The Sports Journalists Association of Kenya (SJAK), in partnership with Betika, has named Kenya Police FC head tactician Etienne Ndayiragije as the Coach of the Month for June 2025.
The event, which was held at the Police Sacco Stadium on Thursday, saw the attendance of James Waindi, SJAK President; Chris Oguyo, CEO of Kenya Police FC; and Japhet Akhulia, Betika Marketing Manager.
The Burundian tactician was recognised for his remarkable achievement in guiding Kenya Police FC to their maiden Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Premier League title. Ndayiragije faced stiff competition from Nairobi United’s coach Nicholas Muyoti, with the selection process resulting in a tie that required SJAK President James Waindi to cast the deciding vote.
The award celebrates outstanding coaching excellence across various sports disciplines in Kenya, comes with a Sh100,000 cash prize and a personalised trophy, courtesy of Betika’s ongoing partnership with SJAK.
Ndayiragije dedicated the award to the team and the management, saying, “This trophy I dedicate not only to myself because the winning and the job we did is a team effort; without the team I couldn’t be where I am today, but also they gave me coachable players.”
He went ahead to thank Betika, stating that without them the task could have been complicated, and appreciated their support financially. Also, he recognised journalists for broadcasting their events and voting for him.
Since joining Kenya Police FC in November 2024, Ndayiragije has transformed the team from relegation candidates to champions. When he took over, the team was languishing in 17th place on the FKF Premier League table, with only one win, one draw, and five losses after seven matches.
Under his leadership, Kenya Police mounted an extraordinary turnaround, culminating in a 1-0 victory over Shabana FC on 16 June 2025, which secured the title and ended Gor Mahia’s reign as champions.
“Etienne was unbeaten in that month; he beat two title contenders, he beat Shabana, and he beat Gor Mahia, so that is not a small feat; it’s a very big feat, majorly, and you know that’s Premier League, the crème de la crème of Kenya,” said SJAK President James Waindi during the award presentation.
He further commended Ndayiragije’s strategic acumen and dedication, which have elevated Kenya Police FC to new heights.
Betika’s Head of Marketing, Japheth Akhulia, praised the competitiveness of the award, noting that the award was backed by statistics. “It’s based on the statistics on the performance of every game; every detail is put into consideration before they make a decision,” he said.
The SJAK/Betika Coach of the Month Award, backed by a Ksh6 million sponsorship deal signed in March 2025, continues to shine a spotlight on exceptional coaching talent.
Previous winners this year include Kabras Sugar RFC’s Carlos Kyatwa (April) and Junior Starlets’ Mildred Cheche (March), reflecting the award’s commitment to recognizing excellence across diverse sports.
As Kenya Police FC prepares for continental competitions, Ndayiragije’s leadership will be pivotal. His recognition as Coach of the Month underscores his transformative impact on Kenyan football and sets a high standard for coaching excellence in the country.
– By Jeremiah Richu
Email your news TIPS to Editor@nairobilawmonthly.com, and to advertise with us, call +254715061658 anytime of the day
