Kenyan footballers Peter Opiyo and Luke Mieno have taken up apprenticeship roles in coaching positions as they recover from injuries.
Mieno has joined the Tusker youth team as an apprentice, where he has been actively involved in their training and on match days at the Ruaraka Complex.
Meanwhile, Opiyo has been spotted on the coaching bench at City Stars, where he has been assisting the technical bench as he recovers from his injury.
Opiyo, who has played for Thika United, Gor Mahia, AFC Leopards, Tusker FC, and various clubs in Finland, is excited to start his coaching apprenticeship under the guidance and instructions of coach Nicholas Muyoti.
“I love being on the pitch, but with an injury there is so much that you can do till the day you heal. This is a great opportunity to learn the ropes of coaching and more so from my former team mate and captain at Thika United, Muyoti,” said Opiyo, speaking to the club’s official website.
He has been conducting training sessions as instructed by Muyoti and now sits on the bench on game days, which he admits is a strange place to be considering he is still an active player.
Muyoti is excited to add Opiyo’s voice in his technical backroom staff, saying that this is how his coaching journey started.
“This is exactly how my coaching journey started. After a few injuries’ here and there while at Leopards, coach (Jan) Koops initiated me to the bench with similar duties to what Opiyo has now,”
“It’s a primary and very important step towards the world of coaching. Opiyo has what it takes to excel in this area. He now has the time and I urge him to optimize his chance before he can return to the pitch.” added Muyoti.
After a few injuries while at Leopards, coach Jan Koops initiated him to the bench with similar duties to what Opiyo has now. He believes that Opiyo has what it takes to excel in coaching and urges him to optimize his chance before he can return to the pitch.
City Stars official Samson Otieno views Opiyo’s injury as a blow, but he chose to look at the opportunities that came around his period of inactivity. It was best that he temporarily jumps over to the technical bench to start his coaching apprenticeship, and once fully recovered, he can return to the field to contest a position before the season ends.
