StarTimes and writers launch award

Sports Journalists Association of Kenya Awards SOYA award representative Simon Chebon , StarTimes Vice President Mark Lisboa, Sports Journalists Association of Kenya chairman Chris Mbaisi and Kenya Table Tennis Association President Andrew Mudibo during the launch of Sports Personality of the Month Award at a Nairobi hotel. ON 31/07/2017( Jenipher Wachie, Standard)

Pay Television Company teams up with journalists to reward sports personalities

Sports personalities to reward top performers on monthly basis

StarTimes and Sports Journalist Association of Kenya (SJAK) have partnered to reward deserving sports personalities every month.

The StarTimes/SJAK Sports Personality of the Month Awards (Soma), which is another first from the Kenyan sports journalists, is set to begin this month with the awarding of the most outstanding individual in the month of July.

The monthly awards, supported by pay television channel StarTimes, will act as a benchmark for selection at the prestigious Safaricom Sports Personality of the Year Awards (Soya) held annually.

Soma will, however, not recognise football that already has two awards categories recognising players and coaches, also organised by SJAK.

“This new award will only honour athletes from other disciplines with exemption of football,” SJAK Chairman Chris Mbaisi explained.

Mbaisi reiterated the award concept is designed to acknowledge outstanding sporting individuals on a monthly basis.

The new awards will see recipients walk away with a 40 inch Led Star Times TV which is one of the newest electronic products on the Kenyan market.

Besides, the monthly sports personality will also walk away with a cash award of Sh100, 000.

StarTimes Vice President Mark Liboa said they are proud to be associated with Kenyan sports personalities who have done the country proud by winning medals locally and internationally.

“We want to be part and parcel of the success of Kenyan sports men and women, some of whom have helped to keep the country on the world map. We believe the StarTimes sponsorship will go a long way in bolstering the fortunes of our sports personalities,” Liboa noted.

SJAK has over the past two years partnered with leading gaming company SportPesa and an electronic company, LG, to deliver the most lucrative football awards in Kenyan history.

The scribes’ body has also partnered with Fidelity Insurance to reward performing coaches.

“We have since exhausted the football bit but felt it was prudent to also acknowledge other sporting disciplines by whipping up the enthusiasm of personalities who perform exemplary well,” Mbaisi said.

While hailing the new development, Kenya Table Tennis President Andrew Mudibo said the award will promote talent development across Kenya as every sport, including fringe ones, now have a level playing ground in terms of recognition.