How coach with no rugby background inspired Kisii School to East Africa Games
Reading Time: 4min | Mon. 20.04.26. | 12:41
He graduated from Kisii University in 2024, but even before that, he had already immersed himself in rugby structures within the region
A week ago, Kisii School defied the odds at the Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) Rugby 15s to reach the final.
Despite losing 15-8 to Upper Hill, the result still carried a silver lining, as the Kisii-based side secured qualification for the 2026 Federation of East African Secondary Schools Sports Association (FEASSSA) Games in Tanzania, where they will return as defending champions.
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At the heart of this remarkable run at the national level is a 25-year-old tactician, Nelvine ‘Nesta’ Lumiti.
Nesta is rewriting the script in school rugby despite never having played the game.
Nesta’s journey is anything but conventional. He graduated from Kisii University in 2024, but even before that, he had already immersed himself in rugby structures within the region.
He started coaching the school in 2021 before joining club rugby in 2024.
“My coaching journey was less a plan and more of a calling that found me. I never played the game, and this has forced me to be a student of the game. I realized I could impact more from the touchline,” Nesta told Mozzart Sport.
When asked how he manages to lead teams with no rugby background, Nesta laughs and cites the legendary football manager José Mourinho.
The tactician also rose to the pinnacle of coaching without a notable playing career.
He is renowned for winning major trophies at nearly every club he has managed.
His key achievements include winning two UEFA Champions League titles, league titles in four different countries (Portugal, England, Italy, Spain), and becoming the first manager to win all three major UEFA club competitions.
For Nesta, age has been both a challenge and a motivator.
“Being only 25 in a space dominated by veterans can be difficult. Getting grown men at club level to trust a 25-year-old with their sessions, I couldn’t demand respect; I had to earn it with detail. In the end, results speak for themselves,” the eloquent gaffer explained.
That attention to detail has translated into success across both school and club rugby.
Beyond Kisii School, Lumiti is also part of Kisii RFC, where he contributed to their return to the Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) Championship at the end of the 2024/25 season.
Balancing the two roles requires clarity of purpose.
“Clear calendars, clear principles. School is all about development and values, while the club is about performance and survival. Kisii RFC senior players help drive standards when school commitments run late,” he explained.
His philosophy remains consistent across both setups. He demands accountability and character from his proteges.
“At Kisii School, I encourage boys to be men. At Kisii RFC, I remind players to be men. The playbook may differ, but honesty and hard work don’t,” he offered.
That philosophy has been central to Kisii School’s rise on the regional stage.
In 2024, the team featured in the FEASSSA 7s, using it as a foundation to understand the demands of elite competition.
By 2025, they had translated those lessons into a historic FEASSSA Rugby 15s title.
“Before building anything, you need a platform. For us, 7s was that platform. It taught us space and fitness, while 15s demanded structure and patience. Same boys, same values, just a different problem to solve,” Nesta explained.
Even with success, Nesta remains grounded in purpose rather than the recognition that comes with his success.
When asked about players he has coached, he declined to name names, but insisted on focusing on impact.
“My job is to make sure they’re ready when doors open for them. I’m not just developing rugby players, but disciplined men in society,” he said.
Still, the weight of responsibility is something he feels daily.
“Yes, I feel it every day. But age doesn’t win lineouts or scrums, preparation does. I aim to be the most prepared coach,” Nesta said.
That mindset has transformed Kisii School into an institution with a clear identity.
Looking ahead, Nesta is not shy about his ambitions.
“To make Kisii School the place where Kenya’s best schoolboys want to become men, and to build a continental rugby powerhouse,” he boldly stated.
His vision extends to the club level as well, where he sees Kisii RFC rising to the Kenya Cup and establishing a sustainable system built on homegrown talent.
As Kisii School prepares to defend their FEASSSA crown in 2026, Nesta remains focused not on titles but on the legacy he aims to build.
“Our jersey already has history. We don’t wear it to defend a title, we wear it to honor those who built it and set standards for those coming next,” he said.
When asked to describe his coaching journey in one sentence, Nesta said:
“A kid who never played rugby, teaching boys to become men, using rugby as an excuse.”
And in that unlikely story lies the making of something special.