Tusker set to crown 2025/26 best performers at annual gala awards

Fresh from lifting the Mozzart Bet Cup, Tusker will shift their focus from on-field success to celebrating individual excellence when they hold their annual Gala Awards on Thursday evening in Ruaraka, Nairobi.

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The ceremony will honor the club's standout performers from the 2025/26 season, recognizing players, members of the technical bench, and other key contributors who played a role in another successful campaign for the Brewers.

Among the top individual accolades to be presented are the Most Valuable Player (MVP), Goalkeeper of the Season, Defender of the Season, Midfielder of the Season, and Striker of the Season.

The awards come just days after Tusker capped their season by defeating Kenya Police to win the Mozzart Bet Cup, ending the campaign with silverware and booking a place in next season's CAF Confederation Cup.

The gala is expected to celebrate those achievements while also marking the beginning of a new chapter as the club prepares for an ambitious 2026/27 season.

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Forward Eric Kapaito heads into the ceremony as the favourite to win the Striker of the Season award after finishing as Tusker's leading scorer.

Kapaito netted seven goals across all competitions, six in the FKF Premier League and one in the FKF Cup, once again proving to be the Brewers' most reliable attacking outlet during the campaign.

However, much of the spotlight is expected to fall on midfielder Ian Simiyu, who enjoyed a remarkable breakthrough season.

Simiyu was instrumental in Tusker's successful Mozzart Bet Cup run, sweeping three individual honors after the final.

He was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player, Midfielder of the Tournament, and Man of the Match after scoring both goals in the Brewers' 2-1 victory over Kenya Police in the final.

The midfielder finished the Cup campaign with three goals and two assists before adding five league goals to end the season with eight goals in all competitions, one more than Kapaito.

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His outstanding performances make him the overwhelming favorite for the Midfielder of the Season award and could also see him emerge as a strong contender for the club's overall Most Valuable Player accolade.

While Thursday's event will celebrate the achievements of the outgoing campaign, the Brewers have already turned their attention to strengthening the squad ahead of a demanding season that includes domestic football and continental competition.

The Brewers are expected to undergo one of their biggest squad rebuilds in recent years, with reports indicating that as many as 15 players could leave the club, paving the way for a similar number of new arrivals.

The recruitment drive has already begun with the signing of Nigerian striker Victor Chukwuemeka Mbaoma, the reigning top scorer in the Nigeria Premier Football League, who is expected to bolster the club's attack ahead of their CAF Confederation Cup campaign.

Tusker have also moved to retain key members of the squad, with defenders Tom Teka Omenda and Francis Oduor both signing one-year contract extensions.