One-time Chiefs, Bucs target Oliech in SA

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After his recent retirement from international football, Kenyan striker and one-time target for Orlando Pirates and Kaizer Chiefs, Dennis Oliech is in South Africa but not to sign for a PSL team.

He is here to attend a coaching workshop with The Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB) World Coaches.

In 2014, Oliech was on the books of French Ligue 1 club Ajaccio having spent several seasons at Auxerre, and at that time was linked strongly with both of South Africa’s Soweto giants. But, the 31-year-old former Harambee Stars striker has moved swiftly away from the field and is now the brand ambassador for leading sports betting company, Betway Kenya.

The reason for Oliech’s visit to South Africa is because Betway wanted to give its brand ambassador the groundwork for a future in coaching, social development, technical skills, age training and the organisational skills necessary to run football tournaments.

Commenting on Oliech’s one-week training at South Africa’s KNVB World Coaches workshop, Betway Kenya Country Manager Wanja Gikonyo said: ‘Our aim is to equip Dennis with the essential skills a football coach needs. He will then be able to pass on that knowledge as well as skills to youth in Kenya.’

‘This is the first among many training opportunities that Betway has lined up for Dennis. As our ambassador, he will be heavily involved in football talent development across the country. This is one of the ways we are contributing towards spurring development of football in Kenya.’

The South Africa World Coaches KNVB Workshop’s ambassadors are Nwankwo Kanu, Ruud Gullit, Philip Cocu, Pierre Van Hooidonk and Kalusha Bwalya.

Oliech first played for the Kenya national team in 2002 when as a 17-year-old he played against Nigeria in an international friendly in Lagos. After that, he went on to play in 68 matches for Kenya, scoring 34 goals in the process.

He turned professional in 2003 and has played for Al-Arabi in Qatar, French League 1 teams Nantes and Ajaccio, league 2 side Auxerre and Dubai CSC in the UAE Division 1 league.