A total of 21 athletes on Sunday graduated with a World Athletics Level One Coaching Certificate at the Complete Sports Training Camp in Cheptigit, Uasin Gishu County.
Course organiser, former Commonwealth Games 800m champion Japheth Kimutai, said the move aims at increasing the number of Kenyan coaches to meet the growing number of athletes in the country.
Kimutai said the five-day training was just the beginning and called for more coaches to take such courses to equip themselves with knowledge as they tap and nurture budding athletes.
“We are looking at building the base for our coaches to handle the many athletes in this country. We have to build capacity on our own. This will enable us to handle athletes from the different age groups and areas for the good of the sport,” said Kimutai, a former world junior 800m record holder.
The event, which was conducted by Africa Athletics Development Centre (AADC) — under former Boston marathon champion Ibrahim Hussein — had coaches from Bungoma, West Pokot, Trans Nzoia, Elgeyo Marakwet and hosts Uasin Gishu.
“The course also involved school teachers, both primary and secondary, who received certificates from World Athletics. As Complete Sports, we wanted to do something with our local coaches, those who can go and fetch athletes from the rural areas. We have to empower ourselves,” said Kimutai.
He said that as much as the coaches are local, their certification is an international document.
“We want to see Kenyan coaches grow to greater heights and at the end of the training, everybody was happy. With the course layout given by World Athletics through AADC, the response was above board... that we can have such an important training here in Eldoret,” added Kimutai.
One of the trainees, Jane Bii, said the certificate is good for them since they had skills but lacked the certification to carry out their mandate.
“With this document, I have the power to go to the grassroots and get as many athletes as possible, train them to become great men and women,” said Bii.
