Trailblazing youngster Marion Serenge was named the SJAK Sports Personality of the Month (SPOM) for June 2024, in recognition of her impeccable performance at the FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers.
Her efforts in the decisive two-leg match against Burundi propelled the Junior Starlets to history as the first Kenyan national football team to qualify for a World Cup, earning a spot in the 2024 FIFA U17 Women’s World Cup, set to be hosted in the Dominican Republic in October.
The Junior Starlets’ campaign began at the Abebe Bikila Stadium in Ethiopia, where they secured a 3 – 0 first-leg victory over Burundi on June 9, 2024. In the match, Lorna Faith broke the deadlock after just 11 minutes before Serenge scored in the 43rd minute, with substitute Susan Okoth sealing the victory in the 71st minute. In the second leg, at the Ulinzi Sports Complex on June 16, Serenge scored the opener after 17 minutes before Valerie Nekesa doubled the scores, for a 5-0 aggregate win that booked the team a World Cup slot.
During the award ceremony held at the Nyayo National Stadium, on Tuesday 16th July, LG’s Managing Director for East Africa, Dongwon Lee, expressed confidence that the SPOM recognition will motivate Serenge to continue making history for Team Kenya on the global stage.
“Serenge really stood out for Kenya and being among our youngest winners of this award, we know that she will be motivated to work even harder as she and her team go on to represent the country on the global stage,” he said.
For the award, Serenge, a student Archbishop Njenga Girls High School, was up against a strong panel of opponents, including African champion Alexandra Ndolo, who was nominated for her performance at the Africa Fencing Championships in Casablanca, Morocco, where she defeated Camillia El Kord in the senior women’s epee division. Others were Junior Starlets teammate Velma Abwire and Captain Elizabeth Ochoka.
Serenge expressed her excitement, stating, “I think I am on the right path to fulfill my dreams. It is every footballer’s dream to play in the World Cup in their career. As a team, we were motivated by the fact that no Kenyan football team has ever qualified for the FIFA World Cup. This is an important opportunity, and I am optimistic that scouts from top clubs around the world will follow us in the Dominican Republic. We gave it our best, and now it’s time to introduce Kenyan football to the world.”
Other nominees included National rugby Sevens team captain Vincent Onyala, who scored a try in every match at the Grand Final in Madrid, Spain, helping Kenya to advance to the World Rugby Sevens Series and qualify for the Paris Olympics. His compatriot Kevin Wekesa of Kabras Sugar Rugby Club also impressed the panel.
In athletics, World Championships 800m silver medallist Emmanuel Wanyonyi and Emmanuel Too made the nomination list, with Wanyonyi running a personal best of 1:41.70 and Too winning a rare decathlon (bronze) medal at the Africa Championships in Cameroon. Dennis Esokon of Kenya Prisons and Juliana Namutira of KCB, who helped their teams retain National Volleyball League titles, also caught the panel’s eye.
Other notable nominees include; Gor Mahia striker Benson Omalla, Kenya Police goalkeeper Patrick Matasi, Posta Rangers forward Patrick Otieno, Zeddy Cheruiyot (Judo), Sarah Wasike (Ulinzi Handball), Jadon Simiyu (Chess U12 African Champion), and Faith Adhiambo (Korean Ambassadors Taekwondo Cup gold winner in Kyorugi in the senior women U46kg category).
SJAK President James Waindi congratulated the nominees and urged sports personalities to keep scaling higher heights.
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