KPLs crme de la crme to slug it out for honours in SJAK gala

Top performers in the 2017 Kenyan Premier League season will have their moment of glory on December 18 when football writers under the mother body, the Sports Journalists Association of Kenya (SJAK) fetes them at a gala night in Nairobi.

And contrary to last year when the sports body partnered with KPL to have the event held under the Football of the Year Awards auspices, this time the sports body will have their own separate event.

SJAK together with partners LG, Fidelity Insurance and a gaming firm have since the start of the 2015 season been holding monthly awards where outstanding players and coaches get recognition, and the forthcoming gala awards will go down in the annals of history as the first to be held by the sports journalists’ body.

“SJAK in conjunction with partners will hold an end of year football gala on December 18 evening at Jacaranda Hotel to award the top performers. South Korean manufactures LG Electronics will take a central role in the awards as title sponsors,” the sports body said in a statement on Monday

Nominees will fight it out in eight categories namely the Golden Glove award, Defender of the Year, Midfielder of the Year, Golden Boot, Most Valuable Player, New Young Player, Coach of the Year and a special category dubbed SJAK Award.

And Gor Mahia with five nominees in the Most Valuable Player category seems set to claim most of the honours.

Rwanda marksman Meddie Kagere, club vice-captain Jacques Tuyisenge, reincarnated George ‘Blackberry’ Odhiambo, midfielder Kenneth Muguna and skipper Musa Mohamed, are all nominees in this category.

They will fight it out with Posta Rangers goalie Patrick Mtasi, league top scorer Masoud Juam of Kariobnagi Sharks and Lawrence Juma of Nzoia Sugar.

Nominees  

Golden Glove Award nominees

1. Patrick Matasi- Posta Rangers
2. David Juma- Kakamega Homeboyz
3. Mathias Kigonya- Sofapaka
4. Jeff Oyemba- Kariobangi Sharks
5. Boniface Oluoch- Gor Mahia

Defender of the Year

1. Charles Momanyi- KK Homeboyz
2. Musa Mohamed- Gor Mahia
3. Godfrey Walusimbi -Gor Mahia
4. Haron Shakava- Gor Mahia
5. Jockins Atudo- Posta Rangers
6. Christopher Oruchum – Thika United
7. Pascal Ogweno – Kariobangi Sharks
8. Karim Nzigiyimana- Gor Mahia

Midfielder of the Year

1. Sven Yida – Kariobangi Sharks
2. Lawrence Juma – Nzoia Sugar
3. Michael Madoya -Zoo FC
4. Chrispinus Oduor -Mathare United
5. George Odhiambo- Gor Mahia
6. Ernest Wendo -Gor Mahia
7. Kenneth Muguna – Gor Mahia
8. Humphrey Mieno – Tusker

Young/New Player

1. Nicholas Kipkirui- Zoo FC
2. Faraj Ominde – Chemelil Sugar
3. Shafan Oyugi -Chemelil Sugar
4. Clinton Kisiavuki -Nakumatt
5. Chris Ochieng – Mathare United
6. Vincent Oburu – AFC Leopards
7. Michael Kibwage – AFC Leopards
8. Brian Otieno – Nzoia Sugar

Most Valuable Player

1. Meddie Kagere – Gor Mahia
2. Masoud Juma – Kariobangi Sharks
3. Musa Mohamed- Gor Mahia
4. Kenneth Muguna- Gor Mahia
5. Lawrence Juma- Nzoia Sugar
6. Patrick Matasi- Posta Rangers
7. Jacques Tuyisenge- Gor Mahia
8. George Odhiambo- Gor Mahia

Coach of the Year

1. William Muluya- Kariobangi Sharks
2. Mike Mururi – Kakamega Homeboyz
3. Sam Ssimbwa- Sofapaka
4. Sammy Omolo- Posta Rangers
5. Bernard Mwalala -Nzoia Sugar

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