Ferdinand Omanyala Part Ways with Geoffrey Kimani and Reunites with Coach Duncan Ayiemba

Africa’s fastest man, Ferdinand Omanyala, has decided to part company with his coach of two years, Geoffrey Kimani, and return to work with his longtime trainer, Duncan Ayiemba. The move comes as Omanyala seeks to revive the form that once made him a record-setter on the African stage.

Omanyala, who clocked an African record of 9.77 seconds in the 100m during the 2021 Kip Keino Classic under Ayiemba’s guidance, has had a challenging run in recent seasons. This year, his performances failed to meet expectations despite featuring in several high-profile events.

He kicked off his campaign with early races in South Africa, followed by a second-place finish behind South Africa’s Akani Simbine at the Botswana Golden Grand Prix. Later, he made his Diamond League debut in Xiamen, finishing second, before competing in Keqiao and representing Kenya at the World Athletics Relays.

The Commonwealth Games champion also raced at the Adidas Atlanta City Games and other competitions. However, his season was cut short when he pulled out of the Diamond League final in Zurich due to a nagging injury.

At the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Omanyala was unable to reach the men’s 100m final, bowing out in the semifinals, which was a performance that highlighted his struggle to replicate past success on the global stage.

Why Omanyala Left Geoffrey Kimani

According to reports, Omanyala found it difficult to adapt to Kimani’s coaching methods. This played a significant role in his decision to return to Ayiemba, with whom he had achieved his career-best performances.

“It’s every athlete’s dream to keep improving, and sometimes that means switching coaches or teams,” Omanyala explained. “Sports can go either way, you meet your goals or you don’t. For me, going back to Coach Ayiemba is about getting back to my best.”

Omanyala also revealed that the injury he sustained before the World Championships disrupted his rhythm throughout the season. He credited Team Kenya’s medical staff for helping him compete despite the setback, though the injury limited his ability to run under 10 seconds, something he admitted was frustrating.

“I couldn’t run properly when I joined camp, but the doctors did everything possible to help me line up for the heats and semis,” Omanyala said. “It was disappointing not to break 10 seconds this season, but injuries are part of the game. You just learn to adapt and keep moving forward.”

Ayiemba Welcomes His Athlete Back

For Ayiemba, Omanyala’s return is a welcome reunion. The coach expressed his readiness to continue where they left off, with the shared goal of bringing the sprinter back to his peak.

“I’ll always welcome Omanyala back,” Ayiemba said. “Our objective remains the same, helping him reach the highest level possible. Once he’s ready, we’ll roll out our plan and focus on the future.”

Omanyala is now prioritizing recovery before resuming full training. With the new season approaching, he hopes that reuniting with a familiar face in Ayiemba will reignite the form that made him Africa’s sprint king.