Kenya Harlequin scrumhalf Conellias Mokoro opens up on challenges of Romanian adventure
Reading Time: 3min | Mon. 26.08.24. | 12:32
Despite the challenges, Mokoro was grateful for the kindness and warmth of his immediate surroundings which included his new teammates and the coaching staff.
The month of May ended on a high for Kenya Sevens halfback Conellias Mokoro who announced his departure from Kenya Harlequin to join Romanian side CSA Steaua.
The move saw him become the fourth player from the 2012 Kenya Cup champions to join a Romanian side.
The dreadlocked number nine played for the Kenya U20 national team; Chipu before featuring for the Morans, and eventually Shujaa. Before his departure to Romania, he was on duty with Morans for the All Africa Games in Ghana.
Mozzart Sport caught up with him as he shared on life in Romania, the challenges he is facing, and his overall goals as a rugby player.
The youngster noted that adjusting to a completely new environment came with its own set of challenges both on and off the field. Mokoro is adjusting to a new play style as well as the cultural differences and way of life in Romania.
“It has been good so far; I am getting along with the boys well despite at first it seemed hard to adjust but now I am on track both in rugby and life.
The biggest challenge was communication due to the language barrier but as of now I can converse a bit better with everyone around me,” he offered.
Despite the challenges, Mokoro was grateful for the kindness and warmth of his immediate surroundings which included his new teammates and the coaching staff.
“My teammates and coaches have been so friendly and kind to me. They are willing to help in anything outside and inside rugby to ensure that I am comfortable in the team.
Most of the time we spend good times together, for example, we go for coffee after training where we share one or two things where you can say how you feel about training or the game or just any random thing and that makes me feel comfortable in this team,” he told Mozzart Sport.
He further observed that one of the significant differences between training in Kenya and Romania was the structure of the training sessions. In Romania, the training periods are more intensive and organized into distinct shifts.
“Training is a bit different starting with hours and shifts of training. It's completely a whole new thing to me with more sessions of short duration spread throughout the training schedule compared to Kenya where we train in the evening for only two hours,” he disclosed.
He went on to explain that the level of competition in Romania is intense, and this has pushed him to focus on sharpening his skills across all aspects of the game to match the high standards of his Romanian counterparts.
“I am working on my general skills and game because in this game we keep learning new things every day so I can’t say that there’s something specific I am working on,” he offered.
On how he keeps in touch with his family and friends in Kenya, Mokoro said, “I always do phone and video calls back home to catch up with them.”
While still setting his sights on even greater achievements, Mokoro recognizes that playing in Romania marks the highlight of his career so far. He believes that the exposure to high-level competition and professional training will significantly contribute to his growth and future success on the rugby field.
“I have gotten a chance to go where I never thought I would go in my life; I have met new people and friends and I have got a chance to learn a new language and culture from different people and countries.
My goal is to establish my name in this rugby union and also help one or two to get a chance to play here too,” he concluded.
Other Kenyan players in Romania include Ian Njenga, Geoffrey Okwach, and Malcolm Onsando.
