Celebrated star M’Boma to grace Soya gala
Cameroonian striker Albert Ebosse converting a penalty during his team's match with USM Alger in the city of Tizi-Ouzou on August 23, 2014. Former Cameroonian international footballer Patrick M’Boma will be the chief guest during the 2014 Sports Personality of the Year (Soya) Gala on January 16 in Nairobi. PHOTO | AFP
What you need to know:
- The 40-year-old M’Boma, who claimed his first cap in 1995 and went on to score 33 goals in 57 matches for the Indomitable Lions, will be among the 800 guests invited, among them First Lady Margaret Kenyatta.
- He scored a memorable overhead kick against France in 1998. His trademark goal-scoring celebration was a two-gun shooting spree with both his hands. He was renowned for scoring long distance goals with his powerful left foot.
- Pugilist Rayton Okwiri, Baldev Chager (rally) and Anthony Ndolo (football), Hilda Indasi (basketball), Eunice Sum, Mercy Cherono and Joyce Chepkirui (athletics) are also in the mix.
Former Cameroonian international footballer Patrick M’Boma will be the chief guest during the 2014 Sports Personality of the Year (Soya) Gala on January 16 in Nairobi.
M’Boma, who is expected in the country on the eve of the gala, joins a list of sports celebrities who have graced the last 10 events.
They are Ethiopian athletics legend Haile Gebrselassie and Nigerian football internationals Taribo West and Daniel Amokachi. Others are Ethiopian athlete Meselech Melkamu and South African long distance runner Henrik Ramallah.
The 40-year-old M’Boma, who claimed his first cap in 1995 and went on to score 33 goals in 57 matches for the Indomitable Lions, will be among the 800 guests invited, among them First Lady Margaret Kenyatta.
FOOTBALLER OF THE YEAR
M’Boma could have played at the 1998 and 2002 editions of the Fifa World Cup, but the highlight of his international career was when he led Cameroon to win gold medal at the 2000 Olympic Games and victories at the 2000 and 2002 Africa Cup of Nations.
He was named African Footballer of the Year in 2000.
He scored a memorable overhead kick against France in 1998. His trademark goal-scoring celebration was a two-gun shooting spree with both his hands. He was renowned for scoring long distance goals with his powerful left foot.
M’Boma also played in the French football league, starting in 1993 with Paris Saint-Germain, Châteauroux and Metz. He also played for Cagliari and Parma in Italy and English Premier League side Sunderland, then moved to Al Ittihad, Tokyo Verdy and Vissel Kobe before retiring in 2005.
SOYA COMPETITORS
Among those in contention for the Sportsman of the year award-male is Caled Mwangangi, who won five major titles this season in 3,00m and 5,000m, and Jairus Birech who won silver in 3,000m steeplechase at Commonwealth Games, Africa title, World Cup and 2014 Diamond League Series.
Pugilist Rayton Okwiri, Baldev Chager (rally) and Anthony Ndolo (football), Hilda Indasi (basketball), Eunice Sum, Mercy Cherono and Joyce Chepkirui (athletics) are also in the mix.
