It is easy to think that the zeal and brilliance of our national 7s team is contained to this decade alone. But did you know we had a championship-winning 🏆 side as far back as 1982?

Rugby landed in Kenya a good 118 years ago – no doubt delivered by a plucky native of the United Kingdom enamoured by the thought of chasing the oddly shaped ball across the wilds of the protectorate. As rugby gained popularity and became ‘the game to play’ the participation of Africans remained restricted for decades. This was until 1972 when Mombasa based player Ted Kabetu joined the East Africa Tuskers – a team made up of the best rugby players from this region of Africa.

Throughout the seventies, rugby spread amongst Kenyans, with more teams formed of indigenous Kenyans who were keen on pursuing the sport professionally. Some of these teams were Miro RFC, Mean Machine RFC and Mwamba Rugby Club. Of note, the majority of the players were alumni of Lenana School and Nairobi School aka Patch.

In 1982 Watembezi Pacesetters RFC was the new rugby club in town, formed for the sole purpose of exporting Kenya’s style of open rugby overseas. In time, they set a standard that would benchmark Kenya’s rugby legacy. With a strong squad put together full of muscle and speed, they qualified for the ‘82 Dubai Sevens. There was only one problem, the rugby union could not finance the team’s travel expenses and for a moment, Watembezi’s chances of representing Kenya abroad seemed slim.

But passion drives people and in this case the team went all out to raise money so as to take part in the notable event. one major catch was the reality that Kenya had strict foreign exchange controls, so fundraising included applications to The Central Bank of Kenya to convert any money into foreign currency. The team managed to raise the funds, but a late issue of the bank’s Foreign Currency Application Licence delayed the team for a day.

Watembezi eventually arrived but with minimum time to prepare to play on the desert sand pitch. The rugby grounds were unfamiliar to Watembezi RFC and they were slated to play against reigning champions – the Dubai home team. Despite the heat and sand, our boys battled it out with 13 other teams to try and bring home the prize. Kenyan shujaa pride and prowess defined the day as Watembazi Pacesetters RFC blew their rivals away and emerged the winners, claiming the Silver Khanjar Trophy and proudly raising the Kenyan flag.

So who were these Sevens’ pacesetters?

We celebrate Jackson Omaido (Capt.), Richard Njoba, Cliff Mukulu, JJ Masiga, Max Muniafu, Bethuel Omolo, and Tom Oketch (Player & Coach) – Wachezaji wa Watembezi – for overcoming odds in order to represent our nation in the world of Sevens Rugby.

#KeWachezaji #PaukwaPeople