Nyamira Girls' hockey tactician Obondo among nine coaches feted for StarTimes SJAK award

SJAK/StarTime Coach of the Month winners fro April-December 2023 line up with officials duirng the ceremony on Saturday.[Jonah Onyango,Standard]

Siaya County's Nyamira Girls hockey team coach Eliakim Obondo was among nine coaches feted on Saturday by Sports Journalists Association of Kenya (SJAK) in collaboration with StarTimes for their exemplary achievements for the period between April and December 2023.

Obondo who teaches Geography at the Bondo based girls institution won the August award after helping Nyamira Girls rack up their first ever East African Secondary School games title two months after leading his side win the KSSSA National title in 32 years.

Nyamira Girls won all the titles from Sub County, County, Regional, National, East Africa.They will represent Kenya at World School Games this year in Serbia.

Eliakim Obondo Coach Nyamira Girls Hockey team month of August 2023 Star Times/SJAK Coach of the month Award winner at the Startimes head office Nairobi. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

Obondo who coaches Nyamira Girls alongside Dennis Kigai and Naomi Kabbi beat Paul Bitok who helped Kenya's Malkia Strikers win the African Volleyball Championship for the first time since 2015 by defeating Egypt 3-0 in the final in Yaounde, Cameroon to also qualify for Paris 2024 Olympics.

Elsewhere, Martin Abunde, head coach of Roll Ball national team was named April's Coach of the month in a colorful ceremony held in Nairobi.

Abunde won the award after his World Cup heroics with the national roll ball teams in India. He guided the Kenya national women's and men teams to the historic Roll Ball World Cup victory.

From left- Eliakim Obondo Coach Nyamira Girls Hockey team, Martin Abunde, Kenya senior women 3x3 Coach Evelyn Kedogo and Japheth Munala Coach Malkia Strikers with their 2023 awards during the Star Times/SJAK Coach of the month Award at the Startimes head office Nairobi. [Jonah Onyango, Standard] . [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

The Kenya women's team crashed Egypt 5-0 in the finals. The men's team on the other hand saw off hosts India 7-4 in the final to complete a double.

Boniface Nyamuhnyamuh of Vihiga Queens football team was named May's winner for guiding Vihiga Queens to the coveted 2022-2023 FKF Women's Premier League title as Gor Mahia's tactician Jonathan McKinstry won the June 2023 award after helping his side win their record 20th FKF Premier League title

July 2023 winner Patrick Odhiambo won the award after helping Kakamega Homeboyz win their first ever silverware, the FKF Cup.

Other winners were Kevin Wambua of Rugby-Kenya Sevens in September, Japhet Munala of KCB Women Volleyball team in October, Moses Andiwo of Equity Chess in November and Evelyne Kedogo of Basketball 3 by 3 in December.

Nyamira Girls coach Eliakim Obondo (left) after winning August 2023 Coach of the Month.[Jonah Onyango,Standard]

StarTimes CEO Jimmy Carter Luo expressed his joy during the event and announced StarTimes continued SUPPORT to SJAK.

He said that the StarTimes will continue investing in support of the sport across the Country.

"I'm very happy for this occasion and StarTimes will continue supporting local talents across the Country," said Luo.

SJAK President James Waindi.[Jonah Onyango,Standard]

SJAK President James Waindi on his part said, "We are very pleased with the partnership with Startimes, it comes at an ideal time where all eyes are on AFCON 2023. We mostly award players of the month but not the person who is behind their success.

"Thank you StarTimes for appreciating the efforts made by our coaches. I would like to congratulate all the coaches being awarded today for their excellence performance."