Lakers coach Amena Sheldon Ulisi has been named Sports Journalist Association of Kenya (SJAK) Coach of the Month for January.
Ulisi was handed the award by SJAK president James Waindi on Thursday at Nyayo National Stadium.
Ulisi guided Lakers to their maiden Africa Cup for Club Champions women’s hockey title in Harare, Zimbabwe.
Lakers Hockey Club captain Alice Owiti lifts the trophy aloft in celebrations with teammates after winning the Women’s Africa Cup for Club Championships in Harare Zimbabwe.
Photo credit: Pool
The two sides had battled to a 1-1 draw before Lakers prevailed 2-0 in post-match penalty shoot-out.
Road trip from Nairobi to Harare
“This was your third appearance at the annual continental championship, and you finally emerged victorious. It is a great show of persistence and hard work. As SJA,K we are very proud of you for your achievement,'' Mr Waindi said.
Lakers endured a 5,764km round trip by road from Nairobi to Harare to participate in the tournament.
Lakers Hockey Club players pose for pictures with the 2025 Africa Women’s Hockey Club Championships trophy outside the Nation Centre in Nairobi on February 5, 2026, after arriving by bus from Harare, Zimbabwe.
Photo credit: Wilfred Nyangaresi | Nation Media Group
The Kisumu-based side registered two wins and a loss to GRA in the preliminary stages of the week-long tournament.
Ulisi beat Gor Mahia’s Ghanaian coach Charles Akonnor to second place, while Kabras RFC's South African coach Carlos Katywa was third.
Patrick Ivuti, who led the Kenyan team to finish top at the World Cross Country Championships held in Tallahassee, Florida, with a total of nine medals, also made the list of nominees.
