Three teachers have joined the revamped technical benches for the junior national teams, as announced by the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) on November 15, 2023.Notable among them is St. Anthony Kitale’s Peter Mayoyo who will serve as an assistant on the U18 boys’ national team. Ben Achieng from Yala Township Primary School is set to serve as the team manager on the U15 boys’ team bench.
Rosemary Wairimu, a teacher at Bondeni Primary School in Nairobi, has been named the U15 girls’ team manager. These appointments align with FKF’s vision of empowering teachers with coaching education and experiences. Over the past year, FKF has deliberately included teachers in its coaching programs to ensure that players receive proper guidance during their formative years.
“Youth players spend a significant amount of time in school. It is for this reason that we resolved to empower teachers with coaching education and certification, FKF remains committed to the wholesome development of Youth and Women’s football, and we believe these appointments will aid our long-term goal of ensuring our players are coached by qualified personnel.” Said FKF manager.
The appointments precede the upcoming Cecafa U18 championships and the Caf Pan African School Games in Kisumu and Kakamega. Kenya is set to host the Cecafa U18 Boys championships between November 25 and December 9, 2023.Subsequently, the Caf Pan African Schools championships shall take place in Nairobi between December 10 and December 15, 2023.
The coaching lineup is as follows:U18 boys: Salim Babu (head coach), Anthony Akhulia (assistant coach), Peter Mayoyo (assistant coach), Ronny Oyando (team manager), Boniface Odire (physiotherapist), Fredrick Otieno (team doctor), Samuel Koko (GK trainer), Jectan Oitang’or (kit manager)
U15 Boys: Leonard Odipo (head coach), Benard Kawinzi (assistant coach), Hesbon Nyabinge (assistant coach), Ben Ochieng (team manager), Lawrence Suji (physiotherapist), Noel Mandi (team doctor), George Wambugu (GK trainer), Isaac Munene (kit manager)
U15 Girls: Jackline Akoth (head coach), Ann Aluoch (assistant coach), Leah Kigame (assistant coach), Rosemary Wairimu (team manager), Esther Aluoch (physiotherapist), Edith Macharia (team doctor), Pauline Awuor (GK trainer), Rebecca Auma (kit manager)
By Janet Namalwa