GFE 105 coach Nicholas Okinyo is delighted to be part of a select 25 elite tacticians who embarked on their Caf ‘A’ coaching course organized by the Football Kenya Federation (FKF).His charges compete in the FKF Division One Zone B league and are aspiring to climb to the National Super League. They currently top the FKF Division 1 Zone B league with 23 points.The course which is conducted by Salim Ali and Francis Kimanzi kicked off in October 2023 and will run for six months until March 2024. It is held at the Kenya Institute of Special Education (KISE). It offers a comprehensive curriculum consisting of 17 modules.##NAJAVA_MECA_7744863##Speaking to Mozzart Sport after the side saw off Transfoc FC 3-2 in the FKF Division 1 Zone B league played on Wednesday 13, the tactician noted that with the current trends in football, knowledge was crucial in anticipating and managing the trends. “I feel very much privileged. Football is dynamic and we are experiencing new trends every day that need coaches to do a lot of research, reading, and networking to not only win matches and be successful but also to nurture and develop talents. The course improved my coaching style and developed my confidence,” Okinyo offered.While undertaking the course, he enjoys the company of Harambee Starlets’ tactician Beldine Odemba, Ulinzi Stars’ head coach Anthony Kimani, Posta Rangers’ assistant coach Bernard Kawinzi, and Caf instructor Jackline Juma among others. What delights the tactician even more is being taught by Kimanzi, his long-time mentor.”Having Kimanzi as my lead Educator has improved my coaching career,” he disclosed.FKF Div. One: Okinyo confident GFE will seal promotion to the NSLEldoret still lags in football, and most of the clubs are society-based. Despite posing a challenge, Okinyo was glad that leading GFE 105 FC has given him invaluable lessons even beyond his coaching career. The CAF A course only sharpened his leadership skills.”When dealing with the young ones you become a role model, father, and community leader and the course has made me understand how the community around me should be handled. I am a community leader as well as using sport as a development tool for bringing peace and harmony within the community. There are key values that we learn through sports,” he disclosed.Okinyo who doubles up as the head coach of Uasin Gishu High School further noted that he was looking to share the knowledge learned from the course so far to improve the sport in the athletics-rich county.”Apart from coaching the GFE 105, I intend to organize soccer clinics during school holidays to train youths in my area. At GFE, we have Under 10-15 and Under 15-17 years teams that we train during school holidays,” he averred.However, as he described, his efforts to nurture football talents in the region did not come without its challenges.”My main challenge as a coach is lack coaching equipment, poverty levels of players, lack of sponsorship this makes it hard to find a player training throughout the week so availability of some players becomes an issue. Also as a human being, I need to put something on the table for my family,” the mindful tactician explained.He advises aspiring coaches that their primary focus should not be on monetary benefits but on genuine love and commitment to the development of their players.Coach Okinyo believes that when coaches prioritize the well-being and progress of their players, monetary rewards will naturally follow.FKF Div. 1: Kinyanjui stars as GFE 105 edge Transfoc FC in EldoretMy advice for those who are aspiring to be coaches, they should not give up. Their expectations of getting money in this industry should be less. Coaching is passion and if you are not patient you won’t go anywhere,” he advised.The coaching course represents the second-highest level of certification offered by Caf, with the prestigious Caf Pro License standing as the highest attainable certification on the continent.The course is part of FKF’s initiative to ensure that there are more qualified coaches handling teams from grassroots to professional level.
