Winning the 2023/2024 rugby Uganda cup MVP gong is the latest accolade in the promising career of budding Platinum Credit Heathens utility back Malcolm Okello.
The 21-year-old grew up within the Nakawa quarters, a hub of sports talent where several rugby players trace their roots.
From a sporting family with elder brother Jasper Onen having played for Kyadondo clubs Stallions, Toyota Buffaloes, Platinum Credit Heathens, Kenya’s Kabras and Harlequin, Okello also looked up to now Cricket Cranes interim head coach Jackson Ogwang, a close family member among several other mentors.
First introduced to the sport at the tender age of four in 2007 through the tag rugby program led by coaches Peter “Sky” Ochol and Christine Kizito.
He went on to feature for junior sides Tigers and Stallions and was named Stallions MVP in 2019 while in his senior two at City high school. He went on to win four central schools sevens titles and the 2020 East African title with Hana international school. Okello reflects on his journey,
“I grew up in Nakawa quarters, an area where everyone played rugby so I pulled to start playing the game. My brother inspired me to join the sport since he played for my dream team Heathens. I would go to Kyadondo and my brother would chase me away because I was still young but I kept coming back because I loved the sport.”
“Kyadondo is home of rugby in Uganda and I stayed here because in 2015 I was selected to be one of two Ugandans to represent Africa as under-13s representing the country. After that experience I knew this was the sport I wanted to played since it had opened doors for me,” Okello noted.
Following an impressive performance at Stallions, Okello was eventually promoted to Platinum Credit Heathens in 2020, first featuring in the national sevens before eventually representing the side in the national league and Uganda cup tournaments, “My most memorable game while at Stallions was against BOKs at Legends during the 2018/2019 season. It was a close contest that we won 31-29 with my winning penalty. I played one more season with Stallions after that and I was promoted to Heathens.”
“The journey at Heathens has been filled with ups and downs so far but the challenges never put us down so we have to overcome. When I joined the team, I always gave my best in training and made sure I could fit in the squad,” Okello revealed.
Over the last three campaigns with the Mohammad Athio coached side, Okello has been part of the 2021 invisibles Heathens league-winning side and also won two Uganda cup titles.
As the gifted player aims to continue scaling the heights, he believes sports is a powerful tool that can transform lives and communities with the required support from all stakeholders.
