Trained football coaches in Kenya have been challenged to protect players from sexual harassment during their trainings and competition.
Federation of Kenyan Football (FKF) Deputy President Doris Petra noted coaches should demonstrate high level discipline while dealing with players.
Petra said sexual harassment and other forms of intimidation can only be avoided if those handling players commit to protect them. She said FKF was promoting professional football by ensuring persons determined to be involved in coaching football players in Kenya must undergo basic training so that ethical standards in football are adhered to.
The FKF Deputy President said girls and women involved in football have always been victims of sexual molestation and called for immediate action to reverse the trend that she termed as disturbing.
She encouraged women to be involved in football and also enroll for coaching and refereeing courses in order to assist in stopping the said vices.
Uriri Member of Parliament Mark Nyamita while addressing the same function said he was determined to bring more youth to sporting activities as a way of fighting drug abuse, early marriages and crime amongst them.
Nyamita said they will ensure all teams joining constituency league have trained FKF coaches as a way of fostering professionalism in football. “I will ensure all the Sub-Counties within Migori County embrace trained coaches as a way boosting football professionalism in the county,” Nyamita stressed.
The two leaders were speaking during end of 4 weeks Training of tier-D Coaches sponsored by Federation of Kenya Football and Uriri MP.
Petra thanked Mr. Nyamita for partnering with FKF to organize coaches training, the first of its kind in Nyanza region. She challenged other local leaders to support football through pushing initiatives to improve football fields and supporting local clubs. “Such initiatives will tap their talents which may be needed at international levels,” she advised.
Harambee Stars Assistant Coach Twahir Muhiddin was among lead instructors during the training of more than 50 coaches who finished the training and were awarded certificates of completion.
By Geoffrey Satia
