Five in the race for 2016 Coach of the Year award
Harambee Starlets coach David Ouma reacts during a training session on September 5, 2016 at Safaricom Stadium, Kasarani. PHOTO | CHRIS OMOLLO |
What you need to know:
- Kirwa was head coach of Team Kenya that produced the highest medal tally in the country’s history at the Olympics in Rio.
- Starlets were bundled out in the group stages after losing all their three matches against Ghana, Mali and Nigeria.
- Openda is also not new to the Soya fraternity having won the accolade in 2014.
Five coaches from various disciplines are locked in a tight race for the 2016 Coach of the Year award in the annual Sports Personality of the Year Awards (Soya).
The five includes Harambee Starlets coach David Ouma, who took the national football women’s team to its first ever Africa Cup of Nations this year, athletics coach Julius Kirwa, who was in charge of Team Kenya at the Rio Olympics as well as Benjamin Ayimba, who led the national rugby sevens team to their first ever triumph in the World Sevens Series in Singapore.
Also vying for the coaching honours are Catherine Mabwi, the only female contestant and coach of the national under-23 volleyball team and Telkom Orange women's hockey team coach Jos Openda.
Ouma graces the awards for the first time after he made history by taking the Kenyan national women's football team to a first ever African Women Nations Cup in Cameroon last month.
Sports Cabinet Secretary Hassan Wario (left) joins FKF President Nick Mwendwa (right) to congratulate Harambee Starlets head coach David Ouma after the 2016 Women's Africa Cup of Nations qualifier between Kenya and Algeria at Safaricom Stadium, Kasarani on April 12, 2016. PHOTO | CHRIS OMOLLO | NATION MEDIA GROUP
However, Starlets were bundled out in the group stages after losing all their three matches against Ghana, Mali and Nigeria.
Kirwa was head coach of Team Kenya that produced the highest medal tally in the country’s history at the Olympics in Rio.
In Rio, Vivian Cheruiyot became the first Kenyan woman to win gold in the 5,000m at the Olympics gold while Jemimmah Sumgong won the country its maiden title in women’s marathon.
Team Kenya athletics head coach Julius Kirwa on arrival at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport from the Rio Olympic Games. PHOTO | CHRIS OMOLLO |
Coach Julius Kirwa (left), Vivian Cheruiyot (centre) and Eliud Kipchoge at the Athletics Kenya 2015-2016 Gala Awards on December 7, 2016 at Panari Hotel. PHOTO | CHRIS OMOLLO |
Ayimba was nominated for turning around Kenya's fortunes after a difficult 2014/2015 season. With Kenya lying third from bottom in series standing, he guided Kenya to a historic Main Cup win in Singapore.
Kenya Sevens were semi-finalists in Cape Town and quarter-finalists in the Hong Kong and Sydney legs of the IRB Sevens Series.
Meanwhile, Mabwi was in charge of the Malkia Strikers junior team that that recently qualified for the 2017 World U-23 Championships after finishing second behind Egypt at Kasarani.
National Under-23 volleyball team coach Catherine Mabwi during a training session on August 12, 2016 at Nyayo Stadium. PHOTO | CHRIS OMOLLO |
Openda led Telkom Orange to a record 19th Kenya Hockey Union (KHU) national league title and as well as a fourth Sana Cup title. The team will be favourites to clinch a ninth African Club title at next year’s event set for Nairobi.
Telkom Orange head coach Jos Openda reacts during a past match. PHOTO | MARTIN MUKANGU |
He is also not new to the Soya fraternity having won the accolade in 2014.
