KCB's George Ooro opens up on pain of scoring against Strathmore Leos

KCB Rugby’s powerhouse forward George Ooro has opened up about the mixed emotions he felt after scoring against his former side, Strathmore Leos, during the recently concluded National Sevens Circuit.

The self-proclaimed King made a memorable return to the circuit at the Dala 7s in Kisumu, where he crossed the whitewash twice to edge out the Leos in a tense quarterfinal clash.

Follow our WhatsApp channel for more news

For Ooro, however, the joy of those tries came with an unexpected sting.

The Bankers had traveled to Kisumu needing only a quarterfinal victory to clinch the overall circuit crown.

Darwin Mukidza reveals reason for switching from KCB to Nondies

Standing in their way were the Leos, second on the log with 95 points, while KCB led with 104. The permutations were simple: if Strathmore won the Dala 7s and KCB finished sixth or worse, the students would snatch the title.

When the two sides met in the quarters, it was bound to be dramatic. Strathmore led 14–10 with minutes left, the atmosphere tense and fans on edge.

Then Ooro delivered the killer blow. His try sealed a 15–14 win for KCB, a scoreline eerily similar to the Driftwood 7s final earlier in the season.

In most sports, scoring against a former club hardly raises eyebrows. But this one was different, and in an interview with Mozzart Sport, Ooro admitted it.

Kenya Sevens co-captain George Ooro explains 'Japolo' nickname

“It was a good feeling because they defeated us in Embu. Personally, I knew what I wanted, and even as a team, I could not allow them to win again. It would have been too painful, and I did not want that to happen. That is why I worked very hard, and our hard work was rewarded,” he said.

The road back had not been smooth for Ooro. He pulled a hamstring on his KCB debut at the Driftwood 7s and spent much of the season struggling with fitness. But he fought his way back to become instrumental in KCB’s title-winning campaign.

“I’ve had this injury since Driftwood, so I have not been at 100%. At Dala, I was about 95% fit. Our management handled me well; I could share how I was feeling, and they helped me balance rest with playing,” he explained.

Ooro’s decision to join the Bankers from Strathmore had stunned many, given his glittering record with the students. Yet, he insisted the transition had been smooth.

“KCB’s culture is very similar to the Kenya Sevens culture; the motivation, facilities, gym, swimming pool, physiotherapists, and even the food. So I have not felt any culture shock,” he said.

With the Sevens circuit wrapped up, KCB’s attention has now shifted to the fifteens season, where they are keen to reclaim the Kenya Cup and Enterprise Cup titles. For Ooro, success will depend on getting preseason right.

“KCB have lacked trophies recently. 15s comes down to the preseason. So far, our preseason is good, and we’re training and gelling well,” he noted.

Ooro leaves behind an illustrious legacy at Strathmore. Under his influence, the Leos won back-to-back Embu 7s titles, the Christie 7s in 2022, the Prinsloo 7s in 2024, reached two Kenya Cup semifinals, and finished third in the 2023 National Sevens Circuit. He was also a regular MVP across tournaments.

At KCB, his impact was instant.

On debut at the 2025 Driftwood 7s, he helped the Bankers lift their first title at the coast since 2009, and was part of the team that won the overall title.