Butali Warrior's Aura named February's coach of the month
Hockey
By
Washington Onyango
| Apr 13, 2023
Butali Warriors tactician Zachary Aura has been named the February StarTimes SJAK Coach of the Month.
The former Kenya international laid his hands on the coveted award for guiding the national hockey champions to a credible third place finish during the Africa Cup for Club Champions tournament held in Nairobi in February.
Out of the six teams that the Kenya Hockey Union (KHU) entered in the tournament that returned to Nairobi after six years, only Butali managed a podium finish.
Aura guided Butali to three wins and a draw at group stage before posting the all-important result in the third-place playoff.
And with the recognition, he walked home with a purse of Sh100,000 plus a 55-inch StarTimes Smart television set and a personalized trophy.
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"I am delighted to be named the Coach of the month for February, this is my first award in my career of playing and now as a coach.
"I want to win another one, now that the season has started, this award will motivate me to defend the title and even do better in Africa next time," Aura, a former national team captain underscored.
Star Times Chief Executive Officer, Carter Luo during the award presentation at City park Stadium lauded Aura for his coaching process- and by extension- being the second hockey tactician to rack up the award.
"Kenya has produced athletes of national and international repute, more so, in track and field, rugby, volleyball and boxing. But coaches eventually turn out to be the unsung heroes, despite immense effort," said Luo.
"This informs the reason why StarTimes Kenya and SJAK have partnered to inject the much-needed morale and gusto amongst coaches.
"The growth of this Coaches' award will, by and large, help bring us to the tipping point of a great new opportunity - making sports viable again for all and sundry."
Other nominees for the February award included Team Kenya Coach to the World Athletics Cross Country Championships, Julius Kirwa and Kenya Lionesses tactician George Mayienga.