Friends School Kamusinga (FSK) is laying the foundations for a new era of rugby success, with the school investing in both infrastructure and technical expertise to unlock the potential within its rugby programme.Download our Mozzart Sport app for more newsAt the centre of the ambitious plan is Chief Principal Paul Weloba, a respected figure in Kenyan rugby whose experience as a player, coach, referee and administrator has helped shape his vision for the school’s rugby team, the Spartans.Weloba has brought experienced tactician Shimenga Livondo on board as the Spartans coach, believing his track record of developing school rugby programmes can help Kamusinga turn its considerable talent into a competitive force.Kenya Morans set for Zimbabwe rematch as Safari 7s pools are announcedThe school is also set to improve its playing surface as part of efforts to create a better environment for the players to train and compete.“We want to improve the rugby pitch. We will level the ground with soil and plant grass so that we can have a good playing surface. At the moment, there are patches without grass, which makes it difficult for the students, especially during the rainy season. ##NAJAVA_MECA_10006892##We are working on that because we want to provide our students with facilities that allow them to develop their talent safely and effectively,” Weloba told Mozzart Sport.The investment is about more than simply improving the appearance of the pitch, but creating the conditions necessary for young players to develop their skills consistently.“There is a lot of talent at Kamusinga, and our ambition is to nurture that talent and build a competitive team. We want to compete for titles and create a rugby programme that can consistently challenge for honours in the years to come,” he added.Wahinya shines as KCB Rugby claim bragging rights against Ugandan siblingsWeloba understands what it takes to build a successful school rugby programme.During his coaching career, he led Kakamega High School to remarkable success, including East Africa rugby 15s titles in 2012 and 2013, after finishing runners-up in 2011. He also guided his teams to KSSSA rugby 15s titles in 2011, 2012 and 2013.The school also enjoyed success in the shorter format, winning the Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) Rugby 7s titles in 2012 and 2013. That double success made the school the only one at the time to win both the 7s and 15s national championships in consecutive years.##NAJAVA_MECA_10006891##He also coached Alliance High School to national prominence, guiding the institution to its first Prescott Cup title and multiple KSSSA titles.Away from school coaching, Weloba has enjoyed a distinguished career as a match official. He made history as the first black referee to officiate in the IRB Sevens Series, taking charge of legs in Dubai and George, while also officiating at the Under-19 World Cup and in Manchester.He is a Level One coach and a World Rugby match officials educator, while also playing a role in coordinating school rugby through KSSSA and FEASSSA.Kabras RFC humble Ugandan side to clinch Kampala 7s crownThat experience has informed his decision to bring Livondo into the Kamusinga setup.“We have also brought Coach Shimenga Livondo on board because we believe his experience, knowledge and exposure will add great value to our rugby programme. We want to give our players the best possible guidance as they develop their skills and grow into better rugby players,” Weloba said.##NAJAVA_MECA_10006889##Livondo arrives with a reputation for transforming school rugby programmes and developing players capable of progressing to the highest levels of the game.Before joining Kamusinga, he spent nearly three years in London, where he coached youth rugby while advancing his studies in Sports Science, Psychology and Mental Health.His coaching CV includes successful spells at Chavakali High School, St Peter’s Boys Mumias and Butula Boys High School.Menengai Oilers set to face KCB Rugby in blockbuster Impala Floodlights openerAt Mumias, Livondo revived a dormant rugby programme and guided the school to its historic KSSSA National 15s title in 2012. He later made history as the first Kenyan coach to win the FEASSSA Rugby 7s title after Mumias defeated Uganda’s Kololo Senior School 12-10.His success continued at Butula, where he guided the school to its first KSSSA National Rugby 15s Championship in 2023, following a 38-0 victory over All Saints Embu in the final.Butula went on to claim an East African silver medal in Rwanda, while Livondo's achievements earned him a nomination for the School Coach of the Year award at the 2023 Sports Personality of the Year Awards.##NAJAVA_MECA_10005232##His coaching credentials were already well established at Chavakali, where he helped develop the school into one of the region's formidable rugby programmes in the late 2000s.More importantly, Livondo has demonstrated an ability to identify raw talent and nurture it into elite players.Among those he has mentored are Dan Angwech, Teddy Akala and William Muhanji, who have gone on to feature for Kabras Sugar RFC; Kenya Sevens international Floyd Wabwire; Bethwel Anami, who plays professionally in France; and Rayvon Ambale, the 2022 KSSSA MVP who earned a rugby scholarship to the United Kingdom.
7