Wanyama among Soya awards nominees
Harambee Stars captain Victor Wanyama has been listed among the contenders for this year’s male sports personality of the year award at the annual SOYA awards to be held on December 10.
He will battle it out against rugby winger Willy Ambaka, athletes Wilson Kipsang, Ezekiel Kemboi and rally driver Baldev Chager.
Wanyama became the first ever Kenyan to play in the prestigious English Premier League in August when he joined Southampton.
He had also guided Scottish Club to two Premier League titles prior to joining the Saints.
Lyon Olympique Universitaire centre Willy Ambaka was one of the pillars of the Kenya Sevens team that finished fourth in the Sevens World Cup and fifth in the IRB World Sevens Series.
Athlete Kipsang broke the world marathon record when he sliced 15 seconds off the previous 2:3:38 seconds record set by Patrick Makau in the same race two years ago.
His teammate Ezekiel Kemboi won the gold medal in the World Championships in Moscow in August.
Baldev Chager’s efforts in this year’s Kenya National Rally Championships saw him dethrone Carl ‘Flash’ Tundo when he won the title after winning the Guru Nanak Rally.
In the most promising category, Tusker midfielder Michael Olunga will face off against golfer Daniel Nduva, Kenya Sevens duo of Billy Odhiambo and Bush Mwale, swimmer Hamdan Bayusuf, motorcross ace Tejas Hirani,
Other nominees in the category are athletes Alfred Kipketer, Robert Biwott, Festus Kiprono, Mathew Kiptanui, Moses Mukono, Alex Kiprotich and Alexander Lerionk.