Kiara Doyal, The Seattle Medium
After injuries sidelined them last season, Rainier Beach’s Sirjewel Glover and Oteko Mwamba returned to the football field this year with renewed determination and high hopes of capturing a state title. Despite being forced off the field—Glover with a broken ankle and Mwamba with a torn ACL and meniscus—the two stayed heavily involved with the team throughout their recovery, showing their commitment even while they healed.
“I tried to be as involved as I could when it came to coaching [and helping the other players],” says Mwamba. “When it comes to routes, anything that they felt they struggled with, I tried my best to either give them the right direction myself or point them to people who could get them in the right direction.”
Glover, too, feels that despite the injury, he was still supporting his team and teammates in any way that he could.
“Offensively and defensively, just helping the guys out with coverages and studying the playbook,” said Glover. “I was in the weight room just to make sure people were in attendance and that everything was good.”
Dealing with an injury can be a frightening experience for any athlete and returning to the game after a period of rest and recovery often comes with hesitation or fear of re-injury. However, for Mwamba, there was no hesitation or worry as he stepped back onto the field for his senior year. Instead, he described the moment as euphoric.
“I was not worried about re-injury because first, I trusted God and then I also trusted the therapy that I received from the best medical staff in the world [at University of Washington],” said Mwamba. “I feel like they have been praised so highly for a reason, so I have no reason to worry.”
This year, Mwamba believes that his team has the tightest brotherhood of any team he has been a part of during his football career.
“We are obviously a public school, so all the kids that we grew up together with in the neighborhood are the kids that played with us, and I think that is where the spark of this team came from,” Mwamba said. “There were friendships off the field before the talent on the field was displayed, and I think that makes this team really strong, well-crafted, and overall put together.”
Recently, Rainier Beach’s former head coach, Corey Sampson, announced his decision to step down—a move that sparked controversy throughout the community. For Mwamba, the news stirred up a lot of emotions, and at first, he couldn’t believe it was real.
“I was shocked,” said Mwamba. “I cried for a good amount of time because he has been one of the most influential people in my life. No one thinks about Rainier Beach football without thinking about Corey Sampson, because he has left that much of a positive print on not only the school but the South End community.”
“It hurt us emotionally, but it also lit a fire in us,” continued Mwamba. “Collectively as a team, we decided that everything we do from now on is for him. The legacy that he brought to this program can only be repaid by our 100% effort and us reaching the goals that he set out for us.”
Glover agrees and says Sampson’s resignation is providing additional motivation for the entire team.
“It really hurt and was tragic to hear. I wish he were here with us, especially since it happened during the season,” said Glover. “I know what he expected from us, and I know that we have the talent that can meet up to his expectations. And knowing that he is not with us, it feeds our fire the most.”
At the end of the day, Mwamba says that he has nothing but love and respect for the way his former coach managed his players, their personalities and individual circumstances.
“Being in South Seattle, there are a lot of kids on this team who actually have to contribute to their family’s household income, and he is very lenient and really accepting of that. He doesn’t overtax his team or overwork us because he knows that we have other priorities,” said Mwamba. “At the end of the day, he is not only someone who is accepting of your priorities, but he is also willing to guide you through them, even if it’s off the field. I think that’s the most valuable thing any coach has ever given me, and I feel most of my teammates are going to be able to say the same.”
“He is a very genuine coach,” says Glover. “His passion behind the game and coaching, you can really tell he is not only there to coach for football, but he is there to help us through life and a lot of other things, and I really love him as a coach.”
Despite the recent changes within the Rainier Beach football program, both Mwamba and Glover remain excited and optimistic about finishing the season strong. They’re determined to carry on the legacy that Coach Sampson built over the past 11 years.
“Everything we do from now on is for him,” says Mwamba. “This year is my senior year, so obviously I want to go out with a bang. I hope that the team feels our presence this year because having both Sirjewel and I on the field does something to the team’s morale. I feel like it is only up from here with the goal of winning the whole thing at the end of this.”
Glover echoed the sentiment.
“I feel like us not playing last year hurt the team a little bit, and so I am very happy for us to be back and win state. I am a junior, but my forever goal for this year and next year is to always win it all,” said Glover.
