I salute those behind our success: We have had some amazing Kenyans who led from behind and inspired an entire generation

David Rudisha

As we celebrate Kenyans who made us proud during this Mashujaa period, my thoughts are with those who work behind the scenes to propel our countrymen to global sporting success.

They do not shout about their roles. Neither do they thump their chests about the successes of their subjects. They are happy to take back seats even as the globe showers their subjects with tribute.

Many of them are unknown to the current generation who were toddlers when, for instance, Mike Kosgey took John Ngugi, Boniface Merande, Paul Kipkoech and Some Muge to the World Cross Country Championships in early 1980s.

Or when Marshall Mulwa led Harambee Stars to three successive victories in the regional East and Central African Senior Challenge Cup.

We have had some amazing Kenyans who inspired an entire generation of world class athletes, like the late Joseph Chelimo of Global Sports, Bro Colm O’Connell of David Rudisha’s fame, Nicholas Kilisio of Police, among others.

Peter Mwarangu and the late Charles Anjimbi were permanent fixtures in the national boxing team from 1980s to 1990s. The Dunford brothers got specialised swimming coaching abroad where they attended colleges, but didn’t people like John Opot, Ali Mazoa and Ben Ekumbo play roles in identifying their skills and others like Jeremy Awori, Lyn Wanyeki, and a host of other swimmers?

Jim Davies shaped the careers of the Wekesa tennis siblings – Paul and Camilla, Nobert Oduor, the Wakhungu sisters, Eno Polo etc in 1980s. There are people who nurtured many youngsters who won accolades for Kenya in the continent and world stage.

Bill Githinji, Manuel Okoth, Mwangi Muthee, Felix Ochieng’, Benjamin Ayimba and Allan Hicks are all-time mentor coaches who inspired top-class rugby players like Oscar Osir, Humphrey Kayange, Colins Injera, Lavin Asego, Paul Murunga, Sidney Obonyo, Sidney Ashioya and Mitch Ocholla, among others. These guys deserve state honours.

He was derided by many for not having played meaningful club football, but Mulwa remains arguably the best local football coach.

He picked his team professionally. No bias, just talent and discipline. He had some of the country’s best footballers who are etched in the minds of Kenyans to-date: Josephat Murila, John Bobby Ogolla, Mahmoud Abbas, Hussein Kheri, Peter ‘Bassanga’ Otieno, JJ Masiga, Wilberforce Mulamba, Ambrose ‘Golden Boy’ Ayoyi, Josephat Mahila, Jared Ingutia are legends, thanks to the grooming of Mulwa.

I salute Mulwa and I hope many Kenyans, too, do so.

The work of Mwarangu and Anjimbi appeared fairly easier. For one to make it to the national team, one had to win at the Kenya Open, which were as ruthless as they were competitive, just like the National Athletics Championships today.

But one had to attend their residential training at Tusker Village to appreciate the rigorous discipline they went through to understand why they excelled.

Although the late Robert Wangila and Chris Sande stand out because of their 1988 Seoul Olympic medals, and Ibrahim ‘Surf’ Bilali, for his 1984 Los Angeles Olympics bronze, many of them were Olympic medal material, hence they dominated the Commonwealth Games and All African Games.

From Morris Maina to David ‘Harish’ Ouma, DK Kamau, Stephen Mwema, Steve Muchoki, Kenneth ‘Valdez; Ochieng’ Stephen Okumu, David Omondi ‘Demosh’ and others were all top class boxers.

Athletics Kenya (AK) should explain why Kosgey is idling in Nandi County and we are struggling to win 5,000m and 10,000m at World Championships and Olympic Games.

A master tactician, Kosgey got down to the level of his athletes, was in sync with them all through to the Championships.

There was Charles Mukora, who coached the 1968 Olympic Games team, John Velzian who assisted him, Robert Ouko and Prof Sam Ongeri, who set up the structure of athletics management from 1980s that churned out world beating stars to-date.

— The writer is Senior Associate Editor, Sports ([email protected])