By the time of his untimely demise, Erick Situma was the proud father of 4 beautiful children, the last barely 2 months old. In rugby though, especially to my generation, Situma was the father of many.
Stu, Kabuda, chesco were some of the names used to refer to this incredibly humble gentleman who gave this sport more than any one could have asked for.
Situma’s rugby path started at the Nairobi School, where he played until completing his studies in 1994, immediately joining Impala in ’95 alongside the likes of Philip Mwenesi, who fondly remembers how they won the Eric Shirley Shield the same year. His commitment to the game was like none other, having joined Egerton University to pursue a degree in Education, he used to travel a distance of 181 KMs to train with Impala every Thursday and do the same on game day. As Narrated by Fred Ollows, lauding his self discipline.
His passion for development of the sport though, was what he will be remembered most fondly for, his impact on the sport not only in this country but the region can not be measured. From the first lads he handled in the early 2000s as coach at Africa Nazarene to his last assignment in Rwanda, we can only truly realise and appreciate Stu’s influence on this sport in the years to come.
Every single player I have talked to that had the pleasure of working with Stu, even for one session says a big part of how they play today is down to what he told them. It was his attention to each player as if they were his own child that stood out. He was more than a coach, he was a mentor, friend, a father.
He made his big break in coaching in 2011 when he took over at Homeboyz and immediately turned them into back to back ESS champions, earning them Kenya cup promotion.
Stu was one of, if not the greatest rugby minds in this region, it was how he articulately broke down play that impressed. His signature had to be the scrum, despite being a Kenya international at full back and fly half during his playing days, he constructed one of the most revered scrums in the country when he was at Nakuru.
You could spot a signature Stu scrum from a mile, when he led Nakuru to their first Kenya cup title in 2013, the team was anchored on that pack of 8. He impacted the same knowledge on his home club Impala and also had a few sessions at Strathmore before this season, you could immediately tell the improvements in that department.
Through out this time, he still kept with his true passion working on age grade and community rugby. A commitment he held diligently. When you are this good at something, people notice, Stu’s efforts were noticed by the continental rugby body, Rugby Africa that appointed him as a part time regional development officer in 2013, making this appointment permanent in 2015.
Of all his rugby intellect, traits and achievements, one thing about Stu stood out more than anything else, the one thing that endeared him to all he met. That despite his achievements and prowess, Erick Situma remained the most humble, calm and collected characters you will ever meet. He almost went unnoticed in many occasions, preferring to work his magic in the back ground, leaving the lime light to his players.
He listened to everyone and treated them with the utmost respect, he always had a cool head above his shoulders, no matter what. In these murky rugby times, he steered clear of any controversies, did his job diligently and passionately, he was a true servant of the sport.
We have lost an ambassador, a missionary of this great sport, a true definition of a rugby gent, a man whose praises we will sing in eons to come, whose foot prints will never fade away. Heaven RFC must be preparing for a real tough test, they just got one of the best coaches that walked this land.
Rest with the angels Stu…may the Lord grant your family strength through this trying time and be their guide and protector.
