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Major sporting activities to watch out for in 2017


The year 2017 is set to be an eventful one world over. From the election in Kenya and several other countries in Africa to Donald Trump taking office from Barack Obama in America and Brexit being actualised, the list is endless.

The same applies to the sporting world where a number of competitions will define the year.

Below are a few:

English Premier League (EPL)

The EPL is the most watched sporting tournament in Kenya, and the ongoing season has lived up to the billing. It will be interesting to know which team among Arsenal, Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea and Tottenham, among others, will dethrone Leicester City as champions. Kenyans and East Africans at large will also be keenly following the performances of both Kenyan duo Divork Origi and Victor Wanyama, alongside those of Stars such as Diego Costa, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Alexis Sanchez and Sergio Aguero.

Africa Cup of Nations

The biennial edition of this competition will be held in Gabon between January 14 and February 5.  Again, the entire continent will be glued to their TV screens to watch the best African football stars in action. The stars include Pierre Emerick Aubamayang, Dennis Onyango, Khama Billiat, Wilfred Bony and Serge Aurier. Ivory Coast are the reigning champions, but will they be able to retain Africa’s most lucrative competition at the expense of the likes of Ghana, Cameroon, Algeria and Egypt?

Kenyan Premier League

The rivalry between AFC Leopards and Gor Mahia not only eat up volumes of space within the Kenyan media, but also highlights the local football calendar season. This will be no different come 2017, as local football fanatics are expected to follow the league in their thousands. Watch out though, for the likes of Tusker, Ulinzi and Mathare United.

Safari Sevens

The International rugby tournament is hosted in Nairobi each September, with teams from all over the world taking part. This tournament is always eagerly anticipated, with thousands of fans – mostly in their youth – trooping to watch the matches. The event has also been transformed into a family outing with lots of off the pitch entertainment in tow.

World U18 Athletics Championship

Kenya will host the athletics world in Nairobi in July, with the U18 Youth Athletics Championship set to be staged in Nairobi in July. This event will without doubt offer Kenyans a chance to see their young talents rule the world. Concerns have, however, been raised in the wake of high profile withdrawals from the likes of Great Britain.