Western Stima midfielder Kenneth ‘Junior’ Muguna receives his August player of the month award from a SportPesa representative at the Moi Stadium in Kisumu on September 13, 2016. PHOTO/ALEX ISABOKE
KISUMU, Kenya, Sep 13 – Western Stima midfielder Kenneth ‘Junior’ Muguna has been named the SportPesa/Sports Journalists Association of Kenya (SJAK) August Kenyan Premier League player of the month.
Muguna, 21, who scored two goals in that month, claimed the award ahead of the Kakamega Homeboyz duo of Andew Murunga and Sunday Mutuku as well as Tusker FC forward Allan Wanga.
The midfielder, playing his first season in top flight football has been an anchor of the Stima midfield, and his performance has earned him a maiden call up to the national team though he never made it to the final squad.
He led his side to two wins, a loss and a draw last month as Stima crawled into the top five of the Premier league standings.
The midfielder scored the third goal against Ushuru FC in their 4-0 rout before netting the second goal in their 3-0 victory over Muhoroni Youth in their last match of the month.
“I feel good to win this award because I feel my hard work has paid the fruits. The month has been good though not easy but I thank my team-mates for enabling this happen. The Ushuru match was my favourite since I scored and it really opened the way for me that month.
“I will strive to win it again; I believe it’s very possible,” Muguna said after receiving the award this morning at the team’s training Ground Kisumu’s Moi Stadium.
Western Stima midfielder Kenneth Muguna prepares to take a free kick in a match against nairobi City Stars on September 11, 2016 at Nyayo Stadium. PHOTO/RAYMOND MAKHAYA
“It has been a really great time for me managing to be consistent from the first match of the season up to now. It has been down to hard work, belief in God and above all support from my family. I always cheer myself to work hard every match,” Muguna told Capital Sport.
He disclosed he looks up to Harambee Stars skipper Victor Wanyama for inspiration saying he would want to walk in his footsteps one day.
“He plays in one of the best leagues in the world and currently, he is the best we have. He is a source of inspiration for me and one day I would want to play alongside him for Kenya. It would be a dream come true,” added the young midfielder.
He also reckons getting a nod in the national team has made him work harder and training alongside some of the best talent in the country made him learn and he now looks forward for more starts.
The competition selection was stiff and it was not easy for the SJAK Football Commission to settle on the winner who gathered 21 points, just three ahead of Wanga while Mutuku and Murunga got 13 and 8 points respectively.
He received a glittering trophy engraved with his name, a 43-inch LG Television and Sh100,000 while the team received Sh50,000 for their effort in August.
