By Prudence Minayo
Some Kenyan sports personalities have gone on to become famous in the country and beyond. Some have succeeded and become millionaires even without pursuing further studies, proving that although education is important, it is not a determining factor to success.
However, some have not only excelled in the world of sports but were also outstanding in academics. Education has been a fall back plan for many sports personalities whose career has come to an end, apart from entrepreneurship. This article takes a look at some sports personalities in Kenya who have squashed the myth that sports personalities are not educated but succeed based on talent alone.
This is an entertaining read to help you get a better insight to some of your favorite sports personalities and not meant to glorify or demean any sport personality.
Michael Olunga
Michael is a professional footballer who plays for Qatari club Al-Duhail and the Kenya national team as a forward. He was a student at Upper Hill School, Nairobi where he scored a mean grade of A- in his KCSE and Joined the Technical University of Kenya (TUK) for a Degree in Geospatial Engineering. Michael completed his degree while playing for Gor Mahia FC. He was the first Kenyan to score a hat trick in La Liga during the time when he was loaned to Girona.
Zacheaus Omondi
He played for Tusker FC back then when it was called Tusker Breweries for seven years and left in 1994. Omondi managed to juggle between school and football and is currently a medical practitioner in Ireland.
Fred Arocho
Fred Arocho is a former professional footballer who played the game for about a year. He played for the National Youth Team back in the day and got a chance to rub shoulders with some of the best African footballers. After playing football for over a decade, he enrolled at Kenya polytechnic and graduated with a Diploma in Business Administration.
Paul Kiongera
He is one of the best towards in the region and has played for a number of teams including KCB, AFC Leopards and Ushuru FC, all in Kenya. Paul plays for Wazito FC as a striker and had previously sustained a knee injury while featuring for Tanzanian Giants, Simba SC. He has been working hard to regain his form and his football career is far from over.
The 31-year-old is an alumni of Kenyatta University where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Sociology.
Dennis Gicheru
He is considered one of the most educated Kenyan footballers in the recent times. His football career was cut short by a terrible knee injury but thanks to his education credentials he got a job in football administration. Gicheru is a Bachelor of Law holder who wishes to pursue a Masters Degree in the future. Thanks to his education, he had something to fall back to when his football career ended.
Michael Boit
He is a former Kenyan middle distance athlete whose career lasted for over a decade. He has one of the most exemplary academic records an athlete in Kenya has. These are:
- Diploma from Kenyatta University – 1972
- Bachelors Degree from the University of New Mexico – 1976
- Masters Degree from Stanford University -1978
- PHD in Education from University of Oregon -1986
- Honorary Doctorate from University of Glasgov -2014
He is currently a professor in the Department of Exercise and Sports Science at Kenyatta University.
Also Read: Top Ten Richest Football Clubs In Africa
Brian Osumba
Brian Osumba is a Kenyan footballer who has played for the Kenya Premier League (KPL) and a former Tusker FC midfielder. He is a certified accountant having studied in the Kenya College of Accountacy (KCA) and Strathmore University.
Geoffrey Kataka
He has played with a few local clubs like AFC Leopards and Ushuru FC and has also played the Kenya Premier League. He quit football to start a welding business. Kataka was also a trialist for Harambee Stars but did not manage to get in. He studied Bachelor of Education (Arts) at the University of Nairobi.
Jacob Keli
He is an attack midfielder that has played for a number of local teams including AFC Leopards, Mathare United, KCB and Gor Mahia. He studied Bachelor of Commerce (Finance Option) at Kenya College of Accountancy (KCA).
