Tributes continue to pour in for fallen athletics legend John Velzian
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Reading Time: 2min | Fri. 21.01.22. | 12:12
CS Amina, NOC-K boss Tergat and AK president Tuwei eulogize Velzian for his contribution in Kenyan athletics
Cabinet Secretary for Sports, Culture and Heritage Amina Mohamed has joined Kenyans from all walks of life in mourning legendary athletics administrator and a former World Athletics regional Director in Nairobi John Velzian.
Velzian who was Kenya’s first national athletics head coach passed on Thursday morning aged 93.He led Kenya to the first Africa Senior Athletics Championships in 1965 and was famed for nurturing talents including revered legend Kipchoge Keino.
1/4 Cabinet Secretary @AMB_A_Mohammed is saddened by the passing of legendary athletics administrator and Kenya's first national athletics team head coach Mr. John Velzian. pic.twitter.com/Q96VS1DclW
— Ministry Of Sports, Culture & Heritage (@moscakenya) January 21, 2022
Velzian was conferred with the World Athletics Coaching Lifetime Achievement Award in November 2011 just three months after receiving the Honorary Plaque from the then president, the late Lameck Diack at the World Athletics Congress.
“Cabinet Secretary is saddened by the passing of legendary athletics administrator and Kenya’s first national athletics team head coach John Velzian, who is also a former director at World Athletics Regional Development Centre - Kasarani, is known for steering Kenya to her first Africa Senior Athletics Championships in 1965 and nurturing talent that turned into international stars like the great Kipchoge Keino,” read the note from the Ministry.
The National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOC-K) president Paul Tergat hailed Velzian for raising the Kenyan athletics bar high for the time he was actively involved in coaching. Tergat admitted that Velzian’s wealth of experience will be missed.
Athletics Rwanda is deeply saddened to hear that John Velzian, the first International Measurer of @KigaliMarathon has died at the age of 93, He have been the international Delegate of #PeaceMarathon 2015,2016,2017,2018,2019. Words fall short of expressing our sorrow pic.twitter.com/EOi16lbeds
— RAF🇷🇼 (@RwandaAthletics) January 21, 2022
“His dedication and passion towards sports will greatly be missed. He raised the athletics standards to another level and in 1965 steered Kenya to her first Africa Senior Athletics Championship and nurtured stars like the honorary legend, Kipchoge Keino.” Read a statement from NOC-K
Athletics Kenya president Jack Tuwei paid tribute to Velzian the country's first post-independence athletics coach, who helped establish the careers of double Olympic 1500m and 3000m steeplechase gold medallist Kipchoge Keino and Wilson Kiprugut at the 1964 Olympic Games in Tokyo.
"I think nobody in our current environment can match his contributions to the development of athletics in our country and Africa," he told AFP.
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