Ethiopian great Gebrselassie, world marathon champ Simbu to grace Soya Awards
Ethiopia legendary athlete Haile Gebrselassie during an interview at Kerio View Hotel in Iten, Elgeyo Marakwet County on March 03, 2023.
What you need to know:
- Gebrselassie, 52, was the chief guest at the 2016 Soya gala held in January, 2017.
- Simbu, meanwhile, represents the new generation of African marathon runners.
Ethiopian distance running Haile Gebrselassie and world marathon champion Alphonce Simbu will grace the 2025 Sports Personality of the Year (Soya) Awards set for April 10 at Uhuru Gardens.
Soya founder Paul Tergat has invited his longtime friend and rival Gebrselassie for the second time, and Simbu, as chief guests during the 22nd edition of Soya.
At the same time, Tergat revealed that he has plans to expand Soya.
“Under our 2025–2030 strategy, we see Soya growing into the East African region and beyond, establishing a platform that reflects the potential and strength of African sport,” said Tergat.
Gebrselassie, 52, was the chief guest at the 2016 Soya gala held in January, 2017.
The 1996 Atlanta and 2000 Sydney Olympic 10,000m champion is one of the greatest distance runners the world has ever produced.
The four-time world 10,000m champion is the first man to run a sub-2:04 marathon when he improved his marathon world record to 2:03:59 in his 2008 Berlin Marathon victory.
World marathon title
Gebrselassie had the previous year, at the same course, shattered Tergat’s world record, running 2:04:26.
Interestingly, it was deemed impossible for someone to run a sub 2:05 marathon, but it’s Tergat who debunked that myth, winning the 2003 Berlin Marathon in 2:04:55, obliterating American Khalid Khannouchi’s time of 2:05:38 from 2002 London Marathon.
Simbu, meanwhile, represents the new generation of African marathon runners. The Tanzanian clinched the world marathon title in Tokyo last year, adding to his bronze medal from Budapest in 2023 and a Commonwealth Games silver medal from Birmingham 2022.
Tanzania's Alphonce Felix Simbu celebrates winning the gold medal the men's marathon final at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo on September 15, 2025.
Tergat noted that the awards will increasingly reflect a Pan-African identity.
“Because African excellence deserves African platforms that can stand on the global stage, we hope to see the Soya Gala embody this spirit,” he said.
During the launch, a Memorandum of Understanding between Soya and Homeboyz Entertainment was signed to establish a Soya Academy to help nurture talent.
Tergat described the academy as a shift that goes from the awards to sports development, while Homeboyz Entertainment CEO Mike Rabar said the partnership bridges sport and the creative economy.
Also present at the launch were Soya nominations panel chairman, Chris Mbaisi and rally driver Pauline Sheghu.
“This collaboration brings together sports, media, and entertainment. Sport goes beyond the field and rally tracks. I commend Tergat for thinking beyond a one-day awards ceremony,” said Rabar.
Soya Awards also received a Sh2 million boost from Sidian Bank, with the lender pledging to help build athletes’ financial literacy and entrepreneurial capacity.
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