'The team had like 200 sponsors' - Why Kenya Lionesses’ winger loves playing in Japan
Reading Time: 3min | Tue. 21.10.25. | 17:36
Despite her contract ending, Okello remains optimistic about securing another deal in Japan
Kenya Lionesses winger Janet “Shebesh” Okello has opened up on why she loves playing rugby in Japan.
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In an exclusive interview with Mozzart Sport, Okello described the Asian country’s strong organisational structure and unmatched financial support for both men’s and women’s teams as some of the factors that continue to impress her.
Okello, who has spent three years playing professionally in Japan, recently concluded her stint with Nagato Blue Angels but remains keen to extend her career in the land of the rising sun.
She noted that Japan’s professionalism and comprehensive player welfare systems make it an ideal environment for athletes to thrive.
“Kenya still has a long way to go. The level of rugby out there is on another scale. Even in the university category, the quality of play is so high you’d think you’re watching a national team,” Okello started.
“If those teams came here, you would immediately notice their skill level, game IQ, and organisation, and yet, most of those players are just 18 or 19 years old.
They have been playing since childhood, and the systems have supported them all the way from primary to high school,” she continued.
The trailblazing speedster, who made history in 2022 as the first Kenyan woman to play professional rugby in Japan, went on to note that the support structures there are second to none.
“The difference is in structure and support. Over there, everything is well-organised and fully funded. Both the men’s and women’s setups are equally supported.
For instance, the club I was with had around 200 sponsors, they had media partners, housing, insurance, and backing for every category,” she explained.
Okello joined Nagato Blue Angels in May 2025 ahead of the Taiyo Seimei Sevens season, following an impressive three-year spell with MIE Pearls Women’s Rugby Football Club.
During her time with MIE Pearls, she was named Most Valuable Player (MVP) in the sevens category and became a fan favourite for her blistering pace, agility, and consistency across both the sevens and fifteens formats.
Among her standout memories in Japan was sharing the field with global rugby icon Portia Woodman-Wickliffe, an experience she describes as a dream come true.
Despite her contract ending, Okello remains optimistic about securing another deal in Japan.
“When I went to Japan, the competition was fierce, but I believed in myself. I knew what I brought to the table. I have been named MVP several times, top try scorer, and more, so I know I am also somewhere,” she said confidently.
Back home, Okello reminded fans of her brilliance at the 2025 Safari 7s, where she scored five tries and was crowned Player of the Final as Kenya edged Uganda’s Lady Cranes 14–10, reclaiming the title that had eluded them for two years.
