Itigo Girls High School, in West Pokot county has become a new force to reckon within the Kenyan secondary schools sports, their recent success as runners-up in the Rift Valley rugby competition secured them a coveted spot at the national championships in Western province, thanks to the dedication and the vision of their leaders and devoted players.
At the heart of this success story is a young yet promising athlete, Angeline Chepkemoi Kaptum, whose journey from the soccer pitch to the rugby field has caught the attention of many.
Angeline’s sporting prowess was first identified at Suwerwa High School, where she was a star soccer player and team captain. With her goals and dribbling skills that made crowds go wild, she quickly established herself as a promising talent. Her skills were not confined to the field, she was also a star in the classroom, whereby she demonstrated prowess in her studies.
When Angeline joined Itigo Girls, she was spotted by seasoned educator and coach, Joachim Melly. Recognizing her potential, Coach Melly guided Angeline towards rugby, a move that would prove to be pivotal in the future.
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Angeline’s natural athleticism, a rare combination of speed and strength, provided a perfect foundation for her development. Under coach Melly, she mastered the technical skills such as passing, tackling, scrimmaging, and lineout skills. Her perfect development saw her being named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) in the Rift valley region Rugby Sevens.
According to Coach Melly, personal qualities like teamwork, resilience, adaptability, discipline, and good sportsmanship are equally crucial in moulding an all-round athlete, not just physicality and technical abilities. For Angeline, not only has she portrayed these qualities but also effectively guided her teammates to embrace them as well, and this has led to the realization of a high-performing rugby team at Itigo Girls’
The supportive environment at Itigo Girls, under the leadership of Principal Juliah Samoei has been instrumental to the team’s success. Principal Samoei’s encouragement has motivated both Angeline and her teammates. She understands the importance of creating a culture that promotes growth and teamwork by offering personalized, one-on-one guidance and feedback to the players.
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Principal Samoei empowers the team by giving them the autonomy to make decisions and take ownership of their game, providing constructive and encouraging feedback to help them grow, this has created a positive and productive culture and it is undoubtedly the secret to Itigo’s rise as a sporting powerhouse.
Angeline Chepkemoi Kaptum’s story is a powerful narrative of discovering and nurturing talent. Through the combined efforts of a dedicated coach, a supportive principal, and her own relentless drive, she has proven to the entire sporting fraternity that there is a wealth of skill and untapped talent in West Pokot.
As Angeline continues to refine her skills, her eyes are set on the prize; national or possibly international glory, with the guidance and support of her coach and principal, Angeline is well positioned to become one of Kenya promising young rugby talent.
Angeline and Itigo Girls success story serves as an inspiration to many, showing the nation what can be achieved when potential is recognized, nurtured, and celebrated.
By Hillary Muhalya
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