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Former African Player of the Year, Victor Ikpeba will grace this year’s Safaricom Sports Personality of the Year (SOYA) gala set for Mombasa Sports Club on Friday as the chief guest.
The former Nigeria Super Eagles’ star, who was crowned Africa’s finest in 1997, is expected in the country on Tuesday, from where he’ll travel to Mombasa to hold a series of clinics with the local football sides before attending the gala on Friday.
“I’m so excited to be returning to Kenya after many years and it’s a great honour to be invited as the chief guest of a sports awards gala in county that has rich sporting talent like Kenya,” Ikpeba said.
He added: “I have just been in Kenya twice, first when we played Harambee Stars in a World Cup qualifier immediately after we won the 1996 Olympics gold medal in Atlanta, Georgia and they frustrated us, holding us to a 1-1 draw. The second time I came in quietly for an Olympics promo in 2012. This time I will have more time to see the beauty of the country and mingle with some of the world beaters.”
Ikpeba, who featured at the 1994 and 1998 FIFA World Cup tournaments with Nigeria had had stints with French Ligue 1 side, AS Monaco; Bundesliga side, Borussia Dortmund and Spanish La Liga side, Real Betis.
He also had stints with teams in the Middle East before he hanged his boots.
