Published on June 5, 2025 by Agencies for Kenya Online News
Last Updated on 1 year by Agencies for Kenya Online News
National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) men’s Handball coach Bryan Mathews has scooped the Sports Journalist Association of Kenya (SJAK)/ Betika Coach of the Month award for May.
Mathews beat three other nominees to bag the coveted accolade whose winner walks home with a Ksh100,000 cash prize and personalized trophy. The celebrated coach led NCPB to a historic unbeaten run which saw them win the Kenya Handball Federation title unbeaten.
Victories in the month of May proved pivotal in the race for the title where NCPB beat fierce rivals Equity Bank 33-28 in a thrilling high stake match at Nyayo National Stadium. Other victories in the month included a 35-30 win over Ulinzi, 42-19 against Wakanda and 49-08 against Mountain Prime.
During the award ceremony, Betika Head of Marketing Mr. Japheth Akhulia noted that, “The level competitiveness we have seen this being our third winner is testament enough that there has been a major gap in efforts to recognize the contribution of our team coaches. We will endeavor to sustain these efforts as Betika towards promoting competitiveness across all sports disciplines.”
Other team coaches who made it to the nominees list included Kakamega Homeboyz coach Francis Baraza who took the second spot for the second month in a row as Abana ba Ingo won all four matches in the Football Kenya Federation Premier League. Baraza’s charges edged Posta Rangers 2-0, saw off Mathare United 1-0 before bagging maximum points against title hunting Kenya Police with a convincing 2-0 win. Kariobangi Sharks also fell 2-0 to the Kakamega-based side within the month under review.
DCI women volleyball team coach Patrick Sang took the third spot even as his side continues to hunt for their maiden Kenya Volleyball Federation Women’s National League title this month. Sang is credited for guiding the team to a superb performance since taking over after the demise of former coach Daniel Bor.
Sang led the team to qualify for their first ever National League final at Kasarani Gymnasium last weekend with the team now set to face giants Kenya Pipeline in the final.
DCI will still play in the African Club Championship even if they don’t win the eagerly awaited final. During the month under review, the team also beat multiple winners Kenya Prisons team 3-2 twice in best of three semi-final series in Mombasa before completing a double over the wardresses with a sets victory of 25-21, 25-22, 17-25, 16-25, 15-12 at Makande Gymnasium and overcame Post Bank 3-0 (25-11, 25-22, 25-18) in the quarter finals.
“As Sports Journalists Association we want to commend all the Coaches who have either won this monthly award or made it to the monthly shortlist so far as it goes to confirm the hard work they have put in for their teams to deliver. Ours is to encourage them to do their best as we will continue being on the lookout for that outstanding performer,” noted SJAK President James Waindi during the award presentation.
