The Year of #PW15

Name; Phillip Wokorach
Age; 23 years
Home location; Mukono
Date of Birth; 31st December
Place of birth; Naguru Hospital
Primary School; Kiswa Primary School
Secondary School;City High School Kololo (S1–S3)
                               Hana Mixed School (S4–S6)
University; Uganda Christian University, Mukono
                   (Bachelor in Business administration)
Weight; 90KG
Height; 6’3”
Position; 15s; Full Back
                 7s; Fly Half
Uganda Rugby Cranes; 7s Tournaments; 42
                                         15s CAPS; 5
Clubs; Buffaloes/ Stallions/ Heathens/ Kabras
Other Sports played; Soccer / Tennis / Frisbee

" I am living for the Lord and God is everything." - Phillip Wokorach

2016, Hands down was the year of Phillip Wokorach. On the Ugandan Rugby scene, #PW15 was as popular as what the soccer world knows as #CR7. Phillip Wokorach gave the word excellence a new meaning in the year of 2016. He set the bar so high that whoever comes after him has their work cut out for them. He is an exceptional athlete who knows what he wants and knows exactly what to do to achieve it. The level of focus he holds is far beyond his years and is the reason he is a threat to all other sides he faces.I bet the USA 7s team still studies tape on his try in Dubai. Very few people have the guts to disgrace the USA side like that. Watching the tape on that try, you see one heck of a confident athlete. If he has the ability to feel fear, he knows how to hide it really well. He broke onto the international scene after his try against the United states at the Dubai 7s where Uganda had an exceptional performance.But beyond all the videos, dance skills and crazy moves on the field, who is Phillip Wokorach? Phillip Wokorach to many is known on the field for his hideous dab but I got a second to have a heart to heart with Phillip and find out more about him. Who is he off the field, what he likes to do and what keeps him going.

Meet Phillip Wokorach aka Wokos aka Ojus 

What got you started? There was a rugby pitch next door from my house. I grew up in Nakawa Quarters so Kyadondo Rugby Club was a few minutes away. I went by to watch the players almost every day and they looked cool. Also the game they were playing seemed fun. At that time there was a lot of white guys that played the sport and I admired them. I loved to see them play. But for me, I will say watching Robert Sseguya (Rugby Cranes Coach and former Heathens player) that really got me started. Not only did I want to play for Heathens, which I did, but eventually I definitely wanted to be a Rugby Crane. Growing up watching the rivalry between the Heathens and KOBS was a huge factor as well.

Phillip Wokorach during his touch rugby days.

What is your biggest accomplishment in Rugby? Definitely playing for the Heathens. That had been my dream since I was a young boy! Although representing my country on the big stage, especially at the 2014 Commonwealth games Rugby 7s Tournament in Scotland, was huge as well. During that tournament I probably scored what I consider the best try of my career. But actually I think personally, being outstanding is my biggest accomplishment.

What things do you currently do in your training that are your keys to your success? Giving it all my best. I double the work during training. All that is given to us by the coach is not enough to be outstanding. You need some extra workout time. WORD HARD! Personal training. There is no need to train with a bunch of people watching you. There is nothing to prove to them. There is a lot more to prove to yourself.

Always keeping his eye on the prize!

Where do you see yourself in 5 years? It’s a secret! I would like to hold onto it for a little longer.

What is your biggest challenge and how do you manage it? Personally I do not have challenges per say. But Rugby as a sport in Uganda definitely lacks resources just like most sports in Uganda. It’s always a struggle to find funding. But with the little we have got, we still work hard and go out there and represent this country the only way we know how to.

Young kids marvel at Phillip the way he once did at Robert Sseguya (Heathens vs. Buffaloes)

What is your diet like? I do not like fish for one. But in terms of sports I don’t have certain foods I do not eat or anything like that. I mostly just eat in relation to my weight. So during the season I try to eat so as to keep my weight constant. I can’t afford huge changes in weight. However, off season; I try to eat so as to get as much of a weight increase as I can get.

Do you have any recommended resources to share with your teammates? I mean we are so lucky to have YouTube videos. It might sound very mundane but I highly recommend watching a lot of training drills on YouTube. Especially people who are just joining the sport in the big league. Watch videos about everything you wish to learn about rugby. Now that we have this golden opportunity, we should use it to make our game better.

What would you have done had you not become a rugby star? I would have become a self-employed businessman.

What do you do outside of rugby? School. Hanging out with friends. I love making new friends. Watching movies, listening to music, dancing and praying to God.

What is the best advice you have ever been given? Rugby is a tough sport. On that pitch you need to be tough. Not only tough but at the end of the 80 minutes we are brothers. Whether you are opponents or not we have to shake hands after the game. Rugby is the one sport that I would love anyone to play, because of brotherhood that it promotes.

Do you have a saying or motto that you live your life by? Philippians 4:13 “I can do anything through him that strengthens me.” That verse keeps me moving. I am living for the lord and God is everything. That is why I love this scripture.

Where do you draw your inspiration from?My mum. She really wanted me to be an athlete like my late father.
       

Phillip with his beautiful mother. 

My team mates. They drive me to work hard at every practice and in every game.

Phillip with his teammates at Heathens Rugby Club

Phillip Wokorach and Michael Wokorach

On the Heathens team;
Alex Mubiiru (Former Cranes 15s Captain). He is a senior player who instilled in me the mentality of working hard. He constantly reminds me to work hard and keeps me determined.
On the 7s Rugby Cranes team;
Lawrence Ssebuliba. He is strong, fast and passionate about the sport. When we play together we encourage and motivate each other a lot. Especially in Dubai, I loved playing with him.
On the 15s Rugby Cranes team;
Michael Wokorach (Assistant Captain of Rugby cranes). I consult him a lot.
 Brian Odongo (Captain of Rugby cranes). He leads by example and leads from the front. He plays his role perfectly and the rest follow. I often find myself constantly trying to emulate the way he does his thing.
Finally, Marvin Odongo, he does the unexpected of him. He has a big heart and keeps going forward. He drives me a lot and he doesn’t ever give up on his team.




Anything else you’d like to share? I am definitely not related to Michael Wokorach but I couldn't ask for a better big brother so I call him big bro anyway, I guess he is stuck with me.

 After a very inspiring interview with the one and only Phillip Wokorach, I learned one very important thing. Phillip Wokorach’s breakthrough was way overdue. Two career ending injuries later and he has never felt better. 

His focus and determination for the sport is unprecedented.

Phillip will not let anyone stop him from achieving his dreams. If there is a place where exceptional players go, like a Hall of fame (UGANDA RUGBY UNION HELLO?!?!), Uganda just witnessed the breakthrough year of a true Hall of famer.But if you beg to differ, let's see what other Rugby Players have to say about Phillip. 

Its always fun on the field with this guy.

“He is a great player with great talent and personal vision… With his brand of rugby, he will market Ugandan rugby!... Since his secondary school to date he has been improving day to day! Many youngsters want to be like him...”
Sseguya Robert 

(Rugby Cranes Coach, Former Heathens Player & Personal Coach to Wokorach)

Phillip Wokorach and Brian Odongo

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“Transformed Hana into a winning side on all rugby fronts… He is that type of player you feel confident having on team... Has a big game temperament that is always key for any sports man… In my view he shall lead this country to much greater heights than we are already witnessing...”

Brian Odongo 

(Captain Rugby Cranes 15s team)

“I think seeing where he has come from, clubs are now putting emphasis on training children & have club structures through which children are nurtured into the game,develop skills & love for the game...Currently he has attracted a lot of attention to Ugandan rugby which means a wider fan base,exposure of other players too & there could be sponsorship opportunities for our union as well... Many young players look up to him so this is encouraging them to work hard so we might see more players like him in the future...”

John William Wandicho 

(Lock Entebbe Mongers Rugby Club)

Michael Wokorach and Phillip Wokorach

“Humble beginnings... started playing the game at an early age... Such a structured flight path for him as opposed to many players… Has been influential in getting the team especially sevens to Africa Cup and some recognition in the World Series… This has inspired many especially the kids to believe that there's reward for hard work in rugby...”

Michael Wokorach 

(Asst. Capt. Heathens Rugby Club)

“Hardworking, humble, respectful, elusive and motivated player...always out to give his best ....still most promising player..”

Joseph Aredo 

(Utility Back KOBS Rugby Club)

Phillip Wokorach and Aredo Joseph (Two revolutionary players in Ugandan Rugby right now)

“Phillip has changed the game for most of us... Having fractures on both legs and him being capable of coming back is more of a living inspiration… He is a joy and blessing to watch… He has secured a move to play in Kenya which some of us are encouraged by because we know if one of ours has made it thus far why not us...”

Semwami Daudi

 (Asst. Capt. Rhinos Rugby Club)

“Philip came from a humble background but he has always been very hard working yet very talented... Currently as the face of the sport in Uganda he still works really hard so many young stars look up to him and true that he is being a good mentor to them... He may be the 1st Ugandan to go pro...”

Oscar Kalyango 

(Capt. KOBS Rugby Club)

Oscar Kalyango, Brian Odongo, Aredo Joseph, Marvin Odongo, Phillip Wokorach, Stallone Arinaitwe & Collins Kimbowa.

“Phillip is an exceptional player, he is part of the new brand of Ugandan rugby players who have risen through the rugby ranks... He is a great poster boy for the sport, having come from a humble background to play tag, and then represent the national team at both U19 and senior level in both the 7's and the 15's... I believe he has had a great impact on the lives of many aspiring rugby players, and his impact is getting stronger...”

Marvin Odongo

(Capt. Black Pirates Rugby Club)

"Champions are made from something they have deep inside them... a desire, a dream, a vision."

All kids planning to play Rugby in the next few years, what Philip has achieved this year you get to take for granted so you better thank him. It’s very difficult to be the first to achieve something. But when someone else does it, then you start to believe that it is possible. And this is true for so many more players that I will be profiling in the next few months. Yes, it’s true that Ugandan Rugby is an amateur sport right now, but it is definitely producing world class athletes.