Kenya Hockey Premier League champions Strathmore Scorpions were named Team of the Year during Strathmore University’s 2022 awards gala was held on Monday evening at the institution.
Scorpions won the national women’s hockey premier league unbeaten while also taking home all the Kenya University Sports Association (KUSA) legs.
Nicole Adhiambo was named the Hockey Rookie of the Year with Rebecca Nasambu and Grace Bwire emerging as the Most Promising and Most Valuable players respectively in the women’s category.
Brian Ogeche was named the MVP in the men’s hockey cadre as Daniel Mwanzia and Abdalla Oluga took home the Most Promising and Rookie of the Year awards respectively.
Football’s MVP award went to Barrack Dago, Brian Murangiri was named the handball MVP while Joseph Muliro and Faith Wekesa won the volleyball MVPs. Nzanzu Vihihiti and Naomi Munyiri won in the Karate category.
After an impressive Kenya Cup and National Sevens Circuit in 2022/23, Strathmore Leos’ Dennis Mbila was named the rugby MVP as Victor Odhiambo, Gabriel Anyimba, Stephen Osimba and Barnabas Owuor won the most promising, rookie of the year, coaches award and captain’s award respectively.
Strathmore Swords coach Ronald Owino was named the coach of the year as Dennis Koja and Joy Mupalia were named basketball MVPs.
Speaking at the awards gala, Strathmore director of sports Nick Ongeri said: “Today was a special night for us recognising the outstanding sportsmen and club guys. 2022 was a very good year for us because most of our teams did very well in the premier leagues and the university leagues. We are proud of the teams and that’s why we celebrate them.”
“Our ladies’ hockey team won the league unbeaten and played in the Africa Club Championship; the rugby team went to Uganda for East Africa Games which they won while the basketball teams made it to the finals. We can only get better; the teams have been training and we have talented athletes and I hope we can win more leagues.”
KCB head of forensic services Faith Basiye, who was the chief guest, encouraged the Strathmore University students to build on the sports network.
“Celebrating each other is very important and one thing I know is sports create networks that help you later in life. Treasure it. Tonight we celebrate all of you and I hope you are all inspired. Let us also always remember the support staff that makes sure our kits are clean, the pitches are ready, swimming pool ropes are in place, and all other small things that we cannot play without”.
Other players awarded on Monday were Yashvi Bhadania (table tennis MVP), Kuria Githinji (scrabble MVP), Ian Mutuge (chess MVP) Eugene Kigundi (swimming MVP), Mark Kagethe (athletics captains award) and Mike Irungu (archery MVP).
