Top handball tactician set for Hungary training
By Lynette Matheka, July 15, 2020
Renowned youth handball coach Gerald Juma is looking forward to his training at the University of Physical Education in Hungary.
Sponsored by International Olympics Committee through the National Olympics Committee of Kenya, the course will see Juma undergo three months of training for a diploma in handball coaching at the respected Hungarian institution.
The programme was set to start in March but the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic forced it to be postponed to September.
The university has since reached out to Juma for confirmation of his availability.
“I am happy that next month the country will open up for international flights and that will enable me to travel.
I had undergone all the visa application processes in February and I am hoping to meet any new requirements within stipulated timelines. I have already confirmed my availability to the university,” said Juma.
Juma is currently a coach at Mbooni Boys High School from Makueni County who participate in the Kenya Secondary School Sports Association games as well as the Kenya Handball Federation men’s premier league.
The tactician, who is also a member of Rangers Handball Club’s technical bench, a team in the KHF league, says the diploma from the recognised institution carries more weight and will open many doors in his coaching career.
“I have a certificate in coaching and mentoring from Kenyatta University, level two coaching certificate attained in 2013, and was waiting for a chance to train for a level A certificate offered by the global body IHF but had not gotten the opportunity.
I have attended other IHF-sponsored courses in Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Zanzibar but those are usually short so this opportunity carries more weight and I am working out hard to be fit for it,” added Juma.
A multiple Kenya and East Africa school games champion with his former school Kimilili Secondary, Juma landed the opportunity after being appointed as the NOC-K academy under-15 coach.
He, however, is open to handling the senior teams upon return from Hungary.
“Apart from the NOC-K team, I have also handled the national under-20 handball teams since 2009. We have had competitions bi-annually and the boys and girls always do well.
After this course, I will be open to new challenges. I am not looking to unseat anyone at the senior teams but having worked with most of the national team players at the lower level, it would be an honour to bring out the best in them at the top level too,” Juma said.