Sangoro shelves retirement plans as Covid-19 robs him of playing time

After fifteen years of featuring in the top tier handball league for National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB), Thodosia Sangoro was preparing to retire in 2022 and fully take up coaching.

Currently the longest serving player in the current millers’ squad, the 33-year old has, however, intimated that he will hang on to his playing boots longer as he intends to serve his club for another two seasons to cover for the lost 2020 and 2021 seasons before he can make his switch.

“I intend to serve my club for another two season so my retirement plans have been put on hold for now. With the 2020 season lost, we were raring to go in the 2021 season and were set to open the season in the second week of action in the Kenya Handball Federation (KHF) league but sporting activities were suspended just a day before our first game.

It has become extremely difficult to motivate myself to keep training with the uncertainty of the return to action. After what we went through last year, then having our league suspended just when we were getting started, one can’t help but feel demoralized,” offered Sangoro who was last in action in January 2020 with the national team at the Olympics qualifiers in Tunisia," he offered.

Sangoro joined NCPB in 2005 while still in high school. He was introduced to the sport by his uncle Cajitan Ywaya, now retired and based in Finland, who was an NCPB player and the national team goalkeeper.

"I switched from football, having played in the MYSA league, to handball in form two at Pumwani Secondary School. Obeid Nyaga, the current national team assistant coach, spotted me and convinced my parents to transfer me to Aquinas High in 2003. We played at the national school games in 2004 and 2005. I played for Black Mamba in the league for six months while in form three and for Moi Airbase (MAB) in several tournaments. In 2005, the then NCPB coach Steve Karuma signed me," Sangoro reminisces.

He continued, "I learned alot, playing alongside veterans like Maxwell Zange, Paul Pudo, Charles Kisilu and my uncle Ywaya among others. My skills were sharpened and I matured early in the league. The squad saw my potential and helped me become better. My uncle was hard on me but later I realized he meant well. Playing for a league team made me a superstar in school too."

While at Cereals, the team won the league title from 2005 to 2013 and bagged another in 2018. They were also crowned East and Central club champions from 2005 to 2013. NCPB were yet to lose a match in the 2019/20 season suspended due to Covid-19.

"In 2014 most of the veteran players retired while others left to join other premier league teams. Our top goalkeeper also turned pro and that affected the good run we enjoyed as NCPB. We, however, rebuild and reclaimed the title in 2018," Sangoro added. 

He joined the national team in 2008 and has been an integral part of the squad over the years. His impact is still felt despite playing against youngsters. In January 2020, he was awarded Man of the Match as the national team played Zambia, for a 28-17 win, at the Olympics qualifiers.

His coaching training started at an early age, ten years ago, at the age of 23, when KHF sponsored him for a nine-month diploma course at the Arhus Handball Academy in Denmark.

"I went to Denmark in October 2010 and returned to the country in June the next year. The scholarship was an opportunity to experience the game in a different environment. I was very young and the academy saw my potential and helped me get a deal with a Division three team, Astrup Grenna, where I played while still training as a coach," explained Sangoro.

The long serving NCPB player was in the Danish academy alongside Kenyan international Brian Mathews who ended up landing a long term contract with a Division One team. However, a nagging groin injury dragged Sangoro's performance and denied him a chance to land a similar deal like his countryman.

Despite the unfortunate injury, attaining a diploma in coaching from a reputable institution at a young age ignited a fire in the player. He has attained other coaching certificates over the years, the latest being an African Handball Confederation (CAHB) coaching course in Kigali, Rwanda in 2019.

Others include an International Handball Federation (IHF) Beach Handball Course in Mombasa, in 2016. IHF Olympic solidarity coaching course (level 2) and an International Olympic Solidarity Technical Course for coaches all attained in 2013 after a course conducted in Nairobi. While in Denmark for his diploma course, he also attained a Danish Team Coach Class certificate.

 "I am looking forward to coaching the national youth sides for a start as I aspire to coach the senior team in future. I am open to coaching any other league team but currently I am attached to Nairobi Water women's team as the assistant coach, since 2013," said Sangoro.