The return of the Coach of the Month award will reignite competition in the Kenyan sporting ecosystem, coaches have said.
The award has been off for more than a year due to a lack of sponsors. However, the Sports Journalists Association of Kenya yesterday signed a Sh6m one-year deal with gaming firm Betika.
Under the package, the winning coach will take home Sh100,000 and a set of kit for their corporate social responsibility team of choice.
Hockey coach, Meshack Senge, a previous winner said: “When I won the award, it inspired many other coaches to be competitive since there was something to look up to and fight for away from winning the league and going for continental championships.”
“When the coaches become competitive, the game goes up. It’s one of the ways that boost performance in sport. We hope to continue with this visibility to allow us to take hockey to the next level.”
National Cereals and Produce Board and national men’s handball coach, Brian Mathews, was equally enthusiastic, opining: “This is a big plus for the coaches in terms of motivation and competition. Most of the time, athletes receive all the recognition forgetting the coaches and athlete support personnel — who play a crucial role in coaching, mentoring and offering out-of-the-pitch guidance.”
“When you are appreciated, you produce more... not to mean we are not putting in the effort but it is human nature to have something to look forward to.”
“Betika coming on board is a crucial step, but we hope more sponsors will come on board. We hope to have it (the award) for the longest time, not the one year that has been signed for this morning,” added Mathews.
Jack Ochieng’ of Nairobi Water is eager to win the gong as the league heads for the third week of fixtures.
The experienced coach, who has won the women’s title for over a decade, said: “This brings a lot of competitiveness as we coach our teams which will in turn take our sport a notch higher.”
Betika managing director, Eric Mwiti said it is time for coaches to get the recognition they deserve. “This is a good initiative and an assurance to the athletes that they have motivated individuals behind them in their talent development and sporting endeavours,” he said.
SJAK secretary general, Moses Wakhisi, said a committee will be set up to evaluate monthly performances in a ‘rigorous and vigorous’ process to ensure the most-deserving coach is awarded.
