Five top coaches have been nominated for the 2019 Coach of the Year award, at the Sports Personality of the Year Awards (SOYA), set to be held in Mombasa, early next year.
Reports on the Star indicate that the five nominees are; KCB RFC coach Curtis Olago, Malkia strikers coach Paul Bitok, Harambee Starlets tactician David Ouma , Morans men basketball coach Carey Odhiambo, and Alex Alumira of Vihiga Queens.
Ouma made it to the list for the first time, after leading Harambee Starlets to clinch the 2019 maiden CECAFA senior women tournament with an unbeaten record.
On his part, Bitok was shortlisted for leading Malkia Strikers to bag All African games volleyball title, and guiding the team into qualifying for volleyball world cup in Tokyo Japan.
Alumira of Vihiga Queens is in the race thanks to his guidance that saw the team win FKF women league thrice in a row.
Olago, and Odhiambo have also been nominated thanks to the good work they have done with KCB rugby, and the Kenyan men basketball team respectively.
Speaking while receiving Safaricom's sponsorship money, SOYA founder Paul Tergat lauded the telecommunication agency, adding that the awards have grown over the years.
“These awards are the highlight of the Kenyan sporting calendar and are growing each year to become a premier sports event. Safaricom believed in my dream when I was still an active athlete and 16 years down the line, they continue to walk with us as we reward our sports personalities for their efforts throughout their season,” Tergat said.