The Rise and Rise of Timothy Omela
I first met Omela or “Okwemba” as he is popularly known, at the 2018 Kenya Secondary School Sports Association Term 1 games in Embu. The games were staged at a waterlogged Kangaru high school but not even muddy waters could stop this man from Kakamega. We met in the semi-finals (Menengai and Kakamega) and we came out on top but not without a proper fight from Okwemba and Co.
We finally met again, two years and a Kenya Simbas debut later and we had a little chat.
First things first, Okwemba is not his real name. Timothy Omela is his government name. Okwemba came about while he was at Kakamega High School. “Homeboyz had a player named Okwemba back then. He was very fast and had a unique style that my teammates thought I also possessed, thus the likening and nickname Okwemba,” he says while smiling.
Just like a host of other successful rugby stars, rugby was not Omela’s first love, football was. He however shared a bed with the then Barbarians captain who used to taunt him until he gave in and turned up for rugby training. “The rugby captain was very persistent. He dismissed football and I finally gave in. I attended a few rugby sessions and since I was quick, they just used to pass me the ball, I sprint and score, nothing much.”
Rugby grew on him as it does on most of us. In his exploits, Omela has played in three East African Secondary School games and two nationals, winning one national title in the process.
After High School, Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST) coach, one Ochieng’ Ahaya could not let the opportunity of having one of the most exciting talents in the country play for him slip away just like that. “After my final exams, I met up with my class teacher and Mr. Ahaya who offered me a chance to play for the university side. They played in the Championship League and it was exciting to have a club that values you immediately after high school,” says Omela.
“It was a scary experience at first, but playing with the likes of Timothy Mmasi gave me a little peace and I was able to play well” adds Omela.
So good was Omela that Kenya under 20 selectors and the technical bench could not simply turn a blind eye on his exploits.
“I remember I was in school when I received the news that I had made it to Kenya under 20 team. What I felt cannot be explained, my dreams were finally coming true. I trained hard and even though I did not make the Barthes Cup team, I was proud of myself. The hard work didn’t stop there and that is why I made the team to the Junior World Trophy in Brazil.”
The Brazil Experience
“Brazil was just fun. In terms of games, we lost our first game against Uruguay because of jitters. We could not believe we were playing in such a prestigious tournament and we made a lot of mistakes. We however learned fast and played well in the rest of the games.”
“Just before the Japan game we had a difficult session and the coach reminded us that we were representing the whole of 48 Million plus Kenyans. The magnitude of the responsibility we carried on our young shoulders sank in and we played a great game. We were proud of ourselves and hoped that everyone back home was proud of us.”
On food, climate and culture; “We had the opportunity to tour Rio de Janeiro, a place I only heard of in Geography classes. It is a very cool place. The only problem is with food. A lot of rice and junk and you start to crave Kenyan food like Ugali. But then you enjoy the trip anyway, you are in BRAZIL,” says an excited Omela.
His exploits in Brazil seem to have changed the minds of Kenya Simbas technical bench who had left him out of the 2019 Kenya Simbas squad.
“Before Brazil, we as Chipu had played a trial game with the Kenya Simbas training squad. I did not make the cut then but I concentrated on the Brazil task, played well, and hoped for the best.”
“Soon after Brazil, I was informed that I had been called up to the Kenya Simbas. I was elated. I had written down on a piece of paper my two goals; making the Chipu and Simbas squad and they all came true. I however missed the Kenya vs Zambia clash due to an injury I got while playing for Menengai Oilers at the Prinsloo 7s in August.”
Menengai Oilers could not hide their admiration for the then 20-year-old and immediately he landed from Brazil, he put pen to paper. Prinsloo 7s was his first assignment in the luminous green colors and unfortunately, he came out injured.
Omela’s dreams were however not to be curtailed as he made his long-awaited debut in Simbas colors against Zimbabwe Sables at the Nakuru Athletic Club in September. It was the last of Kenya’s Victoria Cup games.
“I did not expect to make the squad let alone start the game. I was nervous; a lot of people came out to watch me play. But the likes of Onyala and Chisanga helped me settle into the game and even got the game’s first try. From then on it was free-flowing champagne rugby.”
That 34–14 win remains his only Kenya Simbas cap to date. What informed the switch from MMUST to Menengai Oilers? “The coach, Gibson Weru. The prospects of playing under him were very exciting given how highly everyone rates him. He is also as accommodating as he is tough. He gives you time to do your thing and he listens to his players. Menengai Oilers also has lots of young players and more game time which is what I wanted most.”
“The Kenya Cup season was very exciting as it was my first. It was the club’s first too and the pressure was coming thick and fast and from different quarters especially towards the end of the season. We simply could not afford to drop points as Nakuru was chasing us furiously. Looking back, however, it was an exciting season.”
Omela is a huge fan of Kenya Shujaa vice-captain Jacob Ojee and Kenya Shujaa breakout star Vincent Onyala. “I admire Ojee and Onyala a lot. I also admire Geoffrey Okwach and John Okoth; the way they are making moves in the rugby circles. They push me to work hard.”
Internationally, Cheslin Kolbe and Blue’s Wing Caleb Clarke make Omela’s role model cut. “For Clarke, I like that he was in the New Zealand U20 team around the same time I was and he’s already played in the New Zealand 7s team and has received a call up to the All Blacks squad. We also have a similar style of play. Cheslin is just a magician.”
It, therefore, comes as no surprise that he supports Blues in the Super Rugby and Toulouse in the Top 14.
In the true spirit of Beyond the try line, Omela is a student at the Rift Valley Institute of Science and Technology taking a Business Management Diploma. His advice to young upcoming stars is “Hard work, persistence and discipline will take you places.”
As we always do, Omela had to name us the best team he has played with or against. The players are from different clubs so keep an eye on the brackets:
1, Elisha Koronya (Kenya Harlequins) 2. Toby Francombe (Nondies) 3 Ian Njenga (Nondies) 4. Clinton Odhiambo (Menengai Oilers) 5. Malcolm Onsando (Kenya Simbas) 6. Joshua Chisanga (Kenya Simbas) 7. Venance Shikuba (MMUST) 8. Elkeans Musonye (Impala Saracens) 9. Samuel Asati (KCB) 10. Charles Kuka ( USIU Martials) 11. Timothy Omela (Himself- Menengai Oilers) 12. Nick Barasa (Kabras Sugar) 13. Mario Wilson (Former Kabras Sugar, Current Border Bulldogs in SA) 14. Geoffrey Okwach (KCB) 15. Matoka Andrew (Strathmore)
Special shout: John Okoth (Nakuru), Barry Robinson (Kabras), and Timothy Mmasi (MMUST)
As we come to a close, Omela’s plan for the next five years is to nail down that Kenya Simbas slot permanently and work on a Kenya Shujaa call up.
Timothy Omela Fact File:
Name: Timothy Omela
Nickname: Okwemba
Age: 21 (people think he’s older but he just laughs it off)
Clubs: Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST) and Menengai Oilers
High School: Kakamega High School aka Barbarians
Chipu debut; Against Uruguay in the JWRT in Brazil last year (2019)
Kenya Simbas debut: Against Zimbabwe in September 2019
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Originally published at https://themaverick.co.ke on September 22, 2020.
