The future of Impala Saracens is bright. Ian Mabwa, Lameck Dunde, Mohammed Omolo and Quinto Odhiambo are some of the players that show promise. One other rising star is a bubbly young man born in 1993. He has risen from the Standered Chartered Impala Rugby Academy to the national Simba XV outfit which recently featured in South Africa’s Vodacom Cup. His name is Robert Aringo, or ‘Majei’, as he is popularly known.
Only Majei and Duncan ‘Share 5′ Mwangi were chosen from Impala Saracens stable to represent Kenya in the Vodacom Cup Campaign in South Africa. He spoke with impalasaracens.com fresh from the two month rugby tour where the Simba XV was based in Cape Town. “The Simba XV call up was a surprise, I was just from a back injury. I was nervous. My Mum was doubtful about my suitability. At one point, the team physiotherapist was unsure of my fitness. Deep inside, though, I felt a burning desire to represent my nation in South Africa’, begins Aringo.
Aringo is an alumnus of St. Mary’s School Nairobi which has a rich rugby tradition. ‘I played alongside centres Davis Ambunya and Anthony Nyandigisi as well as utility back Samuel Oliech all of who have earned Kenya caps,’ he adds. ‘In 2011, I captained the St. Mary’s school team that won the Blackrock Festival, played in the national school sevens championships at Kakamega but lost to Patch (Nairobi School) at the provincial semi finals of the full game’ The backrow forward turned scrum half broke into club rugby after short junior stints at Kenya Harlequins and Nondescripts. In 2010, he moved to Impala Saracens while still at school. ‘I started at the Impala Academy level, played in the Boks (Impala Saracens second string) side and then graduated to full Impala Saracens side” When Impala Saracens head coach Erick Situma was asked about Aringo’s ability, he remarked, ‘Just place Majei on the field, he will play anywhere very well’. This versatility has played a huge role in his rugby success.
He could clean the ruck like a backrow, pass like a scrumhalf and carry the ball like a prop. The 20 year old already boasts two national caps, a national sevens one and a Chairman’s Select participation. The utility player’s enthusiasm. is high. “I think 100 caps is a reasonable target,” he says with a chuckle.. In South Africa, je played at scrumhalf. ‘Professional back rows are bigger than me which is the probable reason I was called up to play at no. 9. Rugby is very scientific at the Vodacom level. That was evident in all our matches but mostly so against the Sharks. We started that match on a high note but the scores kept piling as the match progressed. The fulltime results were a massive whooping!” “I received alot of encouragement from (Kenya first choice scrum half Edwin) Achayo. He gave me valuable tips that improved my performance” Asked if he could settle at scrumhalf at Impala Saracens, his response was, “Never! I love contact; I want to work towards improving my carry, tackle and attack. There, I will stick to backrow and the occasional first centre cameos. I admire (New Zealand captain Richie) McCaw and Kenya flanker Michael Okombe styles of play” ‘I believe we (Impala Saracens) could win a number of trophies.
We are beginning to believe in ourselves like the Impala of old’, he concludes.
