Harambee Stars goalkeeping coach Jerim Onyango says that the national team is a big stage that requires one to be ready and at their best at all times, both in season and out of season.Jerim, who also represented the country during his playing career, has grown from a top goalkeeper into a top goalkeeping coach in Kenya. He now serves on the technical bench of the Kenyan national team.##NAJAVA_MECA_8142502##The former Gor Mahia captain and club legend talked to Mozzart Sport about the national team and his career at large.”The national team is a different experience. It is a high level and big stage. It is a space where you have to be ready at all times, but so far it has been a good experience where I also learn, and fortunately, I am getting it right so far.”As anyone would expect, not everyone gets the chance to serve on the national team, let alone being on the technical bench. It is never an easy journey getting there, and even for Onyango, it has been a long journey requiring discipline, hard work, focus, dedication, and a bit of luck to be where he is today.His journey can be traced back to 39 years ago when he was born and named Fredrick Jerim Onyango Oduor. He attended formal education and finished his O-levels at Rambula Secondary School in Siaya County in 2004.Nzoia Sugar Coach Mururi optimistic about swift return to FKF Premier LeagueHe was one of the lucky players to start their professional careers in the Kenyan system from the Premier League when he joined Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) FC in 2005 under the team’s long-serving coach Ken Kenyatta.While playing for KRA, his hard work and excellent performances caught the eyes of Sammy “Pamzo” Omollo, the then tactician of Gor Mahia. Pamzo signed Jerim to Gor Mahia in 2008, ending his three-year stay with the Exchequers.It was at Gor Mahia that he had the best period of his career, spanning nine years. He rose from a rookie to a captain and club legend by the time of his departure. He won major team and individual titles with K’Ogalo before hanging up his gloves.Jerim made his Gor Mahia debut in 2008 in a 1-0 loss to Ulinzi Stars in a league match. Although his journey started on a bad note, it ended on the highest note he could have expected.Onyango became a regular and dependable member of Gor Mahia and was also a leader and key figure in the dressing room, setting a good example for his teammates.This was rewarded when he was named club captain just two years later in 2010, taking over from Julius “Awilo” Owino. The captain’s role wasn’t easy, especially at a time when the 21-time league champions faced serious financial challenges.”The captain’s role at Gor Mahia was not an easy one, but I gave it my best. I was the link between players and the office, and sometimes, I found myself in very uncomfortable situations.”During his tenure as captain, Gor Mahia won the league in 2013 after an 18-year struggle for the title.He won 3 FKF PL titles, 3 Mozzart Bet Cup titles, 2 Top 8 titles, and 3 Super Cup titles before retiring from active football in 2017.NSL: Naivas team manager confident of FKFPL promotion despite recent strugglesAs the old adage goes, “A man must try,” Jerim Onyango tried his hand in politics after retiring and vied for a Member of County Assembly (MCA) position in Ugunja Ward, Siaya County, in the 2017 general elections but was not fortunate enough to clinch it.Jerim returned to football, this time as a goalkeeper trainer at Gor Mahia before moving to Kariobangi Sharks in February 2022.At Kariobangi Sharks, he undertook a course in goalkeeping, Trainers Level 1, and was appointed as the goalkeeping coach for the national team, Harambee Stars. He stayed with Sharks until August 2023 when he joined the coastal side Bandari FC, where he has been ever since.After being a captain in his playing days, Jerim seems to also be the leader of his generation of goalkeeping coaches, undertaking several courses to gain more knowledge.In December 2023, he was recommended by the Football Kenya Federation to attend the inaugural CAF Elite Instructors Course in South Africa. This is a custom-made course for instructors who will help train goalkeeping coaches and goalkeepers across Africa. He also holds a CAF C diploma.He uses this knowledge plus his own experience as a goalkeeper to sharpen the skills of his goalkeepers.”You have to put yourself in the shoes of the goalkeeper to understand what they are going through because you also passed through the same experiences and know what they need to grow into better goalkeepers,” said Jerim.He intends to pursue this line of coaching and says it has revolutionized and doesn’t necessarily require one to be physically able to train goalkeepers.”Currently, it’s a science. In Europe, goalkeeping coaches are as old as 60 years. You can be the head and delegate duties. Things are scientific and everything involves education and understanding,” he explained.”You don’t have to be able to do it physically, but you have to understand the science of it and then give instructions as you monitor.”Having been a long-serving player, captain, and legend of 21-time champions Gor Mahia, we asked Jerim if he dreams of returning to the green army one day in a different role.”You can’t overrule anything as long as you are in this football industry. However, at the moment I am enjoying everything at Bandari. We have good working conditions, and so my support and loyalty is to my current employer.”Jerim will be keen to pass his football and goalkeeping knowledge to the current and next generation of goalkeepers as someone who has lived the full length of that journey. He is currently in Malawi with the Harambee Stars.Muhoroni Youth defender rallying teammates on in race for relegation
