Haile Gebrselassie, the 52-year-old Ethiopian distance running legend, will be the chief guest at the 2025 Sports Personality of the Year Awards.
What happened?
The Soya Awards, founded by Paul Tergat, will take place on April 10 at Uhuru Gardens, with Gebrselassie and Simbu in attendance.
Gebrselassie previously attended the 2016 Soya gala in January 2017.
Why it matters for Haile Gebrselassie
As a four-time world 10,000m champion, Gebrselassie's presence highlights his enduring influence on African athletics.
He set a marathon world record of 2:03:59 at the 2008 Berlin Marathon.
What comes next?
Soya founder Paul Tergat plans to expand the awards, aiming to create a platform showcasing African sports excellence.
Tergat and Gebrselassie have a long history, with Gebrselassie breaking Tergat's world record in 2007 with a time of 2:04:26.
The Soya Academy, established through a partnership with Homeboyz Entertainment, will focus on nurturing talent and sports development.
And with a Sh2 million boost from Sidian Bank, the awards will also emphasize building athletes' financial literacy and entrepreneurial capacity.
But the Soya Awards' growth is not limited to Kenya, as Tergat envisions a Pan-African identity for the event.
So the 2025 Soya Awards will be an important milestone for Gebrselassie and African athletics as a whole.
Gebrselassie's legacy continues to inspire new generations of athletes, including Simbu, the world marathon champion.
As the Soya Awards expand, they will increasingly reflect a Pan-African identity, celebrating African excellence in sports.
With the Soya Academy and partnerships like the one with Homeboyz Entertainment, the awards are shifting their focus from recognition to development.
The 2025 Soya Awards will take place on April 10, with Gebrselassie and Simbu as chief guests, marking an exciting new chapter for African sports.