From Bungoma to New York: Rugby player on how social media connected him to sponsor

Born on April 12, 2003 in Mkuyuni village, Bungoma County, Asanga schooled at Utu Bora Academy and sat for his Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) exam at Rehema Academy in Eldoret.

In 2018, he joined Chesamisi Boys' High School in Bungoma County.

That is where Asanga began to nurture his rugby talent. 

He says, "Growing up, I used to admire my older brother playing rugby for different teams. Little did I know that this was my calling too."

As a naïve Form One student, finding his way in high school, Asanga participated in several extra-curricular activities, from football to table tennis.

The evening he joined the 'big boys' in the rugby field, Asanga realised his desire to play the sport.

For two years, he played for the school's rugby team.

In 2020, COVID-19 put many activities on hold

However, for Asanga, he says it was his best year.

"Schools were closed and I had all the time to train. I used to take pictures during training sessions and post them on social media. This is how I met a sponsor from the United States who helped pay for my studies," he says.

When schools reopened in 2021, he was approached by Koyonzo High School in Mumias County to play for the school team.

The school's rugby team has won awards.

For Asanga, this was a new challenge and experience.

Being part of the Koyonzo rugby team, the team won the Kakamega championship rugby award in 2021.

In 2021, as part of the Koyonzo rugby team, he took part in the national rugby league which took place at Nyayo Stadium in Nairobi.

They played against Alliance High School at quarter finals, which they won, Nduru High School at semi finals, which they also won and later played against Butula High School and again, they won at 33:0 points which qualified them to take part at East Africa rugby league.

In 2022, rugby took James to Arusha in Tanzania, to participate in East Africa rugby league.

Kenya played against Jinja High School in Uganda in the first session and they won, Barare High School from Tanzania in session two and Kenya won.

However, they lost to Hannah International school from Uganda and became first runners up.

In 2023, James got absorbed by the Menengai oilers rugby team in Nakuru.

In April this year, the sponsor who helped Asanga in 2020 came in again and gave funds for him to train in New York for one week. He later came back and participated in the Africa Rugby Championship which took place in Kenya.

He played in the Kenya Rugby under 20 championship.

They played against Uganda in the quarter finals and won, Namibia in the semi finals and won.

They later lost to Zimbabwe in the finals.

Asanga, as a member of Kenya national rugby team for under 20 is preparing for the Junior world rugby league which will take place on July 12 at Nyayo stadium.

Kenya will play against Samoa national rugby, Spain national rugby and Hong Kong national rugby at the finals.

As narrated to Janet Akinyi