Junior Stars, Shujaa Nominated for Sports Personality of the Year Awards (SOYA)

Junior Stars, the football under-18 men’s team, and Kenya’s national men’s rugby 7s team have received nominations in the Sports Men’s Team Category for the upcoming Sports Personality of the Year Awards (SOYA).

The annual gala is scheduled for February 23 in Nairobi, and these teams are among the contenders for the prestigious award. Other nominees in the same category include Kenya Cup champions Kabras Sugar, the Roll Ball team, and Kakamega Homeboyz.

Shujaa demonstrated resilience and excellence throughout the year, winning titles such as the Safari 7s and Africa 7s, and securing a spot in the Paris 2024 Olympics. Despite facing challenges, they emerged victorious in the Dubai Sevens Challenger Series.

Kabras Sugar, the back-to-back champions in the Kenya Cup, put together an impressive campaign, defending their title and claiming the Enterprise Cup. Although they missed out on a clean sweep, losing to KCB in the National Sevens Circuit, their achievements make them strong contenders.

Junior Stars, despite falling short in the CECAFA U-18 tournament final against Uganda, showcased captivating performances that entertained the nation in the competition held in Western and Nyanza late last year.

Roll Ball created history by becoming world champions for the first time, securing a 7-4 victory over hosts India in a closely contested final in Pune.

Kakamega Homeboyz rounded off 2023 on a high note by winning the FKF Cup, defeating Tusker FC 1-0 in the final, earning them a well-deserved spot among the top five in the Sports Men’s Team Category.