Four outstanding representatives of the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) have been nominated for the 2025 Sports Personality of the Year Awards (SOYA).
The four are Junior Starlets head coach Mildred Cheche, Rising Stars head coach Salim Babu, and the national U17 and U20 teams.
Soya Awards’ Coach of the Year nominees
In the Coach of the Year category, Coach Mildred Cheche earned a deserved nomination after guiding the Junior Starlets to their historic debut at the 2024 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup in the Dominican Republic.
Cheche, who made headlines as the first coach to lead a Kenyan team at a FIFA World Cup, has been widely praised for her tactical brilliance, player development, and trailblazing leadership in women’s football.
She will be joined in the same category as Coach Salim Babu, who led the Rising Stars to qualify for the 2025 Africa U20 Cup of Nations (AFCON) after a remarkable performance at the CECAFA U20 Qualifiers in Tanzania.
Under Babu’s guidance, the Rising Stars finished as runners-up and secured a place among Africa’s elite youth teams, setting a new benchmark for Kenya’s youth football development.
Both teams have also been recognized in the Team of the Year category.
How Junior Starlets made history
The Junior Starlets made history as the first-ever Kenyan team to feature at a FIFA World Cup, representing the country at the 2024 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup.
They showcased remarkable spirit, resilience, and talent on the global stage, including a memorable victory over Mexico, and finished third in their group.
Their impressive journey continues in the 2025 World Cup qualifiers, where they recently defeated Uganda in the second round. The team is now just one step away from a second consecutive qualification, with a decisive third-round clash against Cameroon up next.
The Rising Stars have equally earned their nomination following a string of impressive performances at the AFCON U20 CECAFA Qualifiers, where they finished second.
Their strong showing secured them a coveted spot at the 2025 Africa U20 Cup of Nations, set to be held in Egypt.
These nominations reflect the Federation’s ongoing investment in youth development and the strengthening of both men’s and women’s football at the grassroots and elite levels.
The 2025 SOYA Awards will celebrate Kenya’s finest athletes, coaches, and teams across multiple disciplines.
