The 82 side what I remember Part 3

As 1981 drew to a close I had some serious worries of my own. I wasn't sure that I had done enough to win a 5th form place back in Changes. We had heard many stories about the emotions that went with the singing of the last hymn; “Lord dismiss us with thy blessings”. More so the part that addressed “those returning.”

For me it was a strange feeling. This place that I had hated with all my guts swearing to do my fifth form elsewhere in “a more civilized, less violent school” just two short years earlier was now the place that I wanted to come back to at all costs. My biggest nightmare now was failing to come back. The furthest thought on my mind at the time was rugby.

The school holidays passed swiftly. One day we were sitting around doing a lot of nothing with Chris Gatumbi (RIP) my Kirk house-mate, who was now a close neighbor (he lived in Valley Arcade and we lived close somewhere along Othaya Road) when we got word that the results were out. He had a small motorbike and we rushed to Lenana and the crash hall. To be honest I had no idea what to expect. Guilt from all the hours “wasted” on rugby flooded me.

But we rode back home in Gatumbi’s motorbike with joy. We were both “returning.” Despite the rugby I had managed a first division of 21 points. The sciences as expected were a total zulu war of “rungus” for me (how we described failure in those days). But mathematics and the arts carried me through and my best six were more than good enough for a division one. I did not know it at the time but these O-level results would later play a significant role in deciding my fate at “changes.”

It was like Anderson was waiting for us and shortly after we got back to school he informed us all that our rugby season would be starting early with residential training during the April school holidays. We would come from the holidays early to train.

Actually I now saw a lot of Anderson every day even though it was not yet rugby season, because he started teaching me something other than rugby for the first time since he arrived in '81, as my economics teacher.

He even used his influence to get a few guys back who had not quite made it. They triumphantly marched back with the second selection and lo behold the complete Moss Moss squad was once again assembled at Lenana this time as the official Mean maroon squad.

The first controversy involved the elections of officials. Captain, Vice captain and secretary. Traditionally the secretary would be the rugby captain the following year. I was tipped for the post by some while others wanted Big Jim Ayoki (R.I.P). Some Kirk sixth formers urged me on because they wanted a total domination of the team by our house since it was almost certain that Nesbitt Wesonga (also from Kirk) would be captain. Just before the elections Tony Maleche and Aloise Obiero approached me and asked me to step down for the sake of unity. The way they approached me it seemed that they were sure that I was NOT going to oblige easily and so they promised to help me get elected Soccer captain with ease the following term.

The whole incident was a shock to me because until that moment I had not yet realized that fifth form in those days was always bound to be a “politically charged” year with plenty at stake.

Still I accepted the deal quickly without a second thought mainly because I already had a lot on my plate with the school play and other activities. In my mind I thought it would be great to play my rugby unhindered by other responsibilities. In retrospect I was right. Besides Big Jim made a great secretary and later captain and in all honesty did better than I would ever have done. Especially because of the numerous other responsibilities I was going to start carrying shortly some which would weight down on me rather heavily.

Leadership is everything and the 82 side would have easily been short-circuited by bad leadership but looking back now I see how fate was very kind to us. Wesonga was an inspirational skipper and knew how to get the best out of every player. I had seen him do this many times in Kirk house teams. Vice captain and pack leader Spike Ogot ended up being another inspired choice. Both would be severely tested at trying times mostly during clashes with RVA and would be called upon to rally the troops to snatch victory from the very jaws of defeat. I was taken aback by Spike’s ability to get people psyched up with a mere pep talk. As the year progressed his leadership abilities were clearly visible as he headed Tom Mboya house in what was to be a remarkable year for the house.

Looking back I should have known that there was no way we were going to go wrong with such great leadership.

The 1982 side: What I remember part 2

I don’t remember hearing Moss Moss cause any controversy in the school in 1981 but it should have. It was clear where Dave Andersons’ heart was. We had a brighter newer kit (although it couldn't be maroon because we were NOT the official school side). If we were not having a game somewhere we would be watching rugby videos of the 5 Nations internationals at the music hall or even Andy guy’s house (if my memory serves me right).

The big worry for us fourth formers on the side were the rapidly approaching national exams. Rugby seasons also happened to be the season for the mock exams which usually ended up making a mockery of many. I don’t know what the other guys did but I woke up by 4 am to get in some extra work towards my exams. It must have been much easier because we were so physically fit and besides it was a small price to pay for rugby.

To be honest few of us saw this as a build up to 1982. We were just having fun playing, talking and living the game we all loved so much.

Why were there so many Kirk guys in Moss Moss and ultimately in the 1982 side? I have seen the question asked again and again in many threads and here is my controversial personal opinion which I am sure many may not agree with. I think it had something to do with 1977 when there was a terrifying head of house in Kirk and a reign of terror that has remained legend for years. Surviving that year in Kirk as a first former was quite something from the stories I heard then and in fact the real horror stories I have read in some threads right here in Facebook. Indeed those stories made going thru Lanet for 6 months military boot camp and training look like a walk in the park in comparison. I kid you not. That tradition was carried on for many years after 1977 albeit in a lesser degree but Kirk was always a feared house, if you know what I mean.

Rugby has to do with being tough and fearless, your size is not very relevant. Being tough means you can take a knock or two that others would cringe even thinking about. It means that you do not hesitate going for a loose ball even if the other guy is much bigger and more menacing than you are. Without this basic trait even the best technical advise and skill will be useless on the pitch. I saw this clearly in the career of one of the Mean Maroon and Kenyan rugby all-time greats fly half Dave Madara. In ’79 I feared for him when Lenana faced the burly Armed Forces. I told myself that there was no way he would take the hard knocks. I was wrong I watched Madara play for many years after that and being a fly half there would always be those towering wing forwards and back row guys out to hurt this fly half who was doing them so much damage. After all it is a man’s game. He would take the knocks and get up like nothing happened. Only once did he not get up and that was a special case. It was in a Kenya team game in Bulawayo against the top rugby province (Matebeland??) in Zimbabwe. Two hefty, heavily built guys who would make Arnold Schwarzenegger look small sandwiched him between themselves with force. Madara was carried off in a stretcher, unconscious. But a few weeks later he was back on the rugby pitch.

Now the guys who were a year ahead of me were some of the toughest guys I have seen on a rugby pitch and I believe that is why they made up most of the team and played with distinction too. Let’s hear what you guys have to say about that, am keeping an open mind on this.

There are many ways of getting this toughness which may not have been clear at the time but there is a lot you can see looking back at stuff that happened many years ago. My personal story was that I used the rugby pitch to get “revenge” against bullies in the house. One guy in particular (who also played full back) had a tendency of using me as his personal punching bag. Days after I learnt the basics of rugby we were in a house practice and he came charging. I remembered that we had been told that you simply take the man low and hard and no matter how big he was he would come down. I did just that and he landed so heavily that he pointed at me threateningly; “you!” People laughed and he never came charging carelessly at me again. His threats and those of other less skilled bullies did not stop me. Many of them would hurriedly pass the ball when they saw me. I have to buy this guy a crate of beer at the very least next time I meet him because I would never have developed my reputation for crash tackles without his “help.”

Every member of the 1982 side has his own personal story of how they developed their toughness and I can assure you that each and everybody on that side was much tougher than they look on that photo and this had to be the basis and foundation of such a great side. Indeed all rugby players from Lenana over the decades (and I have had the pleasure of meeting many who were there even before my time) were extremely tough guys and ultimately they have always played their rugby differently and done their things differently. More so when you compare them to another less tough boy’s school that we all know pretty well. My two cents!

The '82 side; what I remember Part 1

The story of 1982 rugby starts in 1981. I was in fourth form and Lenana was having a disastrous rugby season. We even lost to Saints at home, tena on Sterlings (extremely painful).

Alan Bukusi was a great captain but everything just went terribly wrong for his side. The maroon kit by that time was in tatters and seemed to portray the state of our rugby game then. I remember Dave Anderson (the then brand new rugby master) brought in a new school rugby kit but when it arrived everybody was disappointed. It was in Mumia house colors and he was told in no uncertain terms that Lenana rugby kit can ONLY be one color, Maroon. And so the first XV continued to wear their tattered kit and the new kit was passed on to a side that Anderson was busy building on the side for 82. It was christened “Moss Moss” (which I am told is Dholuo for slow slow) and was by invitation only. It consisted of fourth and fifth formers and was really the ’82 side in waiting.

Anderson organized several matches but the most memorable has to be the one we played at Parklands against a very strong Nondies II side. I knew the Nondies players very well at the time because during my 1st term school holidays that very year my parents had moved to the Parklands area and had I decided to train with Nondies during the April holidays even playing in a few games for them. The only problem is that I came face to face with raw racism in one or two of the Nondies players which was difficult to stomach but that is probably a story for another day. My point is that I can authoritatively state here that there were a few regular Nondies first team players on that side we beat.

I have played in many sides and looking back now I believe that it was that game at Parklands in 1981 where the ’82 side “clicked”. At one point of the game, Nondies using their superior pack play were ahead with the difference being a two figure score. But our scrum came back fighting ferociously as the lions tired. Notables here were Spike Ogot, George Mwangi, George Maiko, Dablo etc.

We simply started winning more quality balls from the scrum and when our backs got running Nondies with their superior weight and experience had no answer. The spirit and feeling of invincibility took hold of the team then.

Meanwhile some of us continued playing for the disastrous 1981 side. I got a chance to play in several different positions including 2nd centre and even Wing back. But I rarely got a chance to play full back. That position was taken by one George Steak Ondiek. Ondiek was in fifth form and unknown to many of us was about to leave for the States. That year guys used to watch the 1st XV games because of him. Despite how badly we were doing he would catch the ball in his own 25 yard area and then proceed to dance and hand off opponents until the other 25 (no kidding). It was a joy to watch and we all learnt a lot from steak. It was a fascinating situation where Lenana seemed to thrive that year exclusively on creating opportunities for tries and points from balls unwittingly kicked into the hands of our full back.

Well, I never got a chance until Steak got injured and we were supposed to play RVA at home. I was a bundle of nerves. How do you step into Steak’s shoes, tena at home? I remember Tony Maleche who was at the time a regular on the blind wing for that side encouraging me in the chem. Labs as most of the rest of the class was asleep (the norm in the labs in those days). It was a mid-week game. He told me that I would be fine.

But the really big encouragement for me was after that game (which we lost to RVA) in the usual post-mortem sessions at the lecture hall that Anderson insisted on in 1981 where Steak said that I had done okay but advised me to make better use of the up and unders.

Something else happened during our trips to games. We bonded as a team. I must admit that up to that point I had little respect for what the scrum did in a game. But thanks to Maiko, Mwangi George and Ogot’s outspoken nature during discussions, I started understanding how a game of rugby is always won or lost in the pack, no matter how good your backs are. I think most of the other backs also started appreciating the pack so much so that we never wanted to waste a single quality ball won by the pack. At the time we of course did not know that we were members of a side that would be remembered many decades later, even overshadowing achievements of earlier Lenana sides.

Who was greater 1982 rugby champs or 1977 Eric Shirley winners?

I have to admit that I have personally been taken aback by the massive interest in that fabulous 1982 side that I have seen here in this popular social media platform. Some have even began to compare the ‘82 side to the 1977 Eric Shirley winning side. 

In my view there is no comparison, the 1977 side achieved the impossible and are in a class of their own (and it looks like forever so). I was NOT even in Lenana yet when they lifted that club trophy that August sato in ’77, but I am a permanent student of history albeit one who is willing to be corrected or proved wrong. And I am also saying this having played in a match that featured the full ’82 side (christened Moss Moss) in ‘81 where we beat a strong Nondies II side at Parklands before some very shocked Mzungus.

Memories are fading as the years are slipping by fast and so I have came up with my usually crazy ideas and intend to tell the 1982 story. Hopefully somebody else will tell the 1977 story (I would love to read it).

Starting in my next post, I will attempt to put down what I can remember about magic maroon 1982 before it fades kabisa.

Fosdicks soccer game leads to painful caning

A schoolboy will always inevitably get caned. I too have been caned a few times mostly in primary school (albeit very few because I generally always avoided trouble and was less daring than most). But at Lenana I was caned only once. It was the most painful caning of my life and it happened in Mr Okech’s (then deputy headmaster) office in 1980. Yep that was one year that had plenty of drama for me.

It all started on Fosdicks 1 in a house soccer match against Mumia. I can’t even remember who won that game but most of it consisted of personal clashes between myself and BJ’s twin bro Dave (RIP) in what turned out to be more of a rugby game than a soccer one. Now D (bless his soul) gained a reputation for bullying fellow first formers when we were still in first form and for some reason he did not like me. The truth is that nobody could dare challenge him because even if you managed to win the fight (which was unlikely) there was his twin bro, BJ always hanging around in the shadows who could easily come in and give you a proper beating. And so I always ignored his jeers. To make matters worse he was a known member of the herbalists’ society and in those days I naively feared members of that club because of all the stories I had heard about the super human strength they would gain and the crazy wildness they were capable of.

I guess the whole effect of this was that D always saw me as easy prey.

That soccer match was refereed by Mr Ngure (not sure, you guys will correct me if I am wrong but he taught economics and had a very distinct Kikuyu accent). Naturally he saw what was going on and awarded numerous fouls going both ways during that stormy game.

When the game ended D continued taunting me relentlessly. I ignored him and started walking back to the house. Some of the guys around started laughing as they watched this drama with interest. He said a lot of things which I ignored. He kept talking and then suddenly touched a raw nerve deep inside me. He said something about my late mother. You guys who have been following this know the history and I probably had a lot of pent up emotions about this subject in particular.

The next thing that happened was that I found myself on top of D pinning him to the ground. I saw nothing but red. That scuffle could not have lasted a minute and some level headed guys managed to pull us apart. Knowing what I know now I dread the kind of damage that D would have managed to inflict on me, knowing pressure points in the body and all from his karate background. But I guess my advantage is that I took him totally by surprise.

Mr Ngure came over and asked what was happening. Somebody told him and he grabbed both D and I by the hand and took us to the Deputy headmaster. I don’t remember whether it was at his house in the school or he had been reffing another soccer game. I guess I can’t remember because I was still in a very emotional state. But what I remember is that we were given an appointment to see Okech the next day in his office on the upper floor of the crash hall.

As we waited for him outside his office with D, I had plenty of regrets over the incident. This was just not me. What the heck had come over me? But at least I could see that one good thing had come out of it. D now had respect for me. But I had gained it at great cost.

“You boysh[sic] have been fighting.” Okech said looking at us sternly. “Why were you fighting?”

I didn’t know what to say and neither did D. He was caned first. He braced himself after the first one but the second was too much and he stood up holding his back side. I stared in apprehension knowing I was next. When it was my turn I couldn’t even take the first one.

“Bend over Kavila, I am not finished.”

By the time he was done with the three. The searing pain had reached the top of my head and I felt like my backside was on fire. I had never been caned like that in my entire life.

“If I see you here again, you will have to go home.” Were Okech’s parting words.

Secretly I had one very huge regret over this incident. In 1980 I had already started plotting to be head of school one day. According to me I had now tainted my clean record irreversibly and was out of the running. It haunted me for many days and forced me to look deep into myself wondering what the heck had come over me to lose my head in such a reckless manner. I couldn’t stop kicking myself for the rest of that third term for this huge blunder I had made. To me even the respect and the fact that D now left me alone was no consolation.