Former Gor Mahia midfielder Eric Cantona Ochieng has urged fellow ex-footballers to take up coaching courses in readiness for coaching careers.Ochieng’ is among the 40 participants who are undertaking a CAF D coaching course at Dr. Krapf Primary School in Maringo, Nairobi, that was officially opened today by the Football Kenya Federation Deputy President Doris Petra and is being facilitated by George Mwangi and Leonard Saleh.Speaking at the opening ceremony, the former Kenyan International was grateful to the federation for the platform to help former players transit to their next stage in football; coaching.“With this opportunity offered by the Federation, the ball now lies in our court as former players, to seize it and help in improving football in the country by attending the classes that will help us take the next step in our football careers. I would like to thank the Federation for its efforts in involving former players in the coaching courses they provide. This helps give former players like me a platform to transit to the next stage in football,” the former Bandari midfielder said.Highlighting some of the new signings to our team, lets start with Eric Ochieng.A shield to defenders, ‘Cantona’ boasts of 3 League titles with Gor Mahia from 2013-2015. He joins us after leading Wazito to the Premier League. #SimbaWaNairobi #NCSFC pic.twitter.com/CmLYmiYlE2— Official Nairobi City Stars Fc (@NrbCityStars) August 28, 2019 Ochieng turned out for a number of clubs during his playing days including the now-defunct Red Berets, Gor Mahia, AFC Leopards, Bandari, Sofapaka, and Nairobi City Stars among others.In the local scenes, the combative midfielder won almost everything that there is to win, winning the league three times, the Top 8 once, the Super Cup twice, all with Gor Mahia between 2013 and 2015.Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Deputy President reiterated capacity building as one of the Federation’s key pillars in a bid to ensure that the players at the grassroots and senior-level are properly nurtured and handled by qualified personnel.“Capacity Building is one of our key pillars and so far we have been able to train over 4500 coaches in CAF D and 500 coaches in CAF C. In addition, we have 25 coaches currently going through the CAF B Diploma. The end game for us investing in capacity building of our coaches is to ensure that our players are properly nurtured and handled by qualified personnel that will, in the long run, improve the standards of football in the country,” Petra said.To the diaspora that’s how Eric Ochieng’ celebrated his opener for @OfficialGMFC #SSKPL pic.twitter.com/D3JUh2Q9NE— Bonface Osano (@bonfaceosano) November 8, 2014
