The Kenya Lionesses emerged the runners up in the SOYA Awards ceremony held in Mombasa on 11th January. The ladies’ nomination came after their exemplary performance in 2018; they reached the semifinal stage in the Hong Kong7s which doubles up as the HSBC World Series Qualifiers. They wrapped up their Commonwealth campaign in the sixth position later on in Australia and to crown their growth in the sport we all love, the ladies lifted the Africa Women’s 7s Title in May. The tournament was held in Gaborone, Botswana.
The Women Sports Team Award went to The Telkom Kenya Hockey Ladies.
In the Coach of the Year category, Kevin Wambua came in second to Rosemary Owino (Tennis).
Wambua has been the engine behind the Lionesses success over the years a position he is very proud of. Coincidentally, Wambua is also the Laiser Hill Academy Head Coach and they were crowned the SOYA Awards Boys School Team of the Year. Laiser Hill lifted the sevens title in July this year when they beat Chavakali in the sevens final at the Eldoret Sports Club. They then added the regional silverware to their cabinet when they beat Uganda’s Jinja Secondary School in the East Africa Sevens Final at Busogo University in Rwanda.
UpperHill School came in second in the School’s Category. UpperHill were the giants of 15s rugby locally and regionally having won the Prescott Cup and National 15s title. Away in Rwanda, Upperhill’s win over Uganda’s St. Mary’s Kisubi is what was a round robin format handed them the East Africa 15s Champions Title.
Janet Okello and William Ambaka had been nominated in the Sports Woman and Man of the Year categories and both came in in the third place.
