Youth conventionally means settling for a spark. Some young people are unsure of their desires. It is a completely different conundrum when you strike into adolescence. Your hormones plot against you. Your weekends quickly turn into a life laboratory. You almost want to measure yourself against the world. It gets even more exciting if you have some testosterone in circulation. You are transitioning to responsibility. It proves tricky especially if you reside in an informal settlement.
There are 3 certain things in this universe, fear, rejection and Spencer Ochieng’s ability to fight the first two. His life has been a Matador’s show. Nothing has been easy, but pure wit, grit and agility in decision making strategically place him where he is. Watching senior players like Ian Minjire, Samson Onsomu and BlitzBokke’s Cecil Afrika has got him hungry. Currently the best of all Standard Chartered Impala Rugby Academy players, Spencer Ochieng has a plea.
‘I was introduced to pen, paper and the art of writing at St. Vincent in Kibera in 2003. 3 years later, my parents were buying new uniform and we were headed to Soweto Academy. I was being ushered into a kiln. For 8 years, my patience, ability to absorb and decipher knowledge was tested to the limit. Here I am now, first student in my class. 419 marks and I have been called to a school that truly, does not fit my desire’, Spencer declares.
‘God has blessed me with intelligence, the spirit of hard work is deep seated in my persona. Despite stellar performance I have been called to Langata High School’, Spencer adds. With a definitive smirk, the 14 year old continues, ‘The school I have been called to does not match my hunger for success. In addition, it does not have in place a proper rugby programme’.
Asked about where he would like to spend the next 4 academic years, he lightens up. Dilated pupils and an increased excitement are visible in tone. Alliance High School, Maseno School, Nairobi School are top on his list. But why would the young boy want to learn in a school far away from home? , ‘These schools have embraced rugby. They are also established as academic fountains. Streams which nourished some of the best of Kenya Rugby legends and current crop of players’, he adds.
Are you in a position to get Spencer what the quota system denied him?
