Zoo Kericho midfielder Mike Madoya with the trophy after he was named the 2017 Kenyan Premier League's Most Valuable Player at the KPL Awards Gala in Nairobi on January 12, 2018. [PHOTO/nation.co.ke]
Football lovers in the country have continued to show contempt to the Kenya Premier League awards held on Friday after questions arose on how the winners were selected.
A big fraction of soccer enthusiasts showed skeptimist at the selection process and said it was skewed to award players who did not deserve.
"The reason Sports Journalist Awards Kenya pulled out of the KPL Awards is the credibility process. Football is about statistics, and when you ignore that, you end up with the mediocrity witnessed last night. No disrespect to Zoo Football Club but Madoya was no near to being the MVP. no," said seasoned sports journalist Mike Okinyi.
Zoo Kericho's Michael Madoya beat other heavyweights like Meddie Kagere of Gor Mahia FC to win the title.
He also won the Fair Player, New Player of the Year and Midfielder of the Year awards.
Critics however pointed out that the issue of unfairness has always bedeviled the local soccer and that although those complaining had the grounds to base their argument, they were also beneficiaries of fraud from previous leaderships.
"While it's true, and Gor Mahia's players have been overlooked, such injustice isn't different from what GMT Otieno used to do with referees. Take pill quietly," said Benard Barasa Romrom.
"Watu wasipige kelele na Mieno alinyimwa award live na hamkuongea. Hata sasa msiongee tafadhali. (People should not make noise here yet Mieno was in the past denied an award and you did not talk. Even right now continue not talking)," said Anthony Mureithi.
A young sports follower Maxon Ayiro said there was no way a relegation-threatened team could produce a player for the Defender of the Year award.
"Someone explain to me like a two-year-old how a team that almost got relegated produces someone worth a defender of the year award. Mediocrity at it's finest," he said.
The award was won by Mathare United's George 'Wise' Owino.
Former Kenyan international Bonface Ambani was also quick to express his frustration at how the organisers seemed not to be objective:
"Two seasons ago Tusker FC won two titles. That's KPL and GoTV. During Gala night it was deemed they had no single player who impressed the panelists for any award. Today, Gor wins the title with I don't know how many matches to spare. It still dawns on me how and where their players couldn't win any award. Whoever the judges were God is watching you. Congrats for the winners. Congrats Madoya for the awards. But I still believe Meddi Kagere one of the most consistent players in recent years should have walked home with the top most price. Or because he is a foreigner? Give to Caesar what belongs to him," he said.