By Anderson Ojwang
The talent born and nurtured from playing football at the family cattle grazing field has finally landed the Kakamega Green Commandos of Kakamega High School lad, Raphael Mulagu, a scholarship to the United States of America.
Last Sunday, September 6th, 2026, the family converged at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport to bid him goodbye. For the family, it was the first time to set foot at the airport and for the lad, it was history in the making.
The first time he was visiting the airport and boarding a flight, and the humble background that he grew up in his local village in Malava was transformed overnight.
Raphael joined the long list of young, talented footballers from the school who have benefited from the full football scholarship to the United States of America.
Chairman of the Green Commandos, Mr Isaack Kwoba, said the lad joined Green Commandos and Kakamega High School last year, 2025, after a successful recruitment drive by the coaches.
‘He moved from Bokoli Boys to Kakamega High, Green Commandos, where he was instrumental in the team winning the regional and national secondary school ball games this year,’ he said.
He said Raphael was one of the footballers who were recruited in February by the scouts from the Mount Verde Academy in Florida, USA, led by Mr Kevin Vernado.
He said the Sports Institute of Mount Verde Academy, just like the Green Commandos, plays in the local Florida soccer league and it is a multi-disciplinary institution.
Sports runs in the family
Raphael’s mother, Everline Nangila, could not believe and thought she was in a dreamland seeing her sixth-born child board a flight to the land of plenty.
**“It never occurred to me in my wildest dream that this day would come to pass. When I was told that my son had secured a football scholarship to USA, I was hesitant and thought it may just be words that may not come to pass.
I kept on praying and finally my prayer was answered and a new story was written in our home,”** she said.
Nangila said from a tender age, Raphael and his playmate turned the grazing field into a football pitch and that is where he honed his skills and talent.
“Just like his father, who was a respected footballer in the village, Raphael has gone a step ahead to explore and exploit the potential in full,” she said.
Despite the humble background, Nangila said the family supported the lad in developing his talent and attended most of the football matches he played in to support him.
“We made it upon us as the family that a member would attend the games. That was the only support we could give,” she said.
Nangila, who played volleyball in her earlier years, said they have given birth to a family of sports persons.
“Most of my children played volleyball like me and it is Raph who took to playing football like his father. I am happy that the talent is now repaying,” she said.
Raphael started playing for the school team in class three and remained instrumental in the school team even in high school.
“I was offered scholarship at Bokoli Boys. My parents didn’t pay for my school apart from the basic requirements. And when Green Commandos came calling, I jumped in and took over the offer,” he said.
Raphael said he was lured by the team playing in the Super League as it provided him with the opportunity for exposure and to develop his talent.
“At Green Commandos, it was a dream come true. I didn’t only win the regional and national but I earned a scholarship to the USA. A new chapter and a new dream,” he said.
Nangila said several teams and scouts had started circling her son to play for them and it was just a matter of time before he could have signed for one of the top teams in the Premier League.
Appreciation
Nangila said the family was appreciative of the role played by Kakamega High School Principal, Dr Elphas Aliva Luvaso, head of the coaching unit, Enock Lucheveli, the teachers and the school fraternity.
“As a family, we are grateful to the opportunity and especially the school administration and the coaching staff. You have rewritten our story,” she said.
