Laiser Hill face tough battle for Soya award

25.August.2017 Johnstone Olindi of Laiser Hill in action against St. Marys Kisubi during the FEASSSA rugby game at Comboni Vocational Institute, Gulu, Uganda.

Secondary schools sports giants Laiser Hill highlight the list for the 2017 Safaricom Sports Personality of the Year Awards (Soya) boys schools team of the year.

The reigning East Africa rugby 15s champions will battle it out with other schools who excelled last year. 

In the girls category, volleyball powerhouse Kwanthanze overcame 2016 failure and bounced back to reclaim both the East Africa and national volleyball titles lead the chase.

Laiser Hill and Kwathanze are among 28 schools nominated for the Safaricom-sponsored annual event that seeks to award excellence.

Laiser Hill will be up against new kids on the block Muhuri Muchiri who proved themselves last year by winning the East Africa rugby 7s title on their debut.

Locally, Laiser Hill finished second behind national champions Kakamega while Muhuri Muchiri were third behind winners Menengai Mixed and Chavakali.

Laiser Hill who are also the region’s most successful school in basketball reclaimed their national title from bitter rivals Upper Hill.

Menengai, Chavakali and Kakamega who took silver in rugby 15s and bronze in football at the East Africa games also remain in contention for the prestigious award.

Others are East Africa boys hockey champions Kisumu Day who won their maiden title as well as national football champions Upper Hill who fielded four teams at the regional games in basketball, hockey, football and taking bronze rugby 15s.

Also on the list are national  boys champions Sengera SDA (volleyball), St Ignatius Mukumu Boys (handball) and St Anthony’s Boys Kitale (hockey). Dr. Ribeiro Parklands (hockey and handball) and Kanyawanga (handball) also made the list.

In the girls’ category, national and East Africa football girls’ champions Wiyeta Girls’ have secured their slot in the nominees list after making a major comeback last year. 

Kwanthanze and Wiyeta will be hoping to prevail over others including Sinyolo who bagged their fifth straight East Africa hockey title. 

National hockey champions St Cecilia Misikhu Girls’ and St Joseph’s Girls Kitale, who grabbed silver and a bronze at the national and East Africa Games are also in contention.