In a bold move to celebrate the crème de la crème of Kenyan football, the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) will this Friday host an extravagant end-of-season gala at the prestigious Safari Park Hotel. The event aims to honor top-performing players from both the FKF Premier League and the FKF Women’s Premier League for the 2023-24 season. This marks the first time in three years that the FKF will be holding such a gala, a long-awaited return to recognizing football excellence.
The last FKF gala was held in 2021, where then-Kariobangi Sharks striker Erick Kapaito swept the awards, bagging both the Top Scorer and Most Valuable Player (MVP) accolades. Notably, this will be the inaugural gala for the Women’s Premier League, an overdue recognition of the talents and hard work of women footballers in Kenya.
FKF President Nick Mwendwa, who had previously declared a financial crisis that prevented any form of rewarding top performers or league champions last year, announced, “There’s no money and we won’t reward the league champions this season. We will not have any prize-giving, where is the money going to come from? This was just a rescue season.” This stark admission highlighted the challenging times the federation faced.
However, with renewed vigor and a brighter financial outlook, it is now “all systems go” for the much-anticipated gala. The top performers from the just-concluded season will not only walk away with monetary rewards but also a range of other goodies. FKF CEO Barry Otieno, in his invitation to club chairmen, emphasized, “This gala is an opportunity to celebrate the achievements and sportsmanship displayed throughout the 2023-24 FKF league season. Your presence will add significant value to this prestigious event.”
The FKF Gala will recognize excellence across multiple categories, including Player of the Year, Golden Glove, Golden Boot, Coach of the Year, Referee of the Year, Fair Play Award, President’s Award, and Social Media Manager of the Year. This comprehensive approach ensures that every aspect of the game, from players and coaches to referees and social media managers, is celebrated.
This year’s FKF Gala also highlights a landmark achievement for Gor Mahia, who clinched their record-extending 21st FKF Premier League title. Meanwhile, Kenya Police Bullets FC made headlines by winning the men’s title in their debut season, marking a sensational entry into top-flight football.
The FKF Gala will be a grand celebration of hard work, passion and dedication, uniting the football community in recognizing the outstanding contributions to the sport. The event will be broadcasted live on the Football Kenya Federation’s Facebook page, ensuring fans across the nation can join in the celebration.
