Western Stima coach Salim Babu was yesterday named the Sports Journalists Association of Kenya (SJAK)/ Fidelity Insurance coach of the month for August and September.
Babu beat AFC Leopards coach Andre Cassa Mbungo, Bernard Mwalala of Bandari and Tusker's Robert Matano to the award. During the August and September period, Stima won twice and drew twice bagging eight points.
Babu is the third Western Stima coach to win the award. Others who previously won the award are current Kisumu All Stars head coach Henry Omino and NSL side Coast Stima coach Paul Ogai.
The former Sony coach, who took over the team mid-last season received Sh75, 000 and a trophy from Fidelity Insurance Kisumu branch manager Sammy Chirchir at the Moi Stadium, Kisumu.
Stima are so far unbeaten in the league after six matches but they will face a real test of their mettle when they host Bandari in Kisumu on Wednesday. The power men are 11th on the log with 10 points.
An elated Babu hailed SJAK and Fidelity Insurance for organising the award, saying: “This award will boost our morale and also motivate us as coaches.”
This is the second time Babu was getting the award, having bagged it while at Sony in 2016. He paid tribute to his players, technical bench, club management and fans.
“The good performance of the team was made possible by the cooperation we have as the Western Stima family. We all work as a team to achieve our objectives,” said an elated Babu.
He said his target is to finish in the top eight in the first leg.
"So far, we are unbeaten in the league and we want to continue pushing on. It is possible to go unbeaten in the season but at the moment we are focusing on one game at a time,” he noted.
The youthful Babu said he has been working with his goal-shy strikers and is happy that they are now banging goals. Chirchir said Fidelity Insurance is proud to be associated with SJAK.
