Kenya Sevens star Alvin ‘Buffa’ Otieno is the LG/Sports Journalists Association of Kenya (SJAK) Sports Personality for October 2021.
“I am short of words, very happy about this award. It’s been good to me more so after recovering from injury and seeing my game improve through and through. The sky’s the limit for now and I also urge all players to keep going and aim higher in sports,” Otieno, who was flanked by Kenya 7s head coach Innocent ‘Namcos’ Simiyu and captain Nelson Oyoo, said at the Parklands Sports Club in Nairobi Friday.
Otieno was named the Most Valuable Player as Shujaa reclaimed the Safari Sevens title they last won in 2016 in the tournament that was staged at the Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi last month.
Otieno opened the scoring for Shujaa in the final against Germany, as the Kenyan side went on to win 12-5.
The Kakamega High School alumnus, who has since switched allegiance to KCB RFC for the 2021/22 season from Homeboyz in the local league, has grown from strength to strength since making his debut for the national team in Hong Kong in 2016.
To win the coveted monthly award, Otieno beat rally driver Carl Tundo – who lead compatriots Karan Patel and McRae Kimathi to a clean sweep of the podium places during the Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally to seal the African Rally Championship (ARC) title.
Athlete Joyce Njeru, who won the overall women’s World Mountain Racing Association (WMRA) World Cup title in Italy last month, was also in contention.
Also nominated were Paris Marathon champion Elisha Rotich, who broke Kenenisa Bekele‘s course record from 2014 after timing in 2:04:18 and Angela Tanui – who won the Amsterdam Marathon in a course record of 2:17:51.
Others were Joyceline Jepkosgei who won the London Marathon in 2:17:43 which is the seventh fastest on the all-time list, Diana Kipyegoi and Benson Kipruto who won the women and men’s race at the Boston Marathon.
Also making the nomination list was Ulinzi Warriors basketball player Byron Mabonga who was instrumental in the side’s win against Cobra Sport of South Sudan to qualify for the Elite 16 in the Basketball Africa League (BAL) qualifiers.
LG East Africa Business Manager Paul Mumo said they are glad to see a growing number of upcoming and talented young sportsmen and women win the coveted award which is encouraging as it is a sign of the country’s diverse sporting heritage.
“We congratulate Alvin and wish him the very best in his future endeavours. I also salute the Shujaas for their achievements and making Kenyans proud. The award celebrates talented Kenyan sportsmen and women for their accomplishments,” Mumo said.
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