The Sports Journalists Association of Kenya (SJAK) has rolled out a quarterly Corporate Social Responsibly (CSR) program tailormade to support needy individuals and teams across the vast sporting ecosystem.
SJAK President James Waindi, during a visit to former Harambee Start tactician Tom Olaba noted that the essence of SJAK CSR initative lies in the idea that “the Association should not only focus on sports coverage.
“We also purpose to consider our broader impact on stakeholders, including communities, payers, coaches as well as other individuals who interact with scribes on the field of play. Currently we are running the Coach of the month and also the Sports personality of the month that has not only whipped up the enthusiasm of sporting personalities and teams, but awarded some of Kenya’s high-riding athletes and coaches.”.
Olaba’s visit by sports scribes marks the second CRS event by SJAK. In 2018, Kenyan Premier League side Bandari FC were joined by the SJAK and electronic manufacturing company LG in a visit to Green Olive Children’s Home in Mtwapa, Mombasa where they donated food items and a 49-inch LG television set worth Sh300,000.
Coach Robert Matano, who deputized Olaba at Harambee Stars in 2006, called on corporates and well-wishers to emulate SJAK’s CSR imitative to visit and honor legends while they are alive.
“I had not met Olaba for some time, but then again, I didn’t expect his condition to be that bad. It is my hope that well-wishers will come forward and help Olaba meet his medical bill,” said Matano who was flanked by football official Noordin Taib.
During Olaba’s visit, SJAK donated foodstuffs and essential household products worth Ksh 50,000 to help the former coach manage the turbulent times he has had to contend with, by and large.
“We are rolling out a quarterly philanthropic CSR program to reach out to vulnerable sporting personalities, but then again we are appealing to sponsors and well-wishers to extend their goodwill gestures to Olaba who has already pleaded with Kenyans to come to his aid and help him regain his walking abilities after he underwent a spinal cord surgery that has since left him paralysed,” Waindi highlighted.
Waindi also remarked that his Association is using part of its sponsorship moneys to ensure the CSR program blossoms in the long run.
Olaba, who served as Harambee Stars coach in 2006 for one year before former Tusker coach Jacob ‘Ghost’ Mulee took over, admitted to facing financial constraints to honor physiotherapy lessons as recommended by his doctors.
“I can’t do anything, I cannot move, my body is intact, my legs and hands are intact, I can’t do anything anymore, but the only thing I have is the feeling for the body, according to what my doctors told me, my spinal cord cracked, so they had to put a cage, to help support it,” the former U17 coach said.
Olaba thanked SJAK for reaching out to him at the hour of need, adding that the donation will go a long way in supporting his family meet their day to day obligations.
“I think I got the problem through football, even when I told my doctors it was because of football I injured my spine, they could not agree, but to me, I think it is because of football, I loved football very much, I played football from a very tender age, and I got injured then, but those days, I could not feel the pain because I was still a young boy,” Olaba explained
The experienced tactician served as an assistant coach for Harambee Stars under the late Reinhard Fabisch in 1997.
He is currently confined to using a wheelchair at his Nairobi home and confirmed a session for physiotherapy goes for Sh3,000 and he needs the session daily.
“For now, doctors come to attend to me in the house once a week, for physiotherapy (but the one per day visit is not enough), because it was recommended though, I do it three times a week, it is the best way to treat spine injury, if I can get further help, I will go back and see the doctor, who did the surgery and get to know what he can do more to help me get back to my fit,” explained Olaba.
Olaba had a stint in Tanzania when he led Ruvu Shootings Stars to be promoted to the Premier League, and also coached FKF Premier League side AFC Leopards twice.
