World and Olympic marathon champion Ugandan Stephen Kiprotich will be the international celebrity guest for Friday’s Safaricom Sports personality of the Year Awards (SOYA) gala to be held at KICC Nairobi.
The awards have assembled Kenya’s finest past and current sports personalities in what is considered the Oscars of sports in the country. At this auspicious ceremony, winners will be awarded from 15 categories and one retired sportsman will be inducted into the hall of fame.
“I am happy that I can come and be with my Kenyan friends at this moment that has not been so easy for me,” said Kiprotich, who won his country’s second Olympic gold ever for his country in 2012 London Games. John Akii-Bua was the first Ugandan to win gold at the Summer Games in the men’s 400m hurdles at the 1972 Munich Games.
This will be the first public appearance for Kiprotich, who is also the 2013 world marathon champion in Moscow, since he lost his 19-months-old daughter Liz Chelangat on January 2.
The 25-year old athlete has just resumed training after the burial of his daughter in Kapchorwa. He is currently preparing for Tokyo marathon on February 22nd which will be his main race before his title defence at Beijing World Championships in August. Kiprotich is in Nairobi courtesy of Kempinski Hotels. Kempinsky is also offering full gym package together with a trainer for the overall winner of tomorrow’s SOYA awards.
Kenya Airways on its part has sponsored the SOYA 6 air tickets for the top winners, to a KQ destination of their choice anywhere in the world.
Moreover, Menengai Oil Refineries Limited through its leading brand Top Fry will sponsor Soya to the tune of Sh1,000,000.
Their focus will mainly be on the post-Soya activities especially the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) to be held after today’s event.
Menengai Oil, according to head of marketing Cynthia Mumbo, is quoted to have said
we have heavily been involved in sports sponsorship including athletics, rugby, basketball and football among others and would like to continue nurturing talent in sports throughout the country.
About the SOYA Categories:
1. Overall Sports Personality of the Year
2. Sportsman of the Year
3. Sportswoman of the Year
4. Outstanding performer of the year
5. Sports team of the year –Men
6. Sports team of the year –Women
7. Sportsman with a disability
8. Sportswoman with a disability
9. Comeback Award
10. Most promising –man
11. Most promising-woman
12. School team of the year- Boys
13. School team of the year- Girls
14. Best Federation
15. Coach of the year
16. Hall of Fame
