SJAK, Fidelity Insurance unveil Coach of the Month award

One adjudged the best Kenyan Premier League coach will now be recognized monthly for their outstanding performances that will include a Ksh50000 award.

This comes after Fidelity Insurance Company in partnership with the Sports Journalist Association of Kenya, SJAK, signed a sponsorship deal on Tuesday that will see the best tactician in the 16-team top flight rewarded for their efforts.

A SJAK panel will sit, nominate and ultimately announce the winner of the new gong starting end of this month and it follows the Player of the Month Award launched at the beginning of last season where the sports journalists body partnered with league title sponsors, SportPesa.

Speaking during the launch, Fidelity Insurance Marketing and Business Development manager, Nicholas Malesi, termed the deal as a move that can only benefit the beautiful game.

‘This is our generous way of giving back to the society through football. We hope that through this initiative coaches can be motivated to propel their teams to bigger footballing heights. Coaches should not only be mentioned when their teams are playing poorly but should also be recognized for those impressive runs that get little mentions,’ he said.

‘Appreciation does more good than criticism does,’ added Malesi.

Speaking during the same event, SJAK President Chris Mbaisi lauded Football Kenya Federation for appointing former Kariobangi Sharks manager, Stanley Okumbi to take up the Harambee Stars coaching role saying it was the utmost show of faith in local coaches by the federation.

‘This act will further instill confidence in our local coaches and steer them to take up more responsibilities here and abroad,’ he stated.

He urged the FKF to ensure coaches undergo regular training so that technical levels of players match international standards.

Stanley Okumbi said that the introduction of the coach of the month award will ultimately help contribute to improving the quality of the Kenyan Premier League thanking the insurance firm and SJAK for the initiative.

-Report by Raymond Ochieng’