincidentally dropped their only points against Blazers in the 1-1 drab draw in the return leg.
"I have played against Blazers on a few occasions and went home empty-handed. Even though the focus was not entirely on Blazers alone, the revenge was sweet. It was a special moment that ended up being a turning point for us."
"We didn't focus on specifics. Beating them (Blazers) earlier in the season instilled belief in us. It was part of the strategy to win the league. In the second leg, we intimidated our opponents with the faultless run and it became easy to play against them. Scoring against Blazers in an action-packed encounter was another highlight of the season."
Onsare's outrageous passion for sports dates back to her childhood years and her ascent to the top of the Kenyan hockey league and her key role in Scorpions' success has not come as a surprise.
"I hadn't played hockey until high school but I was into sports at the primary school level. As a kid, I played every game available. The curiosity to prosper in sports made me fall in love with sports."
Onsare joined Moi Girls High School Nairobi in 2014 and guided the institution to fourth place at the national school games in her final year (2017).
"Coach Olubayi introduced me to hockey. I was so good that Senge even scouted me while in Form Two. He kept tabs on me and did all he could to ensure I joined Strathmore- a decision that has paid off."
The soft-spoken player was called up for the national under-21 side trials last year but the African qualifiers for the World Junior Championship were eventually canceled. This also marked her end on the junior side.
Onsare made her senior debut at the African Nation Championship in Ghana in January 2022, where the young charges under the tutelage of Jacqueline Mwangi scooped bronze.
Onsare later bounced back and was part of the Kenya team that performed dismally at the Commonwealth Games in the United Kingdom in August.
She admitted that lack of self-belief earlier in her career almost ruined her ambitions.
"Self-doubt was my greatest weakness. I was also not convinced with how I was initially playing but again, I couldn't allow my career to take a turn for the worst."
"My tiny body size is my biggest strength as most opposition players undermine me. With my partner in crime Lynn Tamnai (two tiny girls) bossing the midfield, we also play our hearts out because we have a point to prove."
"I need to become consistent. Being a midfielder is like being a captain from a different perspective. It means more responsibilities including reading the game, adding stability, understanding the system and exercising patience."
She went on: "Receiving the 'Coaches Award' in the University Sports Gala 2019 was another best moment for me."
Onsare did her primary school education at Clara Academy Ruaraka.
This is only the beginning of better things to come but Onsare has already written her name in Strathmore's folklore. Whether she lives up to the challenge of becoming strath's all-time greatest captain remains to be seen.
