Germany trainer Martin Berger has completed a three-day coaching clinic in Kenya where he took 40 Kenya Handball Federation (KHF) affiliated tacticians through a thorough programme organised by the federation.

Berger is an A-licensed trainer, the highest level of training for handball coaches in Germany. Holders of the license are entitled to work as team managers in the Bundesliga (HBL, 2HBL & HBF). However, he is currently attached Handball.Inspire, an organisation focusing on Handball training skills around the world.

The 40 tacticians drawn from Rift Valley, Nyanza, Nairobi and Central regions were taken through both theoretical and practical training at Strathmore University grounds.

In attendance were the national teams coaches Peter Mwathi and Jack Ochieng who lauded the coaches who made it for the training arguing that even for the experienced, there is always something new to learn.

“It has been a good three days of learning and the training has had an impact. We had a mix of experienced and young coaches. So.e are still players looking to transition and this has been a good platform for them,” said coach Mwathi.

He continued, “Berger touched on many areas of the game and outside of the technical aspects of the game he took time to take the trainees on season and session planning which is a missing ingredient in most of our teams. 

Additionally, he had valuable lessons on how to handle players at different levels from the juniors to the senior teams. With more of such sessions our sport will move in the right direction.” 

His counterpart, Ochieng reiterated his sentiments adding that there is need for league teams to have their technical bench members undergo such training programmes if the league is to improve.

From the 40 attendees a small fraction was drawn from the league teams pointing to a lacklustre reception of such opportunities by league teams.

“The impact of such trainings in the league may not be felt unless all teams see the essence of having their members attend and pick a few lessons,” offered Ochieng.