“Sideline coaching,” often a stigma in sports, is defined as a parent putting too much input into their kids’ game while watching.
But what if your sideline coach had national team experience in that sport?
Growing up in Kenya, Onogro and Jackline Aluga came to America on basketball scholarships. Alex attended Abilene Chrisitan University, while Jackline went to Texas A&M – Corpus Christi. Both parents even got the opportunity to represent their country playing for the Kenya National Team.
“So our dad and mom are like, they’re pretty big in Africa, and Kenya,” freshman Alex Aluga said. “They played for the Kenya National Team, both of them. We are not really superstars, but at least our parents are.”
On campus, their three children might be known for their two-time state-winning daughter Judy Aluga class of 2024, three-year varsity player, junior Gilbert Aluga, or the latest addition to the Redhawks varsity basketball team, freshman Alex Aluga.
But when the family journeyed to their parents’ birthplace of Kenya, none of that mattered.
“There were a lot of childhood memories,” mother Jackline Aluga said. “You know it was you know spending time with my mom and my sister who I don’t get to see them quite often that was just amazing,”
The trip was not just a time to visit family, it was also an opportunity for the Aluga brothers to learn.
“I took my kids with me and they got to do a little bit of skills with some of the coaches that taught me basketball,” Jackline said. “To me, that was just an experience that I was so happy for my kids.”
The learning continued away from the court when a local sports station stopped the two sons for a surprise interview.
“We were in the capital city, Nairobi, and we drove, 15 minutes out and went to some lodge,” Gilbert said. “We went to some room in the back, and our parents were sitting on a couch behind us, and we got interviewed by, this small company who’s trying to bring sports media to Kenya because they don’t really have a broad sports media presence over there.”
That small company is Wima Sports, a local organization in Kenya that aims to break what founder Germaine Odhiambo calls a stigma of sports journalism in Kenya.
Battles against fair pay and unfair treatment are common in the journalism community in Africa, with Odhiambo wanting to change the narrative. As of 2025, there are currently only 1,600 students enrolled in journalism at the University of Nairobi.
“Our goal is to highlight the stories of athletes, organizations, and clubs, building their brands while inspiring and empowering communities through sports,” Odhimabo said. “We do sports documentaries and interviews under production, draft sports programs for athletes and teams under sports management, construction and maintenance of sports facilities, and sports recovery and wellness.”
Alex and Jackline attend every single Redhawks basketball game. The close knit family’s sense of compassion was something that drew Wima Sports to invite the special guests.
“We were drawn to their story as a father, mother – son duo passionate about basketball and the values they uphold in the sport,” Odhiambo said. “Their journey reflects resilience, mentorship, and the impact of family support in sports development, making it an inspiring narrative for our audience.”
Living with former national team players, Gilbert and Alex have coaches in their own home impacting their success on the court.
“We always talk to them after the game because we’ve played the game ourselves and we understand it more so we try to instill a little bit of knowledge in them as well,” Jackline said. “[When] we started basketball it wasn’t for them to become professional athletes, I just wanted them to be healthy so I’m so proud of them that they were able to embrace this journey and so far so good.”
Gilbert feels his parents’ support in his basketball journey even though he has big shoes to fill.
“It’s just normal [their success]. I know I have big footsteps to follow in, but I think I can get there if I keep working hard,” Gilbert said. “And, my dad and my mom, both, they’re not pressuring me super hard or anything. They pressure me a lot, but it’s positive, because they know I can get there. They know I can do it.”
Although the basketball gene might run in the family, Jackline believes her children’s school should come first.
“Education is a big one for me,” Jackline said. “I want them to graduate and be professionals and you know be able to earn a living. Basketball always comes second to me. So my goal for my kids, school takes priority more than anything else. School and health, those are more important to me and basketball comes in second. My goal is for them to finish high school, go to college, graduate, and be able to earn a living.”
