Are foreign coaches the solution to Kenya’s sporting problems?

By Daniel Adero

Kenya has been known as a destination for tourism for many years and no one can deny this fact. Being among the world’s richest countries in wildlife biodiversity, Kenya has been able to welcome millions of visitors every year. However, the number of visitors coming to Kenya is on the rise and this time round not coming to have fun in the wild but coming to nurture talent in sports.

Athletics

Kenya’s athletes are the most celebrated the world over and have put the country on a high search results rates when it comes to scouting for talent.  Athletics for along time has been the most celebrated sport in Kenya and whenever the Olympics come, Kenya’s National Anthem is ever played more than any other National Anthem for any African country.

Other sporting activities have however been a problem for Kenya to shine in. Be it soccer, swimming, rugby, judo and the likes.

During the 2012 Olympics, Kenyan athletes’ performance remained wanting except for a few individual efforts that once again made Kenya proud. On return to the country, team Kenya 2012 management was tasked to give a conclusive report on what went wrong and the Ministry of Sports had to form a commission to find out what went wrong with Team Kenya.

Thinking of this, I was tempted to find a solution; all we need is a foreign coach! I know many might want to discredit this and call it being non-patriotic but results can prove me right.

In the just concluded 2012 Olympics, Kenya still had one of her own celebrated in the name of David Lekuta Rudisha, the world’s three times fastest 800M runner and a man who has broken his record for a second time in a row. Who can not want to be associated with such a celebrity? But truth be told, Rudisha has a foreign coach who has helped mould him into the man he is. 

Coming to Kenya 36 years ago to teach Geography at Iten’s Catholic Boarding School, the Irish missionary, Brother Colm O’Connell, and despite having no coaching background, began helping aspiring young athletes. Today, he has 120 training camps and is known as “the godfather of Kenyan running”. This is the man behind Rudisha’s continued success in athletics.  Rudisha is one of the most successful athletes that the 63 year old has helped to shine.

“It was past midnight when I got back and first rang Brother Colm,” said Rudisha. “We had a chat and he was very happy. He said to me, 'You did it, you did what you believed’. He has been a big inspiration — he is the best coach I have ever met and more than a father to me.”

Football

Kenya’s performance in competitive football has been ailing for quite some time now; be it at the National Level or at the club Championships. It was during a foreign coach’s tenure that the game of football got some life at the national level in Kenya under the guide of one Reinhardt Fabisch.

After him, Kenya’s football has been ailing under various coaches who have been reshuffled and rotated at will but in vain; the likes of Francis Kimani, Jacob “Ghost” Mulee, Antoine Hey and Zedekiah Otieno “Zico”.

A look at the scenario gives a clear picture as to why we need foreign coaches. The Abaluhya Football Club (AFC Leopards) was in trouble towards the end of last season. But then came the “saviour” one Jan Koops “Wepukhulu” they call him. Since he came, the club regained its strength and is now a title contender.

Mid the current season, Gor Mahia FC “K’Ogallo” was in similar problems. The search for a solution begun and it ended up on Zdravko Logarusic, a Croatian born football manager. Who can deny that Gor Mahia found a solution to its problems? With 16 games unbeaten since the takeover by the Croatian tactician, Gor Mahia is one of the three Tusker Premier League contenders.

Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Chairman Sam Nyamweya announced that former French footballer and Coach Henri Michel had been appointed national team coach. After a string of bad results from the national team and missing out on two consecutive Africa Cup of Nations, as well as failing to reach the finals of regional football tournaments, FKF officials are feeling the pressure to find a way to get results.

During the first match under the charge of the Frenchman on 16^th October pitting hosts Harambee Stars verses the visiting Bafana Bafana of South Africa, critics say a lot of improvement was realised.

Without any doubt therefore, I believe foreign coaches can help lift Kenya’s ailing sporting arena albeit for a short while.

Daniel Adero is a freelance sports journalist based in Nairobi. You reach him on [email protected]; or read his blog http://danhils.blogspot.com/