NAIROBI, Kenya, Sep 14 – Kariobangi Sharks lethal goal poacher Erick Kapaito was named the 2020/21 FKF Premier League Most Valuable Player for the second time in his career on Tuesday evening in the glittering black-tie gala event held at a Nairobi Hotel.
Kapaito, 25, was the toast of town after also scooping the Golden Boot gong for scoring 24 goals to take home a total of Sh1.5 million (Sh1million for MVP and Sh500,000 for Golden Boot) and monumental trophies engraved with his name.
Kapaito also won three nights for two in Mombasa and three nights for two in Maasai Mara as well as a 55-inch television thanks to StarTimes.
Kapaito previously won the award in the 2017/18 season, the year that he also won the Golden Boot and he became the first Kenyan player ever to win the MVP award twice since the awards were inaugurated.
To win the top award, Kapaito, who is also in the national football team Harambee Stars, beat Sofapaka midfield maestro Lawrence Juma and AFC Leopards striker Elvis Rupia.
The Golden Glove went to Ulinzi Stars custodian James Saruni who kept 12 clean sheets while the duo of KCB FC shot-stopper Joseph Okoth and Nairobi City Stars’ Steve Njunge shared the runners-up award for keeping 11 clean sheets.
Saruni went home with Ksh 500,000 and won three nights for two in Maaai Mara.
Tusker FC captain Eugene Asike scooped the Defender of the year award for standing tall at center-back of the Brewers defence, guiding the team to winning the Premier League title and pocketed Ksh 300,000.
Asike beat Bidco United’s David Kalama who was runners-up and KCB’s Nashon Alembi who was third.
Meanwhile, Sofapaka’s Lawrence Juma bossed the midfield category pipping Anthony Kimani of Nairobi City Stars who was voted as the runners-up and third placed Jackson Macharia of Tusker FC.
The Young Player category was won by Tusker FC’s Henry Meja who had a Steller season, scoring 10 goals and seven assists. He floored Vihiga United’s Lawrence Luvanda and Sylvester Owino of Kakamega Homeboyz.
The Fair Play team category was scooped by Kariobangi Sharks as Tusker FC and KCB FC took second and third placed respectively.
For guiding Tusker FC to it’s 12 Premier League title, Robert Matano won the Coach of the Year award ahead of his counterparts, Zedekiah Otieno (KCB FC) and Andre Cassa Mbungo (Bandari FC).
Matano won Ksh 500,000 for the award.
All the category winners pocketed Ksh 300,000, Runners-up went home with Ksh200,000 while the third placed received Ksh 100,000.
-2020/21 FKF Premier League Winners-
MVP
Erick Kapaito – Kariobangi Sharks
Golden Glove
James Saruni – Ulinzi Stars – WINNER
Joseph Okoth – KCB FC -Runners-up
Steve Njunge – Nairobi City Stars – Runners-up
Defender of the Year
Eugene Asike – Tusker FC – WINNER
David Kalama – Bidco United – Runners-up
Nashon Alembi – KCB FC – Third
Midfielder of the Year
Lawrence Juma – Sofapaka FC – WINNER
Kevin Kimani – Wazito FC – Runners-up
Jackson Macharia – Tusker FC – Third
Golden Boot
Erick Kapaito
Young Player of the year
Henry Meja – Tusker FC – WINNER
Lawrence Luvanda – Vihiga United – Runner-up
Sylvester Owino – Kakamega Homeboyz – Third
Fair Play Team of the Year
Kariobangi Sharks – WINNER
Tusker FC – Runners-up
KCB FC – Third
Coach of the Year
Robert Matano – Tusker FC – WINNER
Zedekiah Otieno – KCB FC – Runners-up
Andre Casa Mbungo – Bandari FC – Third
Digital Team of the Year
Tusker FC – WINNER
Bandari FC – Runners-up
Kariobangi Sharks – Third
Assistant Referee of the Year
Mary Njoroge
Referee Of the Year
Peter Waweru – WINNER
Anthony Ogwayo – Runners-up
Davis Omweno – Third
Team Manager of the Year
George Apudo – Tusker FC
President’s Award
The Late Rosemary Aluoch Kadondi
