Huawei Technology boost Soya ceremony

The  Kenya Sports personality of the year Awards(Soya) got a  major boost on monday from the Huawei Technology Kenya who gave out KSh1.5million to support this year’s ninth edition whose gala night will be held on December 6 at the  Nairobi's Carnivore hotel in Nairobi.

Former world marathon record holder and five times cross country champion Paul Tergat thanked the Huawei for the kind gesture saying the money will help Soya to make the gala night more colorful.

“This is the third  year Huawei are coming on board, they gave us Sh350,000 in 2010,Sh500,000 in 2011 and now Sh1.5million,this shows their sponsorship is increasing by the day and we are grateful for that,” said Tergat who is Soya founder.

While appreciating their continuous partnership the Huawei Kenya CEO Wind Li said: “Soya awards have become part of our company’s annual calendar, and as a global company with local presence this shows our continued commitment to invest and promote Kenyan talents.

Just as Huawei is known for its leadership in ICT internationally so is Kenya known for its sports achievements, thus our drive to continue recognizing and appreciating their efforts in representing this beautiful country.”

The public have been urged to send in their nominations for other 15 categories before November 30, 2012 which is the closing date.

  Nevertheless, the panelists  have ruled out any possibility of considering further entries .

 Soya panelist made the announcement   as Federations and associations in the country made  frantic efforts to present lists of their nominees following the recent announcement that only seven sports candidates have been short listed for the overall

 The Panelists confirmed having received entries  from volleyball ,cricket, basketball, and other sports  associations  seeking to enter the lucrative  contest.They stated that

 owing to strict deadlinee , they have opted to settle  with the seven finalists they named last Friday that includes  Olympic 800m record holder David Rudisha and Paralympics 800m record holder Abraham Tarbei.

Others are world marathon majors champion Mary Keitany, world 5000m and 10,000m women’s champion Vivian Cheruiyot who will also be defending the Soya title, Olympic 3000m steeplechase  champion Ezekiel Kemboi and Harambee Stars and Celtic FC midfielder Victor Wanyama.

But the Soya panelists have assured that hope is not lost for the late entrants in the overall category as they will be redirected to contest for either the Sportswoman or Sportsman of the year awards.

“We as the panelists have done our research thoroughly and have concluded that the above seven finalists deserve to contest for the overall title irrespective of any entry that might be made now. We chose them due to their exemplary performance and achievements recorded this year,” said Soya panelist Evelyn Watta.

Meanwhile Football Kenya Federation(FKF) has printed a  total of 20,000 ticket for the eagerly awaited FKF Cup final pitting defending Champions Gor Mahia against Sofapaka.The match will be staged  tomorrow(tuesday)at the Nyayo National Stadium under floodlights from 7pm.
 Tickets  will be retailing at Kshs.500  for the main stand popularly known as the VIP area where 3,000 tickets have  been assigned. 17,000 tickets  have  been printed for the terraces and surrounding areas that will cost at Kshs.200 per person.
   Owing to their previous superb work, Wells Fargo security Services have been hired to take charge of the match.Tickets  go on sale from  9 am on the match day (Tuesday, November 20th, 2012).
They could be obtained at the Times Tower and Kenya Cinema where Wells
Fargo will have their vans and at all the six booths at the Nyayo
Stadium.
   Sylvester Kirwa will be the center referee assisted by  Peter Kiereini, Peter Sabatia,  and Isaac Ochieng.Gladys Waweru will be the  match commissioner respectively.
Football Kenya Federation(FKF)  head of technical  Elly ,Mukolwe has assured motorists and fans of adequate security.'I wopuld like to assure soccer fans that we shall provide hitech ands top ranked security.Those who graced the Gor Mahia versus AFC leopards   match on saturday  at Kasarani can bear us witness.There was no bad incident.Fans went home peacefully and that is what we are anticipating  tomorrow(tuesday).' Observed Mukolwe.