- Teacher Simon Ongaga has been appointed by FKF as the Nyanza Region Referees Instructor, adding to his role as Kisii Branch KUPPET Organising Secretary.
- He will train, mentor, and upgrade referees to raise officiating standards, which stakeholders believe will improve player discipline, talent development, and match quality.
- The appointment is seen as an honour for the school, aligning its soccer programme with CBC, boosting talent pathways, and positioning Nyabigena as a hub for disciplined players and qualified officials.
St. Joseph’s Nyabigena High School in Gucha Sub-County has been awash with congratulatory messages and well-wishers following the appointment of one of its teachers, Mr. Simon Ongaga, to a new regional football role.
Ongaga, who also serves as the Organising Secretary for Kisii Branch KUPPET, has been appointed by the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) as the Nyanza Region Referees Instructor, adding a significant responsibility to his existing union duties.
The appointment has drawn praise from colleagues, parents and learners at Nyabigena, who view it both as an honour for the school and an opportunity to grow footballing talent across the region.
During a meeting with the school community, stakeholders outlined clear expectations for Ongaga in his new role. As Nyanza Region Referees Instructor, he will be responsible for training, mentoring and upgrading referees across the region, with the broader aim of raising officiating standards so that matches are fair, competitive and of high quality.
Stakeholders argued that better refereeing translates directly into better players, noting that improved officiating gives young footballers the chance to learn the game correctly, play with discipline and showcase their talent at higher levels of competition.
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For St. Joseph’s Nyabigena High School, the appointment is expected to directly benefit talent development, particularly in soccer. The school community is hopeful that having an instructor of Ongaga’s calibre on staff will help identify promising young players early, train them properly and expose them to structured competition in line with the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC).
School officials noted that sport is no longer treated as a mere extracurricular activity but forms part of learning under CBC. They expressed optimism that Ongaga’s new role will help align the school’s soccer programme with national standards, create clearer pathways for learners and position Nyabigena as a source of both disciplined players and qualified officials.
Kisii Branch KUPPET Executive Secretary Abel Kenyanchui, speaking on behalf of Ongaga’s colleagues, lauded the appointment as a reflection of the leadership and service Ongaga has consistently demonstrated as Organising Secretary. Kenyanchui expressed confidence that Ongaga would bring the same level of commitment to developing referees who uphold integrity and professionalism on the pitch.
As congratulatory messages and visits continued to pour in, the sentiment from Gucha Sub-County remained unanimous: the appointment is a win for the teacher, the school and for football in the wider Nyanza region.
By Enock Okong’o
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