By OUR CORRESPONDENT
Kenya Police assistant coach Salim Babu has been named the national under 18 head coach.
Babu will be assisted by Bidco coach Anthony Akhulia while St Anthony’s Kitale coach Patrick Mayoyo.
Other team officials are Ronny Oyando (Team Manager), Bonface Odire (Physiotherapist), Fredrick Otieno (Team Doctor), Samuel Koko (GK Trainer), Jectan Oitang’or (Kit Manager)
Mayoyo was among three who have joined the revamped technical benches for the junior national teams, as announced by the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) on November 15, 2023.
Ben Achieng from Yala Township Primary School who is set to serve as the team manager on the U15 boys’ team bench while 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.
FKF General Secretary/CEO Barry Otieno emphasized, “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.”
He added, “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.”
The appointments precede the upcoming CECAFA U18 Championships and the CAF Pan African School Games in Kisumu and Kakamega.
The coaching lineup is as follows:
U15 Boys: Leonard Odipo (Head Coach), Benard Kawinzi (Assistant Coach), Hesbon Nyabinge (Assistant Coach), Ben Achieng (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)
Kenya is set to host the CECAFA U18 Boys Championships between November 25 and December 9, 2023, in Kisumu and Kakamega. Subsequently, the CAF Pan African Schools Championships shall take place in Nairobi between December 10 and December 15, 2023.
