Kudos to our sportsmen and women

By Bismarck Mutahi

What a year 2008 has been for sports in the country. No one will forget the achievements of our team at the Olympic Games in Beijing, China and the national team Harambee Stars beating top sides such as Guinea and Zimbabwe at home.

It was, however, not a good start for us what with the post-election violence that rocked the country last December and the start of this year which affected sports and led to the death of some athletes.

I will dedicate this column to the sports personalities who I felt made the year a prosperous one for Kenya.

Francis Kimanzi

The Harambee Stars and Mathare United coach is now a household name in the country. Mathare United had not won the national title since announcing its arrival to the scene in 1998 but Kimanzi ensured they did it this year.

• Journey to Surviving Cervical Cancer
• Dyscalculia: Why so many children struggle with numbers
• Nakhumicha calls for review of doctors CBA as strike bites
• Alarm as youth quit condoms for tablets in HIV prevention

The Slum Boys did not only win the league but they did so with some breathtaking football.

Kimanzi has also led Stars to the third round of the World Cup/ Nations Cup qualifiers and touchwood we could be in Angola in 2010 for the Nations Cup and hopefully a first outing at the World Cup in South Africa.

Score: 7 out of 10.

The Sevens rugby team is a force in the world now thanks to Ayimba. We will be playing in the World Cup next year and the Kenyan boys have been simply outstanding in the sevens circuit and for that Ayimba, or if you like Benja, gets my congratulations and I ask him to keep it up.

Score: 7 out of 10.

She needs no introduction to Kenya and the world. What she did this year; I will only desribe it in one word — phenomenal. Go girl or is it woman?

Score: 9 out of 10.

The national athletics coach might not be a darling of the Athletics Kenya chiefs but he has done tremendous work for the country. We tend to forget there is always a coach behind the performances of the likes of Jelimo, Nancy Lagat and Wilfred Bungei.

He deserved a gold medal in Beijing for his work of ever there was one for coaches.

Score: 8 out of 10.

Despite producing world conquering stars, Kenya had never won an Olympic marathon gold but Wanjiru made sure that was history with a good show at the Beijing Games. His good show in London marathon when he finished second behind Martin Lel was outstanding and watch out he could be the next world marathon record holder.

Score: 7 out 10

What a year this young man has had? Breaking an Olympic record is no mean feat even if it stood for only 10 minutes before Milorad Avi of Serbia lowered it. He has been one of my top performers this year and deserve a mention alongside the other world-beaters.

Score: 7 out of 10

She was seen as only filling the 1,500m team to the Olympic Games but she came out with a gold medal. I was surprised with her show in Beijing just like everyone else although I have not always doubted her ability since she was a junior.

Score: 8 out of 10

I will call him captain fantastic for not only leading the Beijing team to glory but also winning a gold medal of his own. I will agree I had written him off before the Olympic trials but congratulations Bungei for proving men wrong.

Score: 7 out 10