For most players taking part in the Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) Term Two Games in Thika, the national championships represent an opportunity to compete against the country's best school teams.Download our Mozzart Sport App for more newsBut for 15-year-old Kirangari Boys High School fly-half Paul Munithia, every tackle, every pass and every point carries a far deeper meaning.As hundreds of students battle for national honors at Mpesa Foundation Academy, Munithia is carrying a dream that stretches far beyond the rugby pitch.##NAJAVA_MECA_9872547##He wants the sport to change his family's fortunes and, above all, give his mother a life free from years of hardship working in a local restaurant.Kirangari Boys are making history by featuring in the national rugby sevens competition for the first time, adding another milestone to the school's growing presence at the national games.While qualification alone is already a remarkable achievement for the Central Region side, Munithia views the tournament as a stage to announce himself to a bigger audience.The teenager hopes strong performances in Thika will catch the attention of scouts and open doors that could eventually transform the lives of the people who have sacrificed everything for him.Kwanthanze stunned as opening KSSSA day delivers major upsetRaised alongside his three siblings by a single mother after his parents separated when he was in class three, Munithia says life has never been easy.Watching his mother wake up every morning to work long hours in restaurants just to put food on the table has become the fuel behind his determination.Rather than allowing the challenges to define him, he chose rugby as his escape route, convinced it could one day become his family's ticket out of poverty."My family has really struggled. My father left when I was still young and since then it has only been my mother carrying all the responsibility. Life has not been easy for us, but I always tell myself that with God, hard work and my talent, I can change our story," Munithia told Mozzart Sport."Every time I step onto the field, I remember what my mother has gone through for us. I don't just play for myself. I play because I want to help my family and make sure she never has to struggle the way she has all these years."His rugby journey began in 2019 with community side Kahunguro Rocks before earning a place at Kirangari Boys, where the sport has already helped ease part of his education through school support."I started playing rugby in 2019 with Kahunguro Rocks, and from that moment I believed this game could change my life. It has already helped me stay in school and I believe this is only the start. Every day I pray that rugby opens bigger opportunities for me so I can support my family and give back to everyone who has believed in me."##NAJAVA_MECA_9876028##The memories of watching his mother work tirelessly remain fresh in his mind. He says those images push him to train harder than everyone else because he knows what is at stake every time he wears the Kirangari jersey."My mother has sacrificed everything for us. She has worked in restaurants for years just to make sure we have something to eat, clothes to wear and school fees whenever she could manage it. My older brothers have also been doing whatever jobs they find to support her. Seeing all that gives me the motivation to keep working because I know I cannot let them down."Munithia dreams of one day earning a professional contract, building his family a decent home, and ensuring they never worry about their next meal again.He also draws inspiration from Kenyan rugby legends Collins Injera and Humphrey Kayange, whose journeys have convinced him that greatness is possible regardless of one's background."When I look at players like Collins Injera and Humphrey Kayange, I see people who used rugby to build successful lives. They started somewhere just like I have. I also believe that if I remain disciplined and keep working hard, one day people will know my name and my family will watch me represent Kenya on the biggest stages."KSSSA: St. Mary's Yala, Highway brave Thika cold to begin national title chase with victoriesKirangari Boys begin their national campaign on Monday morning knowing a place at the East Africa Games is up for grabs, and despite facing more experienced opponents, Munithia says the team has travelled to Thika believing they can compete."I am very happy to be here because this is history for our school. Since rugby started at Kirangari Boys, we have never qualified for the national games. Now we are here and we know the teams are strong, but we are not afraid. We have prepared well and we will give everything we have to fight for positive results."He reserved his final words for the people who have stood by him throughout his journey."I want to make my mother, my brothers, my teachers, and my coaches proud. They have always believed in me and encouraged me even when things were difficult. Our coaches have pushed us every day to become better players and better people. The only way I can repay them is by working harder and making the most of this opportunity."
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