Kenya’s John Okoth cuts through the Spain defense on day one of the HSBC SVNS Grand Final at Stadium Civitas Metropolitano on 31 May 31, 2024 in Madrid, Spain.
It was during the second match of this year’s Kabeberi Sevens in August against Kisumu that big John Okoth injured his ankle as he attempted to engage his trademark, devastating side-step.
The injury jolted the 6-foot 3-inch, 105kg back’s dream of returning to the World Rugby Sevens Series with Kenya Sevens this season. Still, he remains optimistic he will be back again as he goes through rehabilitation in Nairobi.
The Menengai Oilers player, who is recovering from surgery done three months ago on his fibula, will miss the 2024/2025 World Rugby Sevens Series opening legs in Dubai and Cape Town.
Dubai Sevens is scheduled for this weekend and will be followed by Cape Town Sevens on December 7-8.
“It was beyond my wildest dreams that someone can get injured from doing something that he is used to and to make matters worse stay out for that long,” said the 24-year-old, who has now accepted his fate.
“It’s pretty disappointing since I was really at the peak of my game and wanted to be in Dubai and Cape Town with the boys but I hope to join them in training after they return,” said Okoth yesterday.
Okoth, who operates as a centre in 15s and prop in sevens said that he is keeping positive and hopes to return stronger and better than he was before the injury.
He is confident that Kenya Seven will attain their target of posting a top-five performance in each of the legs in Dubai and Cape Town.
“Where we have come from as a team is far and for sure it was quite a journey after we got relegated,” said Okoth, who made his debut at the World Rugby Sevens Series in 2023 in Hamilton, New Zealand and Sydney, Australia.
“It really hit us hard especially when the team got relegated in a season that I was making my debut. It came with great lessons that helped us revive the team culture that made us rock before,” said Okoth.
Okoth, who played an integral role during their successful World Rugby Challenger Series and the relegation and promotion play-offs, said that the qualification presented a new challenge.
“The series will definitely be challenging by virtue of meeting the best in the world but I believe these talented boys are up to the task and their target of finishing in top five is achievable.
Kenya are up against Paris Olympics champions France, South Africa and New Zealand in Pool “A” clashes in Dubai on Saturday.
“They should just be confident, go out strong and let the results take care of themselves,” said Okoth, a great admirer of former Kenya Sevens powerhouse Oscar Ouma.
“Ouma is basically my mentor and I imitate what he used to do with his physique.”
Okoth siblings Philip and Joel also play rugby as half-backs for their respective universities, having been lured to the game by their big brother. Philip, who is a third-year student at Egerton, is part of the contracted Kenya Sevens players while Joel is in his first year at the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT).
“I pray for that time when we shall all be playing for the national team in sevens or 15s and emulate other rugby siblings like Humphrey Kayange and his brother Collins Injera and the Simiyu brothers Namcos and Nato,” said Okoth.
Okoth was bitten by the rugby bug while in Class Four at Newlife Africa International School in Nakuru when former Nakuru player and coach Felix Oloo (Mwalimu Adde), conducted clinics at the school.
"He was the deputy head teacher at the school and was then playing for Nakuru," said Okoth, who continued playing the game when he joined Nakuru Day before being signed by Nakuru in 2018 after completing school.
He joined Menengai Oilers in 2021.
The hard-running Okoth first played for a Kenya side while at primary school. He toured France in 2013 with the Kenya Under-15 sevens team.
Although he missed the 2019 Under-20 Barthes Trophy he was named in the Kenya Under-20 squad for the 2019 World Rugby Under-20 Trophy.
He made his debut for Kenya Simbas in 2019 playing against Uganda in the Elgon Cup. He played for Kenya Simbas at the 2023 Rugby World Cup Final Qualification Tournament.
He was part of the Kenya Sevens squad that qualified and competed in the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics.
