Kapaito Sh1.5 million richer after MVP award, Tusker dominate gala
Chief football writer
Kariobangi Sharks striker Eric Kapaito is the Most Valuable Player of the Football Kenya Federation League (FKF-PL) for the 2020/2021 season.
Kapaito, who also took home the Golden Boot award having scored 24 goals in the season, beat Tusker’s Eugene Asike, Lawrence Juma, James Saruni, Henry Meja and Elvis Rupia to the coveted award, after a stellar season with Sharks.
This is Kapaito’s second MVP award, having won the gong in the 2018 season when he also won the Golden Boot.
“I want to encourage the players who are playing in the grassroots, the upcoming ones who are not known. It is possible, they can trust the process,” Kapaito said shortly after receiving the award, which came with Sh1 million plus the Sh 500,000 he pocketed for the Golden Boot, going home Sh1.5 million richer.
Tusker FC dazzled the most at the gala, taking five of the 12 awards, with Robert Matano winning the Coach of the Year award, Henry Meja the Young Player of the Year while Eugene Asike scooped the Defender of the Year award.
The Team Manager of the Year Award also went to Tusker, their former player George Opondo winning it as the champions sealed the Digital Team of the Year Award too, personally awarded to journalist Timothy Olobulu who ensured the team was most visible on social media and its official pages.
Lawrence Juma of Sofapaka was named Midfielder of the Year, James Saruni the Golden Glove winner as Kariobangi Sharks won the Fairplay Team of the Year Award.
FIFA referee Peter Waweru won the Referee of the Year Award, with Mary Njoroge taking the Assistant Referee of the Year Award.
Category winners from the Coach of the Year, Golden Glove and MVP each received a 55’ TV courtesy of StarTimes, with the Golden Glove and Golden Boot category getting two nights fully paid for trips at the Maasai Mara courtesy of Bonfire Adventures. The MVP also gets three nights in Mombasa.
Former Harambee Starlets player, the late Rosemary Aluoch ‘Mara’ Kadondi was feted for her contribution to the game in the President’s Award. Her only daughter was present to receive the award.
In his speech during the gala, FKF President Nick Mwendwa noted it took concerted efforts to successfully conclude the season under unprecedented circumstances orchestrated by Covid-19.
“I thank the players, the officials and all stakeholders for working together to ensure we made it despite all the challenges. We especially had the challenge of playing venues, and we had to improvise the Utalii Grounds, Ruaraka and Thika Stadium as Nyayo Stadium and Kasarani were unavailable. We pray one day we can have all clubs with own stadium, and it’s a dream to work for,” noted Mwendwa.
Mwendwa also regretted that the title sponsor had to pull out towards the tail end of the season, revealing the federation is in the process of bringing on board another one.
Awards in Summary
Best Assistant Referee
Winner -Mary Njoroge – Ksh 300,000
1st Runners up- Gilbert Cheruyoit – Sh 200,000
2nd Runners up- Samuel Kuria – Sh 100,000
Referee of the Year
Winner- Peter Waweru Kamaku – Sh 300,000
1st Runners up- Antony Ogwayo – Sh 200,000
2nd Runners up- Davies Omweno- Sh 100,000
Digital Team of the Year
Winner –Tusker FC (Timothy Olobulu) – Sh 200,000
1st Runners up- Bandari FC – Sh 150,000
2nd Runners up Kariobangi Sharks – Sh 100,000
Fair Play Award
Winner- Sh 300,000-Kariobangi Sharks
Team Manager of the Year
Winner- George Opondo – Sh 300,000
1st Runners up- Noah Otieno – Sh 200,000
2nd Runners up- Moses Jobita- Sh 100,000
Young Player of the Year
Winner –Henry Meja Atola – Sh 300,000
1st Runners up -Lawrence Luvanda Sh 200,000
2nd Runners up Sylvester Owino – Sh 100,000
Midfielder of the Year
Winner- Lawrence Juma – Sh 300,000
1st Runners up- Kevin Kimani – Sh 200,000
2nd Runners up- Jackson Macharia Sh 100,000
Defender of the Year
Winner – Eugene Asike Ambuchi – Sh 300,000
1st Runners up- David Kalama – Sh 200,000
2nd Runners up -Nashon Alembi Nanyendo – Sh 100,000
Golden Glove
Winner-James Saruni – Sh 500,000
1st Runners Up-Joseph Okoth – Sh 300,000
2nd Runners Up-Steve Njuge – Sh 300,000
Golden Boot
Winner – Erick Kapaito – Sh 500,000
1st Runners up – Elvis Rupia – Sh 300,000
2nd Runners up – Lawrence Juma- Sh 150,000
President’s Award
Rosemary Aluoch Kadondi (deceased) – Sh 500,000
Coach of the Year
Winner- Robert Matano- Ksh 500,000
1st Runners up -Zedekiah Otieno – Ksh 300,000
2nd Runners up- Andre Casa Mbungo- Ksh 150,000
Most Valuable Player
Erick Kapaito – Sh 1 Million
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