Africa’s Fastest Man Ferdinand Omanyala returned to his former school, Friends School Kamusinga, on Friday, 26 September, to launch the Omanyala Sprints Club as he seeks to nurture the next generation of Kenyan sprinting talent.
The launch formed part of the Omanyala Sprints Club schools tour, an initiative aimed at taking sprint development closer to schools across Western Kenya and creating a structured pathway for young athletes.
Before arriving at Kamusinga, Omanyala had visited schools in Eldoret and Elgeyo Marakwet as he continues to introduce the club to learning institutions and identify young talents with potential in the sprints.
His return to Kamusinga carried a special significance given his own journey. Interestingly, Omanyala did not compete in athletics while in high school, instead concentrating on rugby, where he played on the wing for the school’s Spartans team.
It was only later that he discovered and developed his potential in sprinting, eventually becoming Africa’s fastest man.
That journey is at the heart of the new initiative, with Omanyala hoping to ensure that talented students do not miss out simply because they have not yet identified the sport in which they can excel.
The Omanyala Sprints Club is therefore designed to provide early talent identification, structured coaching and a clear pathway for promising athletes to progress from school level to elite competition.
“We will identify them prior, from grade two onwards and in partnership with the school, we will sponsor the kids who will come to the school. They will be going through the system academically but we will be bringing coaches into the clubs to be training them during games time or morning hours,” Omanyala said.
The programme is expected to give students access to structured coaching, talent identification, competition and mentorship while allowing them to pursue their education. It will also expose young athletes to proper sprinting techniques, strength and conditioning, injury prevention and competition preparation.
For Omanyala, the objective is not simply to identify fast runners, but to give them the structures and support required to turn raw ability into a sustainable sporting career.
His experience is evidence of the talent that can remain hidden when young athletes do not have the opportunity or structures to develop it.
“We came to launch the Omanyala Sprints Club in Friends School Kamusinga. We had a conversation when I was here in 2023, we just hadn’t gotten how to go about it but now we have it, so we have come back,” he said.
Omanyala also revealed plans to develop a proper track at the school, providing students with a dedicated facility where the club can establish its training programme.
The initiative will begin with recruitment, with students expected to be identified from an early age and eventually progress through the programme into secondary school.
The sprinter has set his sights on a long-term legacy, hoping the programme will eventually produce athletes capable of representing Kenya at the highest level.
“My dream is that in the 2036 Olympics, we will have athletes from the sprints club,” he said.
The launch was also an emotional moment for Omanyala, who was delighted by the reception from the school community. Rain fell shortly after the club was launched, which he interpreted as a blessing.
“The moment we launched the club, it started raining and for me I feel like this is a blessing and God has stamped it. I am very happy about it. I want to thank the principal for the good reception. I couldn’t have made it unless I got a good reception from him,” he said.
Friends School Kamusinga Chief Principal Paul Weloba welcomed Omanyala’s return, describing the initiative as an example of former students giving back to the institution that shaped them.
“We appreciate him coming back to what made him who he is. Equally, I am giving back to the school that made me who I am. When two old boys come together, we can live a greater impact,” Weloba said.
Weloba also believes Omanyala’s journey demonstrates the importance of developing students both academically and through sport.
“I want to thank Omanyala because he has retraced his footprints back to where he nurtured his talent. We have spoken and we have shared with him because we are now preparing ourselves towards CBE. And our school is a C1 school that has the three pathways,” he said.
One of those pathways is sports and arts, an area Weloba said the school is keen to actualize.
“He did so well in his academics, went to UON and he combined both his cognitive and his auto motor skills and he comes out as an all rounder,” Weloba added.
The principal believes Omanyala’s return will also provide inspiration to the current generation of Kamusinga students.
“He is a good motivation to the rest of the students, and no wonder the excitement around the students,” he said.
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