Tusker FC won the league and are set to represent the country in the CAF Champions League.Tusker crown title win by downing BidcoStephen Ochieng’s picks Goal of the Season – Bolton Omwenga’s free kick against Ulinzi Stars🔥| One of the best strikes from last season Bolton Omwenga for @NrbCityStars #FKFPL pic.twitter.com/RiZNojgf8o— FKF Premier League (@Officialfkfpl) August 29, 2021 It is not every day we see goals from a direct free kick in Kenya. And if we do, it is not very often we nail a technique over a dead ball taken from almost the center of the pitch. Whichever way you look at it Bolton’s thunderbolt was a peach of a strike.MVP – Erick KapaitoThere’s no disputing how phenomenal Kapaito has been in the 2020/2021. There’s certainly debate about number of penalties scored which were only five but I think it’s an old debate. His goal scoring instincts that literally carried Kariobangi Sharks to a fifth place finish on more times than one stand out to be worthy of an MVP finish.Defender of the Year – Nahashon AlembiMissed only two of 32 games as he marshalled the meanest conceeding defensive line in the league. Shot up from oblivion and now he’s reaping the benefits with call ups to the senior national team.Midfielder of the Year – Lawrence JumaSublime is the word that best ddescribes the Sofapaka man. The ease with how he consistently found the back of the net was just amazing to watch. Without him, just where would Sofapaka be?Breakout Player of the Season – Alpha Onyango The youngster has been a revelation in Gor Mahia’s midfield. One of the unearthed modern day ball playing midfielders that are so rare to find around. His ability to snuff out danger and balance it with an ability to create makes him a complete package. His phenomenal season was cut shot by a back injury towards the end season and Gor literally struggled. Big future lies ahead of him.The Breadown: Without Alpha, Gor Mahia is literally deadCoach of the Year – Anthony Akhulia Leading a team that has never been in the top flight in their history is quite a big task. But Bidco United’s head coach made it look like child’s play. His tactical nous when facing the big teams in the league was amazing to watch. His tactical brilliance and good use of experienced and young players made Bidco United no pushovers in the season they ended up finishing in eleventh. What’s more he finished third in the cup competition to top it all off. Outstanding.Flop of the Season – Timothy OtienoSince signing, the former Sofapaka striker was supposed to be the missing piece. He however proved to be the miss despite his experience in the league as Sofapaka left all the scoring burden on Lawrence Juma’s shoulders.Timothy Otieno opens up on reason for leaving SofapakaMost Improved Player – Gad Mathews You could feel a coming of age from the goalkeeper in between the sticks. Although prone to lapses in concentration, his displays literally carried Gor Mahia to the cup title this season and into continental football.Special mention – Patrick Korir The Nairobi City Stars CEO assembled a very special group of players who understand the top flight assignment. Credit for his organization at the Kawangware based sideImran Otieno’s picks Goal of the Season – Lawrence JumaJuma produced a number of contenders for goal of the season in the just concluded campaign but nothing stood out for me like the goal he scored in Sofapaka’s 4-2 win over Mathare United.⚽ | GOAL NO 3😍 | Winning goal 👊 | Lawrence Juma wonder goal on Saturday when we faced @MathareUtd .@betikaKe #BatotoBaMungu pic.twitter.com/K5kHpD9kHi— Sofapaka FC (@FC_Sofapaka) January 11, 2021 He had the awareness to control the ball in the center circle, look up to see Job Ochieng out of his goal line and the precision and power to fire the ball into the back of the net, that takes some uncoachable skill.MVP – Erick KapaitoOver the past decade no player has been able to win the Golden Boot twice, many may argue that soon after clinching the top scorer’s gong the winner usually depart for greener pastures across borders but Erick Kapaito has been a beast Infront of goal this season.The numbers speak for themselves in justifying his Most Valuable Player (MVP) tag, scoring 24 goals in 30 games and going ahead to cap his impeccable stats by chipping in five assists and also shrugging off a knee injury on his way to bagging the Golden Boot.Defender of the Year – Eugene AsikeThe veteran saw his experience come of age as his leadership acumen came in handy whenever Tusker under the cosh. The Brewers had the second meanest defense that was largely comprised of defenders not at the top of their quality and had to chop and change on the flanks in a number of games.Nothing epitomized his never say die attitude than the last gasp winner against Gor Mahia in the second leg as the result spurred them to clinch their 12th league title.Midfielder of the Year – Lawrence JumaMy mind says Lawrence Juma but my heart goes with James Mazembe. Juma has had arguably his best season in his career after plundering 15 goals in a season all this from midfield.Few forwards in recent times can boast of 15 goals a season and for Juma to do it from midfield is just bonkers considering the 2016 Golden Boot winner John Makwata had the same tally.Breakout Player of the Season – Henry MejaThe teenage sensation has taken Football Kenya Federation Premier League (FKFPL) by a storm finishing the season with 11 goals and notching a number of match winners for Tusker which came in handy to them landing the title.He had a muted second half of the season as a consistent campaign would have seen him challenge for the Golden Boot but his transfer from non-league side Arsenal Lirhembe to the Premier League is an inspiration to budding footballers.Coach of the Year – Robert Matano As much I love what Frank Ouna did with Mathare United by pulling off the great escape, Robert Matano showed his experience as he guided Tusker to their 12 league title and his third overall.Matano has been in the game for over a decade but has been able to evolve over time to cope with the new trend in football but has still been able to maintain his rabble-rousing nature.##EDITORS_CHOICE##Referee of the Year Davis Omweno is one of the most experienced referees in the game and he continued to add on to his legacy by having a decent season when most of the referees in the league were castigated for dubious calls. His stand out game for me this season is when he took charge of the barren draw against Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards back in February.Flop of the Season – Boniface OmondiThe winger made a sensational transfer from Gor Mahia to Wazito FC but failed to hit the heights he displayed while at K’Ogalo as he struggled to nail down a regular starting berth in the second half of the season. There are rumours of him reuniting with Gor Mahia after the disastrous spell at Wazito and hope is that he can be able to rediscover his previous form.Most Improved Player – James MazembeSince joining Kariobangi Sharks back in 2017, Mazembe has blown both hot and cold as he failed to hit the form he displayed while at Kakamega High School as he took two years to score his first league goal.The player unleashed the beast in him, providing the most assists in the league (11) and forged a formidable partnership with Erick Kapaito who also emerged as the top scorer. He has however since left Sharks and has been linked with a move to Gor Mahia.Article compiled by Stephen Ochieng and Imran Otieno
