Kenya Lionesses mercurial winger Janet “Shebesh” Okello is over the moon after her Japanese side MIE Pearls women secured the signature of her role model Portia Woodman Wickliffe.
Wickliffe, who recently helped New Zealand to win the 2024 Paris Olympic Games title, joined the club a few weeks ago in a revelation that was a dream come true moment for the Kenyan international.
According to Okello, it has always been a dream to play alongside the two-time Olympic Games gold medalist who was named World Rugby’s Sevens Player of the Decade in 2020.
“All rugby followers know Woodman, she is a great athlete of all time and my role model. I like her strength, speed and just everything about her when on the field.
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I feel honored, of course. It was one of my dreams to play alongside her, and I can’t wait for the season to start,” she told SportPesa Blog in an exclusive interview.
“It really means a lot in my career. I’m excited but at the same time shocked. I never imagined I could play with her in the same club,” added the former Mwamba RFC player.
Okello joined MIE Pearls in 2022 and has had a successful stint with the side that is domiciled in Yokkaichi City. She recently won the club’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) award in the sevens category.
At the international level, the player who hails from Mumias, has been instrumental for the Kenya Lionesses.
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When asked what advice she would give to young girls who are finding it difficult to have a breakthrough in rugby, Okello cited perseverance and hard work.
“They should keep on working hard, be ambitious in whatever they do, have goals and dreams and just be consistent. Things will fall in place.
It’s always never easy but you alone know what you want in life, and you have no other option than to work harder to remove yourself out of a difficult situation by not giving up. You need to keep winning towards your goals,” she ended.
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