Sserunkuma drafted in the KPL 2012 players nominee

Uganda born  and Gor Mahia roving striker Dan Sserunkuma  has been included in this years best player nominee category  during the Kenya Premier League(KPL) gala night slated for November 21 at Nairobi’s  Carnivore Restaurant.

  Other players in the category include John Keo of Oserian FC, Mike Barasa (AFC leopards),Paul Kiongera of Kenya  Commercial Bank(KCB) and Gor Mahia’s Rama Salim.

  In the best coach category, the usual suspects Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards foreign tacticians Zdravko Logarusic and Jan Koops have been drafted in the list.Others  are John Kamau of Thika United,Robert Matano of  defending Champions Tusker and Mathare United tactician Stanley Okumbi.

    The best defenders category according to the latest list released by KPL secretariat include Eugine Asike(Sofapaka), Ivans Anguyo(Gor Mahia),Jackson Sale(Western Stima), Jockins Atudo(Tusker),Johannes Nahimana(AFC Leopards) and John Shikokoti(Tusker).

    Gor Mahia’s Anthony Okumu leads the haunt in the best midfielders category that includes Ben Mangoli (AFC Leopards), Francis Kahata (Thika United), Paul Kiongera (KCB) and Peter Opiyo of Tusker FC.

    Best Goalkeepers Awards will be vied by Tusker custodian Bonface Oluoch, Duncan Ochieng (Sofapaka), Fred Onyango (Gor Mahia), Martin Musalia (Mathare United) and Robert Mandela of Western Stima.

 Meanwhile hopes of Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards foreign based tactician being  considered during this years Sports Personality of the Year Awards (Soya) hit a snag after the panelists categorically insisted  they will not consider foreign nominated members.

   Soya panelists led by Chris Mbaisi and Evelyn Watta said Soya exercise is meant to promote local talents but not foreigners. Gor Mahia coach Zdravko Logarusic and his AFC Leopards counterpart Jan Koops were tipped to claim the first two slots in the best coach category.

   The duo spoke on Monday morning at a Nairobi Hotel after receiving a cheque of Shs.  2.5 million From giant pay television channel Supersport and Multichoice Kenya.

  The deal will see the organizers for the December 6 gala receive Kshs.1m in cash with Supersport incurring Shs.1.5m in production costs for the annual gathering of Kenya’s finest performers in sport that is in its ninth edition.

  The Soya panelists insisted that they had received quite a number of foreign nominations where the category led with high number of nominations.

“Soya exist to promote ability made by Kenyans in sports and so the non-Kenyan talents will not be in consideration,’ said Evelyn Watta, a Soya panelist.

Former world marathon record holder and five times world cross country champion Paul Tergat outlined that the sponsorship boost was timely for both parties.

Tergat said Soya has a lot in common with SuperSport and MultiChoice through objectives and aspirations.

“We are grateful for the sponsorship because we want to see sports and our sports people rise to new heights in Kenya and Africa as a whole,” said Tergat.

   Multichoice Kenya General Manager Danny Mucira said Supersport were keen on establishing a long-term commitment to Africa and specifically the Kenyan market in local content and local talent.

  ‘Over the years, added Mucira, we have continued  to invest through our channels in local content production.We have always been and still dedicated to serving  the Kenya people  with the best sport, movies and entertainment.

  On his part, Tergat said Soya shares a lot in common with Supersport and Multichoice adding that the entry of DSTv in Kenya has seen tremendous rise especially the youth participation in Sports.

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  SuperSport Head of Africa, Andre Ventre said  his firm will assist with the pre-production work on behalf of Soya and also  provide nomination videos. The giant Tv channel will also produce highlights programme of the gala that will be available on our channels after a week of the awards ceremony.

     Other companies that have so far sponsored Soya this year are mobile phone services provider Safaricom (7million) and National Bank of Kenya (3 million).Others are Communication Commission of Kenya and the Huaweii.