Listen to This Article Enhance your reading experience by listening to this article.

Excitement, euphoria, new hope, and joy raptured the air on Thursday after Kenya Footballers Welfare Association (KEFWA) announced that Wednesday, as the date to award Kenya Women Premier League (KeWPL) 2020-2021 season outstanding players for the very first time.

The announcement received an overwhelming abundance of endorsement from women football stakeholders who lauded the initiative, terming it an important promising turning point in recognising and appreciating the strides made by women footballers in the country amidst myriads of challenges.

“The Kenya Footballers Welfare Association (KEFWA) will host the first-ever Players for players’ Gala Awards for the 2020-2021 Women Premier League (WPL); on Tuesday, 14th December at the Zetech University-Main Campus -Ruiru, from 1 PM-5 PM EAT,” KEFWA announced Thursday while releasing the final list of 33 players that will battle it out for the prestigious end of season awards.

At the start of the 2020-2021 KeWPL season, the association initiated a KEFWA Monthly Awards to recognise, encourage and appreciate enormous efforts and contributions made by outstanding individual players in helping themselves and their teams thrive in a particular month, adding that with the success of the monthly awards, Tuesday’s event is a culmination of the season to award the overall 11 best players of the 2020-2021 season.

KEFWA Awards Committee nominated a total of 44 players who were then taken through a selection process by their fellow players, through an online voting process, and after the closing of voting, 11 have been dropped for garnering lesser votes to leave 33 finalists to battle it out for the ‘KeWPL 2020-2021 Season KEFWA 11’ Squad.

The 33 finalists are divided into 11 positions they each play, thus each three per category battling it out for the best goalkeeper of the season, best left-back, best right-back, best-left centre back, best right center-back, best central defensive midfielder, best left attacking midfielder, best right attacking midfielder, best left forward, best right forward and best center-forward of the season.

“We are trying to bridge the gap between the sports industry, -moreso women football- and the corporate industry. When you look at the finalists, these are players who were exemplary in their positions, and with the right guidance and approach, they can excel in the corporate world,” KEFWA General Secretary Jerry Santo said.

“The players’ Union has been conducting Economic empowerment and Capacity building programs such as “Mind The Gap” and “Raising Our Game,” for their members to embrace second careers, in preparation for life after football.

That is why the event is not just for awards, but rather a platform in which our players will have an opportunity to learn from other influential and successful women in the business and corporate sectors.

We are hoping that the mentors and role models can guide their career path and walk with them through their second career paths,” added Santo.