NAIROBI, Kenya, June 26, 2026 – Former KCB Rugby head coach Oliver ‘Olishe’ Mang’eni says Kenyan rugby can go places if the model employed by the annual Ndume 7s is replicated across the country.
Baptising it as the best model, Mang’eni says resources should be directed towards development of such programmes to identify and nurture promising talents while still in childhood.
However, Mang’eni issued a rider, noting that such programmes should be founded and implemented on the cornerstone of integrity.
“It is good. It is the best model. However, I don’t know… it requires resources to have such. We also don’t have people cheating with the ages. Lack of integrity is what kills the game. Otherwise, if you’re playing 13-year-olds, let them play fairly and let them all be 13-year-olds,” the veteran tactician said.
Organised by Pembroke School, Ndume 7s is one of the country’s oldest school-level rugby competitions, with the first edition held in 1977 in Gilgil.
It brings together numerous private schools from Nairobi and its environs, competing across the Under 11 (boys only) and the Under 13 (boys and girls) categories in the one-day event.
Even as he stamps his approval for the 49-year-old competition, Mang’eni says such programmes are not end but a means to an end, which is to enable the talents identified go forth to play at the highest level.
Mang’eni emphasised on the need for stakeholders, including Kenya Rugby Union (KRU), parents and schools, to be intentional about developing pathways for the young talents to reach the summit of world rugby.
“I would say it is a development pathway and there has to be intention to do it and the people to do it. I would say that if we have to do this, we have to be very intentional and there has to be resources pumped into it,” the former national team player added.
Mang’eni was on the touchline as his Kenton College side outshone Banda School 28-19 in the final of the Under 13 boys category at the Pembroke School, a Saturday ago.
It was a successful title defence for the winners who clinched last year’s competition, beating Peponi 21-14 at the same venue.
Victory aside, Mang’eni chose to shone the limelight on his charges, noting that the achievement is just another building block towards growing into a world class player, at an individual player.
“These are schools, these are not clubs. So, the kids you have at that time are the ones you have to work with. And I would say that it is just a matter of time. The time they put in training that will culminate into this. Otherwise, we are not here for a legacy. These are kids who are developing. This is how it starts. It’s not about us. It is normally about the kids,” he said.
He praised the boys for their hard work and how they have bought in to his philosophy over a period of time.
“I can say that the boys put in a lot of hard work and I would say it’s not something that just happened today. It’s something that has been ongoing. We had a good squad and they just put their hands in and their heads in. And here we are,” Mang’eni observed.
As Mang’eni and Kenton bask in the glory of their latest achievement, his word of advice will reverberate far and beyond, in the hope that they will strike chord with the powers-that-be of Kenyan rugby.
Looking at the talents on display at Ndume 7s, it would be a tragedy for them to disappear within the pipeline, never to don the Shujaa and Lioness jersey at the international level.
