
*Undated
Husbands coaching their wives has featured prominently in Kenya’s sporting scene for decades. From weightlifting to volleyball to athletics; sports remain the fulcrum upon which valves of love and talent are stirred to perfection.
Charles Owala and Evelyn Owala in weightlifting, David Lung’aho and Salome Wanjala in volleyball are some of the sports personalities who have found love on the field of play. Some of them have been scorned by sports authorities over conflict of interest.
After naming a national marathon team, former Athletics Kenya President the late Isaiah Kiplagat set a firestorm against female marathoners’ husbands, who he felt interfered with coaches’ training programmes.
“Now, we have a strong team for the championship. Our team will report for a residential camp in Iten. We have competent coaches and I have a message for those who married these beautiful stars of ours."
"Please, allow me to say this. I think all of us are above 18 years here and you all know the duties that a husband performs to his wife in the bedroom - please allow coaches to do their jobs on the tracks,” Kiplagat said amid laughter.
Vivian and Moses (Athletics) :
Vivian Cheruiyot is no doubt a household name in the athletics world. She has won nearly everything –cross country, track and marathon – at the continental, world and the Olympic Games. The diminutive athlete is the only sports lover in athletics: “I love athletics only. I have no other sport in sight….I like watching wild animals and above all, serving in the Kenya Police.”
Vivian said: “I love my police job. Some people may doubt if I understand the job well since I spend much time in athletics, but let me tell you I am trained. I know how to use a gun.”
Vivian says there is a need for a deeply connecting relationship between female athletes with their spouses as the contrary adversely affects performances.
“Running involves a lot of psychological stability. And there is nowhere you can be more stable than being on good terms with your family and your coach,” said Vivian.
Kiplagat said: “I normally share this with my friends who married athletes to ensure their running spouses are psychologically stable if they expect to reap from athletics. Many factors contribute to the success of a female athlete but nothing beats a stable mind.”
Evelyn Owala and Charles Owala (Bodybuilding) :
Her story is quite exciting. Evelyn quit her job in the banking sector and made headway to the gym. Evelyn Owala is a health and fitness enthusiast who followed her passion –the love for heavy metals.
After lifting the 2016 Ms Kenya Figure title, Evelyn scooped the Women Bodybuilding Championship title in Angola in 2019. In the same year, she also won two trophies at the annual Arnold Schwarzenegger Sports Festival in South Africa.
Evelyn is married to fitness freak Charles Owala. While Evelyn usually trains under a Brazilian coach ahead of major championships, the couple occasionally pumps weight together in the local gyms.
“He just trains for fitness. He doesn’t do it competitively,” Evelyn clarified amidst when asked how it feels to be trained by husband. On why she left her banking career, she added: “There is nothing as good as doing what you love,” Evelyn, a former Service Manager-Asset finance said.
Esther Mutinda and Justine Kigwari (Volleyball) :
Malkia Strikers setter Esther Mutinda was coached by her husband Justis Kigwari while in secondary school. Kigwari, who won five East Africa Secondary Schools Sports Association (EASSSA) volleyball titles with Kwanthanze Secondary School, was Mutinda’s coach throughout high school.
Though currently attached to former Kenyan Volleyball Federation League champions Kenya Pipeline, Kigwari rarely misses the training when her wife is on the pitch. Mutinda is poised to take over the setting mantle from retired Jane Wacu.
David Lung’aho and Salome Wanjala:
David lung’aho needs no introduction in Kenyan sports especially in volleyball courts. The former Kenyan international is the current technical director of Kenya Volleyball Federation.
A former player (setter) with the Kenyan Commercial Bank, Lung’aho won seven continental titles; two with Kenya Pipeline and five with Kenya Prisons. He also won the Africa Cup of Nations title with the national team in 2005, 2007 and 2011.
‘Dimosh’ coached Salome Wanjala, his ex-wife who also played for Kenya Prisons and the national team. The two, who are also serving Kenya Prisons, have three children.
Mary and Charles (Athletics) :
Mary Keitany surprised the athletics world by making a podium finish on her full marathon debut in 2010. Although she finished third in the New York City Marathon, one of the Big Five races that count towards the World Marathon Majors series in 2010, Mary Jepkosgei Keitany did just about enough for the world to notice her.
Keitany started running while in Standard Four in 1996 at Kanjulul Primary School before moving to Kisok Primary School in Koibatek.
She was trained and coached by her husband, Charles Koech, also a half-marathon runner. She retired from athletics in May. She says training with him earned her the required strength to overcome the strong challenge in the American race.