Prisons Kenya Middle Blocker, Edith Wisa alongside her Kenya Pipeline counterpart, Triza Atuka lead the 2017 Magharibi Michezo Awards women’s volleyball nominee list.
The annual Award is open to players who have either grown, studied or nurtured their talents in the Western region of Kenya this being, Bungoma, Busia, Kakamega, Trans Nzoia and Vihiga Counties.
The fifth edition of the event is set for December 23 in Bungoma town.
Wisa, a former Lugulu Girls captain was instrumental in Malkia Strikers’ second-place finish at the 2017 CAVB Africa Nations Championship and qualifying for the 2018 FIVB World Championship to be held in Japan.
2016 Magharibi Michezo Awards overall Sports Woman of the year winner Atuka, will offer strong competition for the Award.
Other candidates for the category are former national team and Kenya Prisons captain, Braxcides Agala who has been inspirational for both club and country.
The young and upcoming setter Veronica Tanui, who featured for both Kenya Pipeline and national junior women’s side to the FIVB U23 World Championships in Slovenia, has also made it to the list.
Kenya Ports Authority’s libero Sam Juma joins the strong list of ‘Male Player of the Year’ which is dominated by reigning champions Prisons Kenya and former holders General Service Unit.
Unlike the women’s category where middle blockers dominated the list, the men’s race is spread across the court.
The reigning Kenyan Volleyball Federation (KVF) Player of the Year, Jairus Bett Kipkosgei has earned his second consecutive nomination.
But he should expect strong opposition from GSU duo of Boniffentry Mukekhe and Brian Meli, and Juma who made his national team debut last July during the CAVB Zone V World Championship Qualifiers in Rwanda.
Nominees for ‘Most promising players of the Year’ (male and female) have been drawn from schools. Malava, Butula and Mang’ana schools dominate the boys’ list, whereas Lugulu, Mukumu and Kolanya High Schools donated the girls’ nominees.
men
- Sam Juma –KPL
- Jairus Bett-Kenya Prisons
- Mike Chemos-Kenya Prisons
- Hudson Chesoli-Kenya Prisons
- Kelvin Maiyo-Kenya Prisons
- Gideon Tarus-GSU
- Bonventry Wekesa-GSU
- Brain Melly-GSU
- Elija Riro-Nairobi WaterWomen nominees
- Triza Atuka-Kenya Pipeline
- Violet Makuto-Kenya Pipeline
- Edith Wisa-Kenya Prisons
- Everlyn Asiko-Nairobi Water
- Leoonida Kasaya-Kenya Pipeline
- Praxcides Agala-Kenya prisons
- Salome Wanjala-KCB
- Agripina Kundu-Kenya Pipeline
- Noel Murambi-Kenya Pipeline
- Ann Lowem-Kenya Prison
- Veronica Tanui- Kenya PipelineMost Promising Nominees
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- Emmanuel Kipkosgei-Malava Boys
- Enock Kiptum-Malava Boys
- Levis Ouma-Butula Boys
- Levis Kimtai-Malava Boys
- Kevin Wanyama-Mang’ana BoysGirls:
- Laurine Adongo-Mukumu Girls
- Elizabeth Muyuka-Mukumu
- Stella Kawon-Lugulu Girls
- Marion Indeche-Lugulu Girls
- Trista-Kolanya Girls Courtesy Magharibi Awards