Outstanding school talents nominated for Soya award

Eleven school boys and girls have been nominated for the ‘Most Outstanding Player of the Year’ ahead of the 2017 edition of the Safaricom SOYA Awards.

The six boys and five girls battling for the top honours shone in the 2017 School Games but only the best in each gender stand the chance to take home the gong.

The boys nominees include Albert Njogu of Shadrack Kimalel Secondary School who won the national lawn tennis title and teamed up with Petty Andanda to win maiden doubles title for Kenya at the East Africa Games. He has represented Kenya at the ITF and CAT events, and won the 2016 Eastern Africa Junior Circuit boys under 16 title.

Njogu has been pitted Andanda who was also impressive. He won both the singles and doubles at East Africa Games titles unbeaten.

The duo will compete against Laiser Hill rugby 15’s player Clinton Kioko who was influential in his team’s campaign  at the national and East Africa games. Kioko was voted the Most Valuable Player at the regional games and his prowess in the sport also earned him a place in the national U-19 team.

At the same time, Zablon Ekisa of St. Joseph’s Boys, Kitale’ won the national boys’ table tennis title, claimed a bronze medal at the East Africa Games, and was also voted as the most valuable player (MVP) at the national level.

Swimmer Emmanuel Ndonga led Nairobi region to win the overall national boys title with 60 points. He set a new boys’ 200m individual medley record of 2:23.51, quashing his own record of 2:36.31 set in 2015.

Muhuri Muchiri rugby sevens’ fly-half Wamalwa completes the list of boys’ nominees. He was the force behind Muchiri rugby 7’s success at the East Africa games. Wamalwa captained his side, leading them to the memorable victory on their debut at the regional games. He was voted the MVP at the EA Games.

In the girls category, Alice Awiti was the engine of East Africa five-time hockey champions Sinyolo, in their campaign to the title. The prolific striker was voted the MVP at the EA Games.

Faith Nyabera, a student at Olympic Mixed, won lawn tennis singles silver medal at the East Africa Games, after winning all the titles unbeaten from the sub county level to the nationals. She also claimed the regional girls’ doubles title to ensure that Kenya retains the overall girls lawn tennis title.

Hadassah Gichovi of Loreto Convent swam her way to new East Africa records. For the second year running, the 15-year-old emerged the best swimmer with 60 and 21 points at the KSSSA (Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association) and FEASSSA (Federation of East Africa Secondary Schools Sports Associations) competitions respectively. Gichovi’s efforts helped Kenya claim the pole position in the pool in Gulu.

Sharon Jepchumba, Kwanthanze Girls volleyball team setter, was exceptional right from the sub-county to the East Africa games. She took home the MVP award both at the national and EA Games. Another Kwanthanze stalwart Gloria Mulei won triple jump national title with 11.84m and finished second to Immaculate Akoth in long jump after posting 5.26m. At the EA Games, she claimed both trophies.

Most Outstanding Player of the Year nominees

1. Albert Njogu,
2. Petty Andanda (lawn tennis),
3. Clinton Kioko (rugby),
4. Zablon Ekisa (table tennis),
5. Harmony Wamalwa (rugby)
6. Emmanuel Ndonga (swimming).
7. Alice Owiti (hockey)
8. Faith Nyabera (lawn tennis),
9. Hadassah Gichovi (swimming),
10. Sharon Jepchumba (tennis)
11. Gloria Mulei (triple jump),