Sh16m boost for Soya gala

The overall winner of 2017 Safaricom Sports Personality of the Year Awards (Soya) will pocket Sh 1 million when the awards ceremony is held on January 17 at Kenyatta International Convention Centre, Nairobi.

Safaricom’s Head of Regional Sales and Operations (Nairobi West Region) Victor Ngumo said made the disclosure on Wednesday while announcing the company’s sponsorship of the awards to the tune of Sh16 million.

Top-performing individuals and teams will be awarded in the ceremony.

Sportsman and woman of the year will each take home Sh300,000, while Sports Team of The Year in men and women’s categories will each get Sh150,000.

Sportsman and woman living with a disability, as well as school teams of the year (boys and girls’ categories) will each receive Sh125,000.

Winners of coach, community hero and sports federation of the year, among other categories, will get Sh100,000.

Speaking while handing over the sponsorship cheque to Soya Awards founder Paul Tergat and Soya panel of judges chairman Watson Karuma in Nairobi Wednesday, Ngumo said Safaricom has spent more than Sh100 million on the awards ceremony launched 14 years ago.

“For close to a decade and a half now, Soya ceremony has been a highlight of Kenya’s sports calendar, celebrating outstanding achievements and growing each year to become the premier sports awards ceremony in Kenya,” said Ngumo, who pointed out that awards categories have increased from six in 2004 to 16 this year.

“As a brand, Safaricom is extremely proud of the growth that is in line with our brand spirit of Twaweza where we believe that great things happen when we come together. We foresee a bright future for sports in Kenya.”

Ngumo noted that the theme of this year’s awards “Passing on the Baton” reflects the transition taking place in the local sports fraternity, as more established athletes pave way for rising stars and sporting federations embrace younger leadership.

Tergat, who is also president of the National Olympic Committee of Kenya, said this year’s theme was chosen to encourage experienced athletes and those at the top of their careers to take up the role of mentors.

“We want to encourage the rising stars to aspire to great achievements and stand ready to receive the mantle of leadership,” said Tergat.

Karuma said nominations are still on across 16 categories, members of the public will vote for their favourite personalities and teams between January 6-14.