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Six coaches will battle it out for the Coach of the Year Award category of the 2022 Sports Personality of the Year Award (SOYA).

The gala returns to Nairobi after the hosting of four gala events in Mombasa County, Naivasha in Nakuru County and Kakamega County over the last four years.

On the coach of the year nomination list are: Kenya Lionesses rugby team coach Dennis Mwanja, Kenya Port Authority (KPA) men’s basketball team coach Sammy Kiki, KPA women’s basketball team coach Anthony Ojukwu, Menengai Oilers Rugby Club coach Gibson Weru, KCB women’s volleyball team coach Japheth Munala and Para coach David Waore.

Mwanja led the national women’s sevens team Kenya Lionesses closer to qualifying for the 2022/23 Women’s World Rugby Sevens Series.

National title

The Lionesses claimed victories over China (17-15), South Africa (5-31), hosts Chile (5-15), thrashed Argentina 36-0 in the quarter-finals before losing to eventual winners Japan 22-15 and China 31-5 in the battle for third place.

On his part, Kiki guided the KPA men’s basketball team to reclaim the national title after they blew away champions Ulinzi 80-61 in Game Five to take the final Series 3-2. Ulinzi won Game One 68-66 before the Dockers hit back 69-58 to level in Mombasa before the Soldiers levelled the Series 2-2 with a 57-48 victory.

Ojukwu led the KPA women’s basketball team to win the women’s basketball league title after seeing off rivals Equity Hawks 70-64 in game 4 to their 15th title. Ojukwu also guided the team in qualifying for the 2022 FIBA Africa Champions Cup for Women in Maputo, Mozambique in December.

 Munala led his KCB women volleyball team to victory at the Africa Clubs championships in Tunisia in June, 2022. Munala’s charges stun record champions Al Ahly of Egypt 3-1 in the final to lift the trophy. Munala is also part of the Malkia Strikers technical bench.

David Waore handled para powerlifter Hellen Wawira at the 2022 Commonwealth Games where she handed Kenya bronze in women’s lightweight. Wawira collected 98.5 points to settle third behind Britons Zoe Newson and Olivia, who downed 102.2 and 100.0 points to claim gold and silver respectively.