MABWI FOR TOP AWARD:Kirwa, Ouma and Ayimba also named in Soya's coaches award

Kirwa will be hoping to win the award after Kenya won six gold medals in track events, despite the scandals that followed Team Kenya in Rio.

Many, however, think he should not bask in the glory of the Rio success as the KDF tactician only takes charge of a team that is already prepared by other coaches.

However, others think the long-serving coach should take credit for Kenya winning the 5,000m women gold and women marathon gold for the first time.

Ayimba was selected for turning around Kenya’s fortunes after a difficult 2014/2015 season with Kenya lying third from bottom in the series standings. Apart from the win in Singapore, Kenya were semifinalists in Cape Town, quarter-finalists in Hong Kong and Sydney legs.

Mabwi, on the other hand, was in charge of junior Malkia Strikers who qualified for the 2017 World U23 Championships.

The Soya gala, set for next month, is sponsored by Safaricom. Other sponsors include; Kenya Pipeline Company, SuperSport/Multichoice, Communications Authority of Kenya, NSSF, NHIF, Kenya Tourism Board and Lotto Foundation.

National Under-23 volleyball team coach Catherine Mabwi is among the top five coaches, who will be fighting out for the top prize in the coaches category in the Safaricom Sports Personality of the Year Awards (Soya).

Mabwi faces competition from Julius Kirwa, who was recently named Coach of the Year during the annual Athletics Kenya awards gala.

Also in contention is Harambee Starlets coach David Ouma, who apart from facing challenge from Kirwa, head coach of the Kenya Olympics athletics team that performed well at the Rio Olympics, will also be up against Benjamin Ayimba, who led the rugby sevens team to their first triumph in the World Sevens Series in Singapore.

Telkom Orange coach Jos Openda is the fifth coach in the list. He led Telkom Orange to a 16th consecutive Kenya Hockey Union National League title. Ouma graces the awards for the first time after making history by guiding the Kenyan national women football team to their first ever African Women Nations Cup in Cameroon.

Starlets were bundled out in the group stages after losing all their three matches against Ghana, Mali and Nigeria.

Kirwa will be hoping to win the award after Kenya won six gold medals in track events, despite the scandals that followed Team Kenya in Rio.

Many, however, think he should not bask in the glory of the Rio success as the KDF tactician only takes charge of a team that is already prepared by other coaches.

However, others think the long-serving coach should take credit for Kenya winning the 5,000m women gold and women marathon gold for the first time.

Ayimba was selected for turning around Kenya’s fortunes after a difficult 2014/2015 season with Kenya lying third from bottom in the series standings. Apart from the win in Singapore, Kenya were semifinalists in Cape Town, quarter-finalists in Hong Kong and Sydney legs.

Mabwi, on the other hand, was in charge of junior Malkia Strikers who qualified for the 2017 World U23 Championships.

The Soya gala, set for next month, is sponsored by Safaricom. Other sponsors include; Kenya Pipeline Company, SuperSport/Multichoice, Communications Authority of Kenya, NSSF, NHIF, Kenya Tourism Board and Lotto Foundation.