Friends School Bokoli players during a training session/ANGWENYI GICHANA
Friends School Bokoli coach Eliud Okwemba has turned his attention to the mental and psychological preparedness of his players ahead of the Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) National Term Two Games following their historic Western Region rugby sevens title.
“I now want to focus on the mental and psychological preparedness of the boys before the national championships,” said Okwemba, whose side will compete at the nationals for the first time when the games are held at the MPesa Foundation Academy in Thika from July 28 to August 1.
The experienced tactician believes his players have what it takes to compete despite making their debut at the National Championships.
“Nationals is a different level. The players have never been to that stage, but we shall compete favourably. We are not underdogs despite being debutants. I have been to the nationals several times, and I know what it takes to compete there,” he said.
Okwemba’s charges stunned the region by defeating Butula Boys 14-0 in the final at Bungoma High School to win the Western Region rugby Sevens title.
Jackton Nyarange and Edgar Ouma scored the tries, while Michael Irungu added the conversion as Bokoli completed an unbeaten campaign.
Their road to the title included a 12-7 semi-final victory over national and Federation of East Africa Schools Sports Association (FEASSA) champions St Peter’s Mumias.
Earlier, Butula Boys had eliminated former national 15s champions Vihiga Boys by the same score. Bokoli began their campaign with a 39-0 win over Mundika before thrashing Mbale 47-3 and edging St Ignatius Mukumu 12-7 in the group stage.
They then hammered Kamusinde 47-0 in the quarter-finals. The triumph was even more remarkable considering Bokoli qualified for the regional championships as Bungoma County’s fourth representative after losing the county play-off to Friends School Kamusinga.
Okwemba, who previously guided Koyonzo High School to national and FEASSA glory, credited the victory to discipline, hard work and tactical execution.
“We were tactical and the best team during the regional championships,” he said. He also commended Senior Principal Joseph Mulongo, the school management, technical bench and players for their support and commitment throughout the campaign.
Bokoli and runners-up Butula Boys will represent the Western Region at the national championships. In the girls’ competition, Mbakalo claimed the regional title after defeating Kimobo 24-7 in the final.
Mbakalo had beaten fancied Madira 22-0 in the semi-finals, while Kimobo overcame Fesbeth Academy 24-7 to book their place in the final.
