Shimenga Livondo bullish ahead of FEASSA school games

Remember the name Butula Boys High School?

Before this year’s Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) term one rugby 15s games, few had heard of the school.

But after 80 minutes of nothing but brilliant display in the KSSSA rugby 15s finals, it is that new name that will be parading at the Federation of East Africa Secondary Schools Sports Association (FEASSA) as the Kenyan champions.

Butula Boys became the new KSSSA Rugby 15s champions after seeing off All Saints of Eastern 38-0 in the highly contested final staged at the Eldoret Sports Club on April 29.

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They went down in history as the first rugby team to represent Busia at the national level.

The boys are under the tutelage of Shimenga Livondo alias Shim.

Prior to his new role at Butula Boys, the gaffer had led St. Peter’s Mumias to make history as the first Kenyan side to win the East African (FEASSA) 7s title after beating Kololo Secondary 21-14 at the Eldoret Sports Club seven years ago.

Mozzart Sport caught up with Shimenga who will be aiming at yet another victory at the international level, this time with another contingent. The team is in Huye, Rwanda for the East African games set to kick off from August 17-27.

As is his norm anytime he leads a team to glory, Shim dedicates it to God, in addition to his charges' efforts.

“Key factors are trusting in God always, discipline, and hard work,” he said.

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He commended the boy’s efforts and ability to multitask a tough term one timetable with intense training. According to Shim, first term games were the most competitive due to the tight schedules.

“First term competitions are usually very tight and there is not enough time for training. But we were training hard and getting the laws of the game right,” he emphasized.

But as he described, the journey to glory did not come without its challenges;

“Less time for training, few exposures due to tight school schedules, and few tournaments for gauging our skills,” he told Mozzart Sport.

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Despite that, he was grateful to the Busia County Government, and the entire support the boys received from the school and community.

“We thank the county government of Busia county for their support and everyone for financial and moral support. Be blessed,” he concluded.

The FEASSA rugby 15s games will be played in a round-robin format. Butula will be up against countrymen St Anthony’s Kitale and All Saints, together with Uganda’s King’s College in Buddo, St Mary’s College in Kisubi, and Namilyango College.

The games are set to kick off on August 17 and end on 27.