Kenya Sevens' John Okoth on darkest moments during injury rehabilitation
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Reading Time: 3min | Thu. 27.02.25. | 08:03
He remains focused on returning to the game he loves and representing Kenya once again
Menengai Oilers’ John Okoth has shared his darkest moments during his injury rehabilitation.
Okoth suffered a tibia fracture during the 2024 Kabeberi 7s, and has had to endure months of rehabilitation to get back on his feet.
He had been in fine form on day one of the Kabeberi 7s before the unfortunate injury cut his momentum short. A tibia fracture typically requires three to six months of recovery, and for the playmaker, the journey back has been nothing short of challenging.
As he inches closer to a return, Mozzart Sport caught up with him and he revealed the struggles he faced during recovery and his burning desire to be back on the pitch.
“I feel good. The rehab is going well. At least the ankle is improving. I feel so good and confident right now,” he said.
The road to recovery was anything but smooth. Okoth admitted that one of the hardest moments was regaining mobility and walking properly without limping.
“Doing the mobility work and trying to walk straight without limping was very hard. It was a tough process to go through because my leg was still painful. By the time I was off the cast and trying to walk again, it was so painful that I thought maybe coming back was not worth it. It seemed like I could never run again,” he opened up.
Fortunately, with structured rehabilitation and support from his physiotherapist, he started seeing progress.
“Now, with the rehab from the physio, I am doing great. It is going to be well. I am confident I can come back and play rugby,” he added.
Beyond the physical pain, Okoth revealed that the injury took a toll on his mental health.
“There was a time I went into a very deep, dark place. For a whole month, I did not know what to do. I could not train or go anywhere. It was a deep moment, and I cannot wish to go back there again,” he confessed.
It was that depressing experience that taught him to always do his best anytime he is on the pitch. He no longer takes good health for granted.
“I used to just come and play, thinking that everything is normal. But now I have realized that just a little injury can take you to a very dark place. Now I cherish every moment I am here with the boys, and every single day, I do my best,” he disclosed.
Despite the dark times, Okoth had a strong support system that kept him going.
“I was with my family, my sister; they kept coming and motivated me. They played a very huge part in my recovery process,” he said.
While the rehabilitation process has been grueling, Okoth remains focused on returning to the game he loves and representing Kenya once again.
“I miss being on the pitch. I see how Kenyans turn up to support Shujaa—it is very big. You can always feel the heat while watching from home. I miss just running on the pitch, feeling the support of fans as I do my thing,” he averred.
We had a chat shortly with coach Kevin Wambua who offered a timeline on his possible return to option.
With his conditioning back on track, the tactician noted that Okoth is awaiting clearance for contact play. His return could not come at a better time for the national team.
“We are waiting for him to be cleared for contact so we can fast-track him. If everything goes well, we will probably have him back when we go to Hong Kong and Singapore. It will be a very big boost for us as a team,” Wambua said.
Hong Kong 7s is slated for Friday 28 to Saturday 30 March in China while Singapore 7s is penciled for Saturday 5 to Sunday 6 April.
