NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 12 – Kenya Sevens youngster Geoffrey Okwach has been shortlisted for the 2019 Safaricom Sports Personality of the Year Awards (SOYA) Most Promising Boy for the 16th edition to be hosted in Mombasa on January 24.
Okwach will battle it out with Albert Njogu of Tennis, footballer Daniel Sakari from Kariobangi Sharks, Athlete Dominic Ndigiti and Basketballer Eugene Andare.
Apart of title sponsor Safaricom, this year’s gala has been sponsored by Mombasa County, Kenya Pipeline, Communication Authority of Kenya, New KCC, Lapfund, Kenya Power, UBA Bank, Nairobi Bottlers, Kenya Ports Authority, NHIF, NSSF, Kenya Tourism Board and Gotv.
2019 was a great rugby year for one Geoffrey Okwach kicking it off with a call up to the National U20 Team in January to earning a Simbas and Shujaa call ups later in the year. Okwach lifted the Barthes Cup in April 2019 with Chipu as they beat the then defending Champions Namibia 21-18 at the KCB Sports Club.
The speedy law scholar from Catholic University of East Africa made his name known in the World Rugby U20 Trophy in Brazil as he severally rounded and cut through his defenders to land several Chipu’s tries during the tournament.
After coming back to the Country from Brazil, he was part of the larger KCB squad that went on to lift the overall Stanbic Bank National Sevens Circuit. Okwach was part of the KCB team that lifted the Dala7s, Christie7s and Driftwood7s Cups and the Prinsloo7s 5th place title.
His exemplary performance during these two versions of the game saw him get his call up to the senior National Teams: Kenya Simbas and Shujaa.
Okwach earned his first Kenya Simbas cap on 21st September as they beat Zimbabwe 36-14 in Nakuru in what was the last Victoria Cup fixture.
A month later, he lifted the Robin Cahill Trophy after Morans beat South Africa 19-14 in a packed RFUEA Grounds during the Tusker Safari Sevens. He also bagged the top try scorer accolade one which he shared with South Africa’s Captain Siviwe Soyizwapi.
The SOYA Awards will be held on 24th January in Mombasa and the voting lines officially open on 11th January.
-2019 Safaricom SOYA Most Promising Boy Nominees;
- Albert Njogu – Tennis
- Eugine Adare – Basketball
- Daniel Sakari – Football
- Geoffrey Okwatch – Rugby
- Dominic Ndigiti – Athletics
