By ERICK OCHIENG’
Track and field athletes are favoured to win most awards during the Safaricom Sports Personality of the Year (Soya) awards gala in December.
Paul Tergat, who is the Soya founder, hinted that athletics will sweep the annual awards because its competitors stand the best chance to clinch medals at the London Olympic Games, which start in London on July 27.
Kenya clinched 14 medals in Beijing – six gold, four silver and four bronze – all from athletics and Tergat said he expects an impressive performance from Kenyan athletes in London.
“I can say without any contradiction that the Soya 2012 top award in December will most certainly go to a London Olympian,” said Tergat.
Tergat was speaking during a function where National Bank of Kenya (NBK) gave Soya, which was marking its ninth year of existence, Sh3 million to be used for the gala. Soya honours best performances in sports every year.
Tergat, a former world marathon record holder (2:04.54), thanked the bank for its kind gesture and urged more corporates to come on board in support of Soya in this noble cause.
While handing over the cheque at a Nairobi hotel yesterday, NBK Managing Director Reuben Marambii, pledged continued support to Soya.
“Sports should be supported as it makes young people busy and constructive, we will ensure there is a solid foundation towards the development of our youths in sports,” said Marambii.
Tergat, who noted that Kenya has selected a good squad for the London Games, said the team needs good preparations and support to match the medal haul the country attained in 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Tergat, who has jetted back from London where he participated in the Olympics Torch Relay, challenged other sports associations and federations to establish structures that would help them get to the level with athletics.
National Bank of Kenya also supports local athletics activities to the tune of Sh33 million annually.
