- George Ooro was left elated after playing a pivotal role in helping KCB Rugby secure the 2025 SportPesa National Sevens Circuit title.
- KCB Rugby were crowned champions on Sunday, September 14, following a narrow 15-14 victory over Strathmore Leos in the final leg – Dala 7s quarterfinals, in Kisumu.
- Ooro came off the bench to haunt his former club, Strathmore Leos, scoring two crucial second-half tries that sealed the win.
KCB Rugby player George ‘Japolo’ Ooro was a delighted man after he helped the Bankers win the 2025 Sportpesa National Sevens Circuit title on Sunday, September 14, 2025, at the Jomo Kenyatta Stadium in Kisumu.
Ooro came off the bench to punish his former club, Strathmore Leos, scoring two crucial second-half tries to hand KCB a narrow 15-14 victory in the Dala 7s main cup quarterfinal, the decisive match to determine the overall champion and he delivered when it mattered most.
Speaking after the match, the player who clinched his first-ever sevens title in his debut season with the Bankers stated that lifting the trophy had been his ultimate dream since making his sevens debut in 2022.
“I’m extremely happy today. This was my primary goal from day one, to become the overall champion and I have worked tirelessly for this.
I believe God has rewarded our team’s efforts. Contributing to the win after coming on as a substitute makes me proud,” Ooro stated.
“It’s been four years of perseverance, and finally, I have managed to achieve something significant. All the hard work since 2022 has paid off,” he added.
On how he motivated his teammates despite being four points down in the second half
The 25-year-old Shujaa captain revealed that he encouraged the boys after coming off the bench, and their collective resilience secured the win.
“The match was tough, and the pressure was intense. I’ve always been taught that when things get tough, you have to be a warrior. So when the situation seemed dire, I stepped up, urged the boys to stay strong, and led from the front. It was about self-belief, hard work, and lifting my teammates,” he explained.
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George Ooro on facing his former team
For George Ooro, it was essential to avoid a third consecutive loss to Leos, having suffered defeats in two previous finals and to ease the pressure surrounding their title hopes.
“Losing twice to Leos still hurts. Personally, I couldn’t accept a third loss, especially since they defeated us in two finals.
A quarterfinal exit would have been devastating. Mathematically, it was said that if Leos won the Dala 7s, we would be eliminated. My focus was to end the game early and erase all those calculations circulating on social media,” Ooro said.
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KCB have now advanced to the Dala 7s Main Cup Final, where they’ll face a familiar opponent in Kabras Sugar – a team they’ve already clashed with several times this season. The Bankers will be aiming to cap off their remarkable run with a fourth title.
Dala 7s 2025 Main Cup Final
- Kabras Sugar vs KCB