An engineer who shied away from important work is very successful as a fitness trainer

Written by Tony Mballa

With a degree in electrical engineering, Geoffrey Onyango was determined to succeed. His friends and family were enthusiastic about his prospects for financial success, due to the popular belief that engineers are well paid for their work.

Unbeknownst to them, Onyango was not interested in going down that particular route. He had found something even more exciting that he wanted to work on – a career as a fitness trainer.

Onyango changed the concept from making electrical appliances to shaping the human body with the required precision. What he discovered made him full of hope and joy for a bright future full of satisfaction and happiness.

After telling friends and family about her decision to become a fitness trainer, she was surprised by the cold reception she received.

They thought he had lost his mind. It surprised them that Onyango made the decision he did, considering how many hours he spent at the Jomo Kenyatta University of Technology, shaping his future as an electrical engineer.

His family and friends disagreed with his decision to focus solely on sports, believing that he would be better off pursuing engineering. “My friends and family were like, you’re an engineer,” he said, quoting a cousin.

SAME GAMES

Undaunted by the negative feedback and many icy responses that poured cold water on his desires, Onyango took a firm step to fulfill his dreams in sports.

“I was like, I have a passion for this.” He never regretted his decision. Onyango is establishing himself as a fitness trainer and his business has grown tremendously.

He rubs shoulders with the world’s greatest athletes today, such as 21-year-old Bahraini athlete Winfred Yavi, a native of Kenya who won the gold medal at the 2024 Summer Olympics and set a new Olympic record in the steeplechase in seas of 3000 meters.

His high-profile client list also includes three-time Olympic gold medalist and women’s 1500m world champion Faith Kipyegon.

Born on October 5, 1981, Onyango attended Park Road Primary School before being admitted to Nyabondo High School after completing his Kenya Certificate of Primary Education examination. “I didn’t really like sports until I went to Nyabondo, where I played football for the school team,” he said.

“I was popularly known as Kobole, a nickname at school because I left my mark on defense as a midfielder. When I was in Form 3, I played number four. Then I moved on to form five.” During this time, Geoffrey became interested in sports and experimented with different techniques.

“It was then that I realized that I excelled in sports. I actively participated in football and sprinting, 400 meters. I was Nyanza champion for two years in 400 meters, in after that I was third in the population,” he said.

Inspired by his outstanding performances on the field and the stadium, Onyango continued his athletic endeavors at Jomo Kenyatta University, where he gained admission after passing his Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education in bright colors.

“After receiving my KCSE results, I was accepted into university after a year. When I entered college, I took the position of football captain during my first year. ”

He successfully balanced his studies with his pursuits. “I majored in industrial instrumentation and wireless communication and did many internships in various companies and private organizations after completing my electronics engineering course.”

He knew electrical engineering so much that he dared to criticize his teachers in class. “My father was an electrical engineer, and he taught me many things, including all the technical terms used in that field. I was annoyed when the teachers mispronounced words,” Onyango said.

“They thought I was rude and disrespectful because I wouldn’t think twice about reprimanding them. Teachers don’t like to be criticized in public.”

MEETING COMPATIBILITY

An engineer friend and colleague sparked Onyango’s interest in sports. “I had a friend who made a refrigerator and an air conditioner.

He joined sports training and went to the US. So when he came back, while we were sharing information, he sat down, sharing information during the December holidays, “he said: “I became interested in his books. Yeah, I just got interested in power and status. I didn’t know how to lift weights or bodybuilding is science until he came back and gave me some books,” he added.

During Christmas break, Onyango would accompany his friend to the gym, where they would lift weights while reading books to understand the science involved.

“That’s what drove me. I was immersed in it. I started to like books, which gave me links, and that’s how I was able to live well,” he said.

He immersed himself in his newfound love and took extra steps to improve his skills. “I did a lot of training outside of there, working in gyms, which was really amazing. I gradually developed a passion for sports. So I learned sports. sports, strength and conditioning,” he said.

“I’m a certified world-class athletics coach, and I’m also a world-class two-level strength and conditioning coach. My main work is in athleticism, strength and conditioning.”

Eventually, he was hired by journalist Kamau Kiruri, who owned Image Gym in Westlands. Kiruri also worked as an editor at Citizen and edited The Leader magazine.

“Kamau showed his respect. He was a parent at Braeburn school. He once said, ‘Brother, I can’t pay for you. So, I’m trying to find a place for you,'” Onyango said.

“However, before that, I was employed at Jimkana Sports Club, where I interacted with cricketers and locals. Kamau came back and took me to Braeburn School.”

It turns out that joining Braeburn has given him options and other blessings. “Just one year at Braeburn, I got into rugby. Felix Ochieng, an assistant coach and sports teacher at Braeburn, was giving Kenya Sevens training equipment,” he said.

“Felix came to me and asked me if I could help them with strength and good condition. It was between 2009 and 2010. We guided the team, and I think it was the beginning of power and status with Shujaa. “So from there now, I think. things just went north with education.”

SUCCESS AT WORK

Onyango’s fitness expert showed good manners. No wonder he was hired by the Kenya National Olympic Committee.

“I am a strength and conditioning consultant and coach for Trail Blazers Volleyball Club and Mwamba RFU,” he said.

“I have worked with Nock again since April this year when I was involved in helping to form Team Kenya for Paris 2024. I am working with the Lionesses, the Kenyan women’s rugby team.”

He was instrumental in Winfred Yavi’s incredible performance, which saw him add an Olympic title to his world championship and break the Diamond League 3000m sailing record in Rome.

“I have been working with a steeplechase girl, Yavi, for three years. She was suffering from a chronic back injury when she came to see me. Kari Akim, a well-known Nock physiotherapist, introduced her , “he said.

In addition, he worked closely with Faith Cherotich, William Kimanyal, Faith Kipyegon and many other Kenyan athletes during the Team Paris athletics camp. He has also been working with Hellen Obiri since 2019.

In addition, Onyango has been racing Kenya’s top athletes. Humphrey Hayange, Lavin Asego and Collins Injera are some of the people he has collaborated with. To perform better, Onyango says Kenyans must commit to vigorous exercise.

“Strength and conditioning is a growing field in Kenya. Many clubs have not embraced it and many coaches and club managers do not understand it. They still think that strength and conditioning is building. Just the body,” he said.

“They don’t understand that strength and conditioning is functional and movement training. It’s sports movement training that helps individuals and teams improve speed, strength, power, endurance and coordination.”

To fully reap the benefits of its sporting potential, Onyango says Kenya needs to change its perspective on power and status. “Strength and conditioning coaches help team managers, athletes and coaches with their recovery strategies, injury prevention, pre-hubs and hubs,” he said.

He dismissed as a myth the idea that power and status should not be presented to young children as it hinders their growth.

“Genets, body shape and family tree, in my opinion, are the main determinants of growth. Strength and condition will not reduce growth or height, or anything like that. I myth in Africa,” he said.

“Maybe we dig a little further and understand the condition and strength. People tend to forget that even the best athletes in the world in their prime can spend a week in the gym doing nothing but isometrics, conditioning and functional training, all without lifting weights.”

Strength and conditioning involve a lot. Examples include running, aerobics, phosphagen administration and lactic acid.

Onyango has been getting a lot of inspiration from the world’s most successful fitness gurus. He said: “I have a lot of role models of power and status, especially in America. “I have a guy named Phil Davis. He is a world-class consultant on the strength and conditioning of rugby. He is from Ireland.

We also have Richard Smith from New Zealand. “He is a highly skilled trainer in terms of strength and conditioning.” In addition, Onyango has learned several valuable lessons from his Kenyan colleagues, with whom he works closely.

“I can say that we are a small group here in Kenya. Geoffrey Kimani, a high-level body coach and sprinter, handles Omanyala,” he said. “There is Mike Shamir, who hosted KCB three weeks ago. Now we have Malik Ndemi, a rugby coach in Kenya Rugby Union. Richard Uchen lives in Kabras Sugar.”