Rugby boots and chef’s hats : Mokoro’s dual life as a chef and rugby player

When we think of the vibrant rugby world, the first images that come to mind are often of powerful men and women battling it out on the pitch. However, there are those who surprise us by wearing multiple hats, excelling in not only rugby, but different arenas too.

Meet Cornelius Mokoro, the high-flying Kenya Harlequins half back whose skill in the kitchen is the only thing that rivals his dominance on the rugby field.

Not only is he a star for Quins on the rugby pitch, but he also showcases his magic in the kitchen as a top chef, cooking delicacies that tease senses just successfully as his tries electrify the crowds.

Mokoro was born on 10th December, 2002 in Kenyenya, Kisii County. He is a half back for Ngong Road-based Kenya Harlequins. He discovered his love for rugby while in form three.

“I started playing rugby when I was in high school at St Joseph Nyabigena boys in Kisii. When I was given an opportunity to represent the school team, I was the captain and we won our provincial games for the first time ever,” Mokoro told Mozzart Sport.

It was evident that he had a natural talent for rugby, and he quickly rose through the ranks to earn a spot with the Quins. The talented scrum half has been honing his skills under the close watch of inexhaustible rugby coach Paul Murunga.

What sets Mokoro apart is his ability to seamlessly blend his love for rugby with passion for cooking. He is now an accomplished chef in his own right, and attributes his passion for cooking to the early influence of his parents.

He was raised in a home where both of his parents were chefs who earned a living through a food vending business.

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“My interest in cooking began when I was young. Both my parents are chefs. I started cooking when I was around 10 years old. They used to pay all our bills using money made from the hotel,” the scrum half said.

Juggling the demands of a professional rugby career and the art of culinary creations requires a rare combination of dedication, time management, and unwavering passion. Despite that, the passionate chef has risen up to the challenge.

“Balancing both careers is hard, but I try. I organise my day in the morning, wake up at 6am, go to the gym till 8am, then I go to work till 4pm when I break for training again,” Mokoro explained.

For Mokoro, the line that separates the rugby pitch from his passion for cooking is blurred. According to him, the skills honed on the rugby pitch have successfully woven into his career and customer relations services.

“Skills like patience are key because of the relationship with clients. How I relate with my teammates is how I relate with my customers,” he revealed.

Mokoro has cooked for his teammates on several occasions, with the recent one being the 2022 Impala Floodlights tournament. If he ever gets a chance to prepare a feast for his teammates, guess what he’d give them? Turkey!

“I believe in adding a touch of elegance in everything I do. If I had an opportunity to cook for my teammates, why not surprise them with turkey dinner?” he posed.

Mokoro’s teammate, former Chipu skipper Laban Kipsang could not help but praise Mokoro’s cooking prowess.

“Mokoro’s kitchen is good. The food is very tasty, delicious, and yummy,” he offered.

For Mokoro, the passion for cooking runs so deep that he simply couldn’t envision himself in any other profession.

“I have never thought of any other career apart from cooking. I started it a long time ago,” he disclosed.

According to the chef, the path to success was not always straightforward, but it was crucial to take the first step. Just like a chef makes delicious meals from the ingredients at hand, so too one can shape their future by leveraging their current circumstances.

“Many people want to be at a certain place to do what they want to do. But you can start from anywhere and be what you want. I started with one pan, a cooktop, I was cooking from the house, and took it for training. My fellow players helped in marketing so I got clients as the business grew and right now we are here,” he said.

Mokoro is the owner of Mokoro’s Kitchen, a food truck that is currently operating in Nairobi. He was part of the team that represented Kenya in the U20 trophy in 2021.