Akoth, Odhiambo named FKF Premier League Most Valuable Players

By Peter Ochieng

Kenya Women’s Premier League (KWPL) champions Police Bullets midfielder Lydia Akoth and Football Kenya Federation Premier League (FKF-PL) champions Gor Mahia midfielder Austin Odhiambo are the 2023/2024 season Most Valuable Players (MVPs), in the women and men categories respectively.

The two were honoured at the FKF gala held at the Safari Park Hotel, Nairobi on Friday night. Former Gor Mahia Coach Jonathan Mckinstry (currently in charge of the Gambia national team) was named FKF Premier League Coach of the Year, while Beldine Odemba who led her Police Bullets team to an unbeaten season, was celebrated as the FKF WPL Coach of the Year.

Gor Mahia striker Benson Omalla earned the FKF Premier League golden boot with a tally of 19 goals for the 2023/24 season, while his counterpart in the FKF Women Premier League, Vihiga Queens’ forward Tumaini Waliaula, managed 16 goals.

Judith Osimbo of Ulinzi Starlets and Sophy Akinyi of Vihiga Queens shared the Golden Glove award in the FKF Women Premier League, after they recorded 10 clean sheets each.

In the FKF Premier League, Gor Mahia’s Kevin Omondi achieved 21 clean sheets, securing the Golden Glove in the men’s league.

On the referring front, Josephine Wanjiku and Dickens Mimisa were honoured with the FKF Women Premier League and FKF Premier League referee of the year awards, respectively, while Tusker FC and Vihiga Queens were recognized with the social media of the year awards for their respective leagues.

Shabana FC and Vihiga Queens were awarded the Fair Play Awards, as Junior Starlets Head Coach Mildred Cheche received the President’s Award for her exceptional leadership in guiding her team to Kenya’s first World Cup appearance in football.

Cheche guided the Junior Startles side to the FIFA U-17 World. The Dominican Republic will host the tournament in October, 2024.

Speaking during the gala, Football Kenya Federation (FKF) President Nick Mwendwa assured Kenyans that the long-awaited federation’s elections will be held in October 2024.

“There are no more court cases, they are over. If you want to continue with the good job that has been going on, start preparing your papers so that we meet at the ballot in October,” Mwendwa said.

The FKF elections will be crucial in the AFCON 2027 journey, with other partners in the East African Pamoja bid being Tanzania and Uganda.