Butali Warriors coach Zachary Aura is the Star Times/SJAK Coach of the Month for February.
Aura is the fourth beneficiary of the StarTimes award since being launched in November last year.
Aura was awarded for having led the Butali men's hockey team to a remarkable third-place finish during the Africa Cup for Club Champions tournament held in Nairobi in February.
His feat saw him being awarded Sh100,000, a 55-inch Star Times Smart television set, and a personalised trophy.
Aura said this is the first time he is receiving such an award since he ventured into hockey many years ago as a player. He said the award would motivate him not only to lift the standards of the team on the continental stage but also to win the title.
''I am delighted to be named the Coach of the Month for February. This is my first award in my playing career and now as a coach. I want to win another one, now that the season has started, ''said Aura.
He cited discipline as the key component behind his success. He said prior to the show, he blended a few young players with the older guys and this worked miracles in terms of increasing the pace.
He, however, noted that there is still a lot to be done as far as short corners are concerned.
“I want us to work on our short corners which have been our major undoing. What really drives me is my passion for the game. My players like the game; they are punctual in training and this has made my work easier," he noted.
Star Times chief executive officer, Carter Luo, commended Aura for his efforts and a job well done. He said coaches play an essential role in the identification of talent and nurturing of players.
Speaking during the award ceremony SJAK president, Chris Mbaisi urged the government to help in the renovation of City Park Hockey Stadium.
“This is the second time in a subsequent month we are coming back to hockey. It means something positive is being done in the circles and the government needs to take note. We can’t have good players in the absence of coaches and this informed our decision to start this award," he said.
Aura, who is a former national team captain retired from international hockey in 2015 and was formally incorporated into the team as a coach in 2020, replacing Dennis Owoka.
