Who is Dr.Eugene Genga?
Dr.Eugene Kalman Genga is an Employee of the University of Nairobi, Rheumatologist at Liberty Arthritis Clinic and the current coach for the University of Nairobi Basketball men team known as ‘Terrorists’ . During the 2019 season Dr.Genga led the team to qualify for the top KBF league by beating perennial rivals Kenyatta University ‘Pirates’ for the Division One crown, he cherished the team’s return to the top tier and was looking forward to the season.
Despite the challenges that lay ahead by planning Terrorists’ raid on some of the league’s top teams when action tipped off in March. However, all this never came to be since the season never took off due to the coronavirus pandemic
The trainings had started at the University grounds and plans laid out on how to raid on some league’s top teams. But a week before ‘Terrorists’ faced off against reigning National champions Ulinzi Warriors in their much-awaited Premier League return, the first Covid-19 case was announced and everything changed.
“We always seem to face the soldiers in our opening matches. We were prepared for them because it would have been a good platform for us to learn what lay ahead for us in the league," says Genga during a previous interview with the star newspaper
Other than coaching the University team, Genga, a doctor by profession, also handles Nairobi School in the Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) games. He is an alma mater at both institutions.
And as if coaching the two sides is not enough, Genga, a lecturer at the University of Nairobi, plays for KBF Division One side Blazers. How he handles all these responsibilities considering his nature of work is baffling.
As the world and the country battles the pandemic, Genga said things are looking grim now but remained optimistic all will return to normal with the sporting activities hitting the pitches once again.
After years on the court playing for the university team and eight-time national champions Co-operative Bank of Kenya, Genga suffered a knee injury and pondered over a decision to keep playing or retire from the game altogether.
“I loved the game and still wanted to make my contributions. After my accomplishments, I decided to turn to coaching after some consultations here and there,” he reflects.
His high moments as coach, he says, remains beating Egypt to third-place during the Africa University Games Held at the University of Nairobi in 2015. The other is helping Terrorists win Division One and gaining promotion to the Premiership.
“That feat remained special until two years ago when they were fighting relegation. The match that stood out was Game Three against Strathmore University, where they rallied from 22 points deficit late in the game to win the tie in overtime,” he says.
Genga says his joy as a coach is seeing improvement as a person in terms of character and skills on the court.
So how does he handle his three activities besides his day-to-day duties as a doctor ?
He is off to work at 5.30am depending on the workload at hand. Between 6am and 8am, he is in the wards attending to admitted patients. After 8am until 3pm he conducts lessons at the university and attend to the sick at the outpatient clinic before starting life as a sportsman.
Between January and March, he beats the afternoon traffic to Nairobi School to train the boys. He does this at least three days a week at times four if possible and during weekends when there are no classes.
“When we have games over the weekend, I sort everything by Thursday. It has gone well except on one occasion when I reported late for a game during Mangu High School Open tournament in Thika,” he recalls.
The activities are usually worse during Term One games because one has to cope with the scorching sun and be on the court the whole weekend. In the second and third terms, he visits once in a while since there is not much to be done.
The Terrorists enjoy his time between March and November. Their session starts at 4.30pm and end at 7.30pm. He dedicates between two and three days a week to training.
“Being a consultant, it is a bit easy if you manage the time well,” he adds with a chuckle.
“It also keeps me in good shape. How do you tell your patients not to be too heavy when you are over weight?" he quips.
Genga stays and works not far away from the University of Nairobi main campus and so it's not demanding, shuttling between the two venues.
“Since I work in Upper Hill and my dad stays within the institution, I go to his house change and report to the courts where I start my coaching duties. At times, I train with them since they are younger and faster,” he says.
After the sessions, Genga drives to Nairobi International School (NIS) where he starts another activity with Blazers, a self-supporting team that plays in the KBF Division One.
So why does Genga, a consultant physician and rheumatologist do all this? How does he manage and why doesn’t he attend to his patients, make his money and relax?
“I like sports. It has played a really big role in my life. I value it and want to pass it to the boys. It is more sacrifice, time management and blessing from God that I have this opportunity to coach,” he quips.
Doctor
Who is Dr.Eugene Genga?
Dr.Eugene Kalman Genga is an Employee of the University of Nairobi, Rheumatologist at Liberty Arthritis Clinic and the current coach for the University of Nairobi Basketball men team known as ‘Terrorists’ . During the 2019 season Dr.Genga led the team to qualify for the top KBF league by beating perennial rivals Kenyatta University ‘Pirates’ for the Division One crown, he cherished the team’s return to the top tier and was looking forward to the season.
Despite the challenges that lay ahead by planning Terrorists’ raid on some of the league’s top teams when action tipped off in March. However, all this never came to be since the season never took off due to the coronavirus pandemic
The trainings had started at the University grounds and plans laid out on how to raid on some league’s top teams. But a week before ‘Terrorists’ faced off against reigning National champions Ulinzi Warriors in their much-awaited Premier League return, the first Covid-19 case was announced and everything changed.
“We always seem to face the soldiers in our opening matches. We were prepared for them because it would have been a good platform for us to learn what lay ahead for us in the league," says Genga during a previous interview with the star newspaper
Other than coaching the University team, Genga, a doctor by profession, also handles Nairobi School in the Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) games. He is an alma mater at both institutions.
And as if coaching the two sides is not enough, Genga, a lecturer at the University of Nairobi, plays for KBF Division One side Blazers. How he handles all these responsibilities considering his nature of work is baffling.
As the world and the country battles the pandemic, Genga said things are looking grim now but remained optimistic all will return to normal with the sporting activities hitting the pitches once again.
After years on the court playing for the university team and eight-time national champions Co-operative Bank of Kenya, Genga suffered a knee injury and pondered over a decision to keep playing or retire from the game altogether.
“I loved the game and still wanted to make my contributions. After my accomplishments, I decided to turn to coaching after some consultations here and there,” he reflects.
His high moments as coach, he says, remains beating Egypt to third-place during the Africa University Games Held at the University of Nairobi in 2015. The other is helping Terrorists win Division One and gaining promotion to the Premiership.
“That feat remained special until two years ago when they were fighting relegation. The match that stood out was Game Three against Strathmore University, where they rallied from 22 points deficit late in the game to win the tie in overtime,” he says.
Genga says his joy as a coach is seeing improvement as a person in terms of character and skills on the court.
So how does he handle his three activities besides his day-to-day duties as a doctor ?
He is off to work at 5.30am depending on the workload at hand. Between 6am and 8am, he is in the wards attending to admitted patients. After 8am until 3pm he conducts lessons at the university and attend to the sick at the outpatient clinic before starting life as a sportsman.
Between January and March, he beats the afternoon traffic to Nairobi School to train the boys. He does this at least three days a week at times four if possible and during weekends when there are no classes.
“When we have games over the weekend, I sort everything by Thursday. It has gone well except on one occasion when I reported late for a game during Mangu High School Open tournament in Thika,” he recalls.
The activities are usually worse during Term One games because one has to cope with the scorching sun and be on the court the whole weekend. In the second and third terms, he visits once in a while since there is not much to be done.
The Terrorists enjoy his time between March and November. Their session starts at 4.30pm and end at 7.30pm. He dedicates between two and three days a week to training.
“Being a consultant, it is a bit easy if you manage the time well,” he adds with a chuckle.
“It also keeps me in good shape. How do you tell your patients not to be too heavy when you are over weight?" he quips.
Genga stays and works not far away from the University of Nairobi main campus and so it's not demanding, shuttling between the two venues.
“Since I work in Upper Hill and my dad stays within the institution, I go to his house change and report to the courts where I start my coaching duties. At times, I train with them since they are younger and faster,” he says.
After the sessions, Genga drives to Nairobi International School (NIS) where he starts another activity with Blazers, a self-supporting team that plays in the KBF Division One.
So why does Genga, a consultant physician and rheumatologist do all this? How does he manage and why doesn’t he attend to his patients, make his money and relax?
“I like sports. It has played a really big role in my life. I value it and want to pass it to the boys. It is more sacrifice, time management and blessing from God that I have this opportunity to coach,” he quips.
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