This post was written by Victor Chianda
The club is in the process of a renewal, and we have decided to have various club members post on the blog in order to increase participation and visibility. All contributors are welcome!
The above motto comes from a Nike advert, but is a good metaphor for the dedication and commitment it takes to play any sport and especially a high impact contact sport like rugby on a serious level. And by serious level I mean playing the sport beyond the basic amateur or school ground. It is an established principle that engaging in organized sport is a tried and tested method of building not just the body but mental strength of character that is guaranteed to serve a young person well in his life. This fortitude and discipline can be transferred to all other areas including career, academics and relationships with almost guaranteed good results.
Nairobi school, my alma mater, one of the pioneer rugby schools and a dominant force in the high school rugby scene( at least back in my day) used to have the unofficial motto ‘in Patch, we make men’. This had a lot to do with the strong rugby culture and resulting adulation for mental and physical toughness that anyone who passed through the school had to endure. (The emphasis on physicality may have had something to do with the widespread culture of bullying prevalent at the time, but that is a story for another day.) It goes without saying that for the uninitiated the Nairobi school experience was rough, but eventually the naïve, and scrawny early teen who initially walked through the school gates at the beginning of his secondary school education would definitely be transformed into a savvy, and independent all-rounder capable of holding his own in any situation, by the time he walked out the school gates, four years later. Of course some eggs had to be broken to make the omelet, again, a story for another day.
Kobe Bryant who is arguably one of the greatest basket ballers of all time is once quoted as saying when he was asked about the kind of legacy he would like to leave behind or how best he would like to be remembered by latter generations and I paraphrase, that …’anybody aspiring to be better or great at something needs to understand that the important thing is the journey, the process…that if young people can understand that; then he has done his job as a mentor…and they will realize that as long as they dedicate and focus themselves, they won’t accomplish their dreams, their dreams will come true.’
These wise words are in my view highly appropriate to the Malindi Rugby club.
Progression is a Weider principle and some say it is indeed the most important law of bodybuilding. This principle holds true in very many areas of life. It would greatly serve anybody who aspires to be good at any sport and is not limited to rugby. The benefits of staying focused and steadily improving your game cannot be gainsaid. The focus and discipline it takes to play rugby means that without motivation, some may me tempted to take their eyes off the prize. The prize here being not necessarily a trophy or winning a tournament but improving yourself and becoming a better person, in all ways. The game of rugby teaches one not just the benefits of physical exertion and discipline but also creates that kind of mental toughness that is necessary in an unpredictable world. And trains one to deal with fears, doubts and insecurities that commonly deter the faint hearted. In the conflict between the right way and the easy way, it is definitely not the choice of least resistance. However in the constant battle between your body, your mind and the devil on your shoulder that is always trying to discourage, those who do not lose heart will always prevail.
In fact some say rugby is a good metaphor for life. Looking at the journey; through physique development, recovery from the inevitable setbacks, the highs and lows of winning and losing and the camaraderie. Lifelong friendships have been created on the pitch and off it especially considering the ‘boys’ and club house culture that goes along and is an accepted part of the game. My personal opinion is that the recent move to house the team within the precincts of the Malindi members club was a stroke of pure genius and will harness the synergies of both clubs.
The Malindi Rugby club is definitely showing signs of progression and steady growth. It is now definitely past its nascent phase having been in existence for several years now. The ongoing construction of its pitch to regulation standard and the growing social media presence are a testament to this. At the time of writing this article, representatives from Kenya Breweries; arguably the key sponsor of the game in Kenya are visiting the club to check on the going concerns. This is definitely a good omen. Should the upward trajectory be maintained for the foreseeable future ,there is no doubt the club will soon become a force to be reckoned with. And the sky will be the limit.
As long as the entire team stays united and focused, continues to keep its shoulders down and keeps grinding through that MF….
And to all the players ; whenever motivation stops, let discipline take over, and trust that it will carry you the rest of the way.
Ill finish with the words of another famous NIKE advert ‘Welcome to the grind.’
Dedicated to the memory of Benjamin Ayimba 1976-2021
