Cardinal Otunga High School Mosocho captain Pristone Onyango says the decision to fly the team from Kisii to Nairobi ahead of the Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) national games gave the players an extra reason to fight for success.Download our MozzartSport App For More NewsThe Nyanza champions travelled by air three days before the start of the national competition at Mpesa Foundation Academy in Thika, a gesture Onyango says lifted the mood within the squad and made the players feel valued by the school, alumni and their well-wishers.For most of the players, it was also their first experience of travelling by air, making the journey more than just a means of getting to the competition.##NAJAVA_MECA_9883855##“Boarding the flight was a motivational factor for us. I can also say it was a congratulations for winning the Nyanza Regional League. It was a good experience for the majority of us because it was the first time for some of us. We are fighting to play the game for our well-being,” the skipper told Mozzart Sport.The investment came at a significant moment for Cardinal Otunga, who were returning to the KSSSA national rugby stage after a decade away.Their previous appearance had come in 2016, with the 2026 squad therefore carrying the responsibility of restoring the school to the national conversation.KSSSA: How past regional failures fuelled Mohammed Bajaber-inspired Takaba Mixed's historic runRather than being overwhelmed by the occasion, the Red City Warriors produced a composed campaign that saw them go all the way to the final before their challenge was ended by defending champions Butula Boys.Onyango believes the support they received throughout their journey created an obligation for the players to repay the faith shown in them.“We also look back at all the people supporting us, the school contributing and making sure we come here by flight. To our well-wishers, we want to make you proud. That is why we are going hard and want to ensure we achieve the trophy and get to East Africa,” he said.##NAJAVA_MECA_9883832##Cardinal Otunga began their national campaign with a narrow 7-5 victory over Kitondo School before announcing themselves as serious contenders with a commanding 29-0 win over Tononoka Secondary School.They maintained their unbeaten run with another 7-5 victory over Laiser Hill Academy, finishing the group stage strongly before carrying the same composure into the knockout rounds.The Mosocho side edged Kwale High School 10-7 in the quarterfinals before overcoming Upper Hill School 10-5 to secure a place in the national final.##NAJAVA_MECA_9883243##Butula proved too strong in the title decider, running out 26-0 winners, although the silver medal marked a remarkable return for Cardinal Otunga after ten years away from the national stage.Their run also secured the school a place at the Federation of East Africa Secondary Schools Sports Association (FEASSSA) Games in Morogoro, Tanzania, giving the players another opportunity to measure themselves against the best in the region.For the captain, however, the campaign was also about building something that could remain long after his time at the school is over.KSSSA: Bishop travels 800km in 24 hours to watch son shine for Kakamega SchoolBefore the national final, the captain had identified Samuel Asati as one of the players whose journey had inspired him most.Asati attended Cardinal Otunga between 2013 and 2016 and captained the 2016 side that reached the national championships, becoming one of the most prominent products of the school's rugby programme.“I am looking up to Samuel Asati. He schooled here, and he is the last person who took this school to the nationals. I would like to leave a legacy by taking it to East Africa as a captain,” Onyango said.Asati has since established himself at the highest level, representing Kenya in rugby sevens and playing for KCB, while also featuring for Kenya at the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.His journey has given the current Cardinal Otunga players a tangible example of where the sport can take them after school.He donated the jerseys worn by the team during the Nyanza Regional Championships, allowing the players to take the field carrying the name of a former school captain who had already walked the path they hoped to follow.Onyango is determined to follow a similar route and has his sights set on KCB while keeping his options open within rugby.“I am looking to play for KCB. I believe the game can help me in other spheres of the world. Through sport I can get chances to play in clubs or even officiate in games,” he said.Why KSSSA boss is pushing for more government fundingCardinal Otunga's return to the national stage has therefore produced more than a silver medal.The campaign has restored the school's place among Kenya's leading school rugby programmes, secured a ticket to the East African Games and given a new generation of players a glimpse of what can follow beyond school competition.The story is also a reminder of the school's rugby heritage. Jacob Ojee, another former Cardinal Otunga player, went on to represent Kenya in both Sevens and Fifteens rugby and featured at the Olympic Games before moving into coaching##NAJAVA_MECA_9883764##