St. Joseph’s Rapogi fired-up for regional glory after MOFA boost

St. Joseph’s Rapogi Secondary School is heading into the Nyanza Regional Championships with renewed confidence and purpose, thanks to a timely boost from the Michael Olunga Football Academy (MOFA). The regional football showdown is set to kick off in Kisumu on Thursday, July 10, 2025.

As part of its ongoing grassroots development program, MOFA visited the Migori-based academic giant earlier this week to deliver critical football equipment, underscoring its commitment to nurturing school-level talent. The donation included 13 FIFA-quality size 5 balls, 12 cones, and three sets of 50 markers all aimed at elevating Rapogi’s training standards and match preparedness.

During the handover, Chief Principal Mr. Erastus Nyagwa hailed the partnership as “transformational,” noting that football has now become an integral part of Rapogi's identity.

“Football is now a religion in this school. We are grateful to MOFA for their support, especially to Michael Olunga for inspiring our boys,” said Nyagwa. “He has completely shifted their mindset. They now believe you can excel both in academics and sports.”

Rapogi, affectionately known as “Raps,” has long held a reputation for academic excellence. But following their dominant campaign in the Migori County games where they dethroned defending champions to earn a ticket to the regionals, they are now being recognized as a rising football powerhouse.

The transformation didn’t happen by chance. According to MOFA Technical Director Aol Omondi, Rapogi was a natural fit for the academy’s school partnership program.

“This is a giant in academics. All we needed was to ignite the football side, and we’re already seeing results in just a short time,” Omondi said.

The initiative has also caught the attention of Football Kenya Federation officials. FKF National Executive Committee Member for the Nyanza Region, Kalee Collins, lauded the MOFA-Rapogi partnership as a blueprint for the future of school football development.

“Imagine the talent we can unlock in this country if more institutions like MOFA partnered with schools. As a Federation, we fully support and encourage such initiatives,” he stated.

With solid institutional backing and technical support, the Rapogi boys are setting their sights high as they prepare for the regional stage in Kisumu.

“We’re not going to the regionals as underdogs. We dethroned the defending champions,” said head coach Timothy Okeyo. “With MOFA and Michael Olunga behind us, we are motivated and ready to give our very best.”