NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 15- Kenya Prisons head coach David Lung’aho says Kenyan clubs will have to go back to the drawing board after failing to reclaim the African Women Volleyball Club Championship title for the fifth consecutive year.

Prisons and Pipeline lost to defending champions Carthage and record champions Al Ahly respectively by identical 3-1 scores in the semi-finals on Tuesday and will face each other in the bronze medal play-off on Thursday evening.

“I think as Kenyan clubs it’s high time we re-look at our strategies. We have lost the title to North African teams for five consecutive years while we were used to winning this title year in year out. We need to think and think very fast,” the tactician told Capital Sport.

But despite the clubs failing to sparkle, Lung’aho believes that when it comes to the national team, Kenya still has an edge over the North African sides especially with the young players who have been brought into play.

“If you look at Carthage, they had a European player in their squad, same to Al Ahly. When it comes down to the national team, I still believe that as Kenya we can always beat them. It is at club level that we should really work hard,” said the tactician.

Despite losing to Carthage who he tips to retain the crown, Lung’aho was full of praise for his squad, saying they performed well but fell short against a brilliant opponent.

“We started well in first and second set, fought and played well because if you look at the scores, they are very close. Luck was not on our side because we were playing against a well oiled side which made few errors,” Lung’aho explained.

“I appreciate the players and the hard work they put in but on the day, our best wasn’t good enough. I am more pleased with the young players that we gave an opportunity to. They showed their character and performed well,” added the coach.

Meanwhile, Kenya Pipeline captain Triza Atuka hopes that the team can wipe their tears of missing the final with at least a bronze medal when they face Pipeline this evening.

Pipeline finished seventh last year in Tunisia and Atuka believes they should reward their improvement with a medal.

“It was painful losing in the semis but we did our best. It was a tough match against tough opponents but hopefully we can fight for the medal,” Atuka said.

Pipeline have won the tournament seven times, but their last conquest was in 2005.

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NAIROBI, Kenya Mar 15- Despite not playing any FIFA friendly match since their CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup win in December, Harambee Stars have moved one place up in the latest FIFA rankings released on Thursday to sit at 105th.

However, Harambee Stars have an opportunity to improve on the ranking when they play Comoros and Central African Republic in friendly matches in Morocco on March 24 and 27 respectively.

Both teams are placed way below Kenya in the ranking. Of the two, the Central African Republic is the highest ranked, having moved one place to position 124. Chad are placed a lowly 168th having made no improvement in the latest ranking.

Uganda retained their position at 78th but still remained East Africa’s best ranked team while Rwanda moved two places up to 112th, Burundi moved a similar distance to 142 while Tanzania remained at 148.

There was no change in the African top four with Tunisia, Sengal, DR Congo and Morocco retaining their best placed status at 23rd, 27th, 29th and 42nd place in the world.

It is the same with the world’s top five, Germany, Brazil, Portugal, Argentina and Belgium retaining their status quo. All this however is expected to change over the next ranking as the FIFA friendly match window opens on March 19.

Meanwhile, Football Kenya Federation (FKF) has today announced that all teams taking part in the Women Premier league will be entitled to a Sh750,000 grant per season, this money coming off FIFA’s funds for women development.

FKF boss Nick Mwendwa says this will be a good step to enable the teams meet their obligations while also adding that the federation will take care of the match venue hiring and payment of referees for all games.

At the same time, the federation says plans are there to ensure the same grant is rolled out to teams playing in the second tier Division One League.

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NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 15- National women’s volleyball champions Kenya Pipeline came from a set down to beat local rivals Kenya Prisons 3-2 to clinch the bronze medal at the African Club Championships in Cairo in a five-set thriller.

Pipeline now ensure they leave the championship having a marked improvement from their performance in Tunisia last year where they finished seventh.

“It was a hard fought win but I am thankful we got a medal. We worked hard as a team in a tough match and I am very happy we could finish the game strongly,” Pipeline skipper Triza Atuka said.

Prisons started the tie well, winning the first set 25-23 after capitalizing on Pipeline’s errors in reception. In a closely fought set, they were 16-13 ahead at the second technical time out and kept the run till the end.

However, Japheth Munala’s girls awoke from their slumber in the second set, sharpened on their attack led from the middle by Atuka managing to pick a 25-21 win.

It seemed like a see saw affair between the two sides as Prisons came into the third set more energized, but had to stretch the game beyond the 25 point mark, ultimately winning 29-27. In the tie breaker, Pipeline picked the cue, tightened on their blocks and won 15-11.

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NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 15- Gor Mahia will be without midfielder Kevin ‘Ade’ Omondi and forward Ephraim Guikan for their CAF Champions League first round return leg tie against Esperance in Tunisia on Sunday with the two having been ruled out with injury.

Guikan dislocated his shoulder during last weekend’s Kenyan Premier League 1-0 win over Nzoia Sugar while Omondi who skippered the team for that match stretched his hamstring in training.

“It is a blow losing any players for us. Kevin has come back and he’s trying to work hard and I think sometimes he tries too hard. He needs to realize once you come back to a high level, it takes time to adjust. I can’t really blame him because he is always giving 110 percent since he wants to come back stronger,” Gor head coach Dylan Kerr told Capital Sport.

While Omondi started in the match against Esperance in Machakos last Wednesday, Guikan was an unused substitute as he had just returned having rested for seven days following a concussion.

However, the tactician will be pleased with the availability of midfielder Humphrey Mieno who has missed the last two games with a knee injury, coincidentally picked up against Esperance during the first leg.

Gor Mahia are scheduled to depart Nairobi for Tunis via Doha Thursday midnight, and they were in high spirits as they had dinner together at the popular Ranalo Dishes in the city centre.

“I am amazed by the camaraderie and team spirit that these players have. We are here, laughing and smiling together, everyone talking of that big game,” Kerr noted.

He added; “It is a tough match definitely because we are going away to a very good team. But I have told these players that they have a chance of making Kenya proud. We just got to roll our sleeves up, have some pride for yourselves and if we do it, we will get off the plane as heroes,” the tactician offered.

-Kerr under pressure-

The tactician has admitted that he is under pressure to deliver a first group stage appearance for Gor since 1994 when they reached the quarter finals of the CAF Cup but remains rooted on the ground that his side will not crumble under pressure.

They carry with them to Tunis a 0-0 draw from the first leg in Machakos and any kind of a scoring draw will take them through to the group stages on the away goal rule.

Kerr’s first target heading into the tie on Sunday will be to avoid conceding.

“We have to make sure we don’t concede early then we also ensure that we match their energy and enthusiasm at home. I have players who can score, but we have to be careful on how we manage the expectations. We have to keep our feet firmly on the ground and let the players do the job,” the tactician further stated.

If Gor lose to Esperance in Tunisia, they will still have a shot at making it into the group stages of continental football, though this time in the second tier CAF Confederations Cup.

They will be drawn into a home and away play-off with the top 16 teams from the Confederation Cup first round with the winners proceeding to the group stages.

The post Gor’s ‘Ade’, Guikan out of Esperance return leg appeared first on Capital Sports.

NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 15- Having been part of the team that lost 5-0 against Esperance in 2014, Gor Mahia captain Harun Shakava has warned his team-mates to be prepared for a hostile crowd at the Stade Olympique de Radès when they face the Tunisians on Sunday.

Shakava, who was just in his second year at Gor Mahia then, scored one of the two goals at home in the 3-2 loss, but partnering David Owino (now with Zesco in Zambia) in defence for the return tie, they endured a torrid evening.

“It was very tough and what I have told the players is that we have to be mentally prepared for a tough game on and off the pitch,” Shakava noted.

He added; “The have very hostile fans who light up flares the entire game and support the team with so much noise from the first to last minute. It is a huge stadium and can sometimes fill up to its 70,000 capacity,” the defender said.

“I have told the players that we should calm our nerves because most of us are not used to playing in front of such a crowd. It is a big game and we should rise to the occasion as big players.”

Though he knows it will not be a walk in the park, Shakava however, does not expect a big thrashing like they had four years back and in fact says they have the ability to match the Tunisians and can pull off a surprising result in Rades.

“Football changes a lot and I believe we have a stronger squad with experienced players compared to 2014. As players we have matured, we know what is needed in such a big game anbd we are going there to battle. It will be 11 versus 11 on the pitch,” the defender noted.

“We have to ensure we keep a clean sheet. We played very well in the first leg and only got unlucky with chances to score. We expect them to come very strong in the first 15 minutes but if we can be able to contain them, that will be good for us,” adds the skipper.

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NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 17 – First Lady Margaret Kenyatta has urged golf clubs to facilitate young talented Kenyans from disadvantaged communities to take up the sport and participate in professional tournaments.

As patron of the Special Olympics and Under 18 Athletics, the First Lady said she has seen how sports can positively impact the destiny of the youth and was keen to see them accorded equal opportunities to exploit their full potential.

“I encourage you to embrace the inclusion of young talented Kenyans from the less fortunate communities to take up the sport and participate in professional tournaments – to give them the dream of representing Kenya as our future international stars,” the First Lady said.

She was speaking on Saturday evening when she presided over the Ruiru Sports Club Chairman’s Prize Golf Tournament 2018 and expressed the need for stakeholders to open up the game to more Kenyans to remove the ‘elite tag’ from golf.

The First Lady noted that golf is positioned as one of the greatest sports of the world, played in almost every country and followed by millions of sports enthusiasts.

“It is a sport appreciated by many, who may never themselves have dreamed of participating in the game,” the First Lady emphasized.

She commended Fr. Wilfred Mwaura, the outgoing Chairman of Ruiru Sports Club for steering the club, upholding its years of tradition and encouraging its growth.

“Golf as a sport in Kenya has gained great popularity over the years, and this growth has only been made possible by the examples of the patronage and management of the golfing fraternity we see here today,” the First Lady said.

She added: “I applaud the Management and Board of Trustees for the role they have played to make Ruiru Sports Club what it is today, an icon of sports development in Kenya.”

The First Lady said she was impressed by the bold steps taken by Ruiru Sports Club, under the chairmanship of Fr. Mwaura,that have drawn and harnessed young female and male talent.

She said the club’s investment to create young international stars and increase the exposure of golf as a professional sport over the years has touched the lives of many.

And as a new management of the Ruiru Sports Club was ushered in, the First Lady challenged them to focus more on young talent and create opportunities for them to participate in local and international events.

The occasion also celebrated the history of Ruiru Sports Club that was established over 80 years ago, making it one of the oldest golf grounds in the country.

“I know that this club has contributed immensely to positioning golf as a truly competitive sport that has an enthusiastic following in Kenya,” the First Lady said.

Eng. Josphat Mbugua emerged as the overall winner of the tournament.

Other speakers included the outgoing Chairman, Fr. Mwaura, Energy Principal Secretary Eng. Joseph Njoroge and outgoing Captain of the club, Mr. Anthony Kamau.

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NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 18 – Celliphine Chespol and Alfred Barkach secured a Kenyan double in the senior races at the African Cross Country Championships in the Algerian city of Chlef.

Their compatriot Rhonex Kipruto won the U20 men’s race, but Kenya didn’t completely dominate as Ethiopia’s Girmawit Gebregziabher won the U20 women’s title and Ethiopia ended the day by winning the mixed relay.

Chespol, who is still just 18 years old, was part of a large lead pack of 16 women that covered the first two-kilometre lap in 7:37.

The group had been reduced to 13 women by the end of the second lap, with Ethiopia’s Guangzhou marathon champion Rahma Tusa Chota leading the group through in 14:39.

Of the 10 women still in the lead pack at the end of the third lap, reached in 21:36, six of them were Kenyan. Chespol had compatriots Margaret Chelimo, Rosemary Njeri, Stacy Ndiwa, Perine Nengampi and Sandra Chebet for company as they ran alongside Ethiopian trio Chota, Yeshi Kalayu Chekole and Enatnesh Alamirew and Uganda’s Stella Chesang.

But Chespol didn’t hang around for much longer and opened up a 17-second lead on the penultimate lap. Some distance behind the steeplechase world U20 record-holder, Njeri, Chekole and Chelimo were battling for what appeared to be the two other spots on the podium.

Although Chespol’s leading margin was reduced to just three seconds on the final lap, she did enough to win, clocking 35:10 for the 10km event. Chelimo came through for second place in 35:13 with Chekole taking third in 35:26.

Njeri faded in the closing stages, but Ndiwa and Chebet finished fourth and sixth respectively, securing the team title for Kenya.

Barkach wins in thrilling finish

The senior men’s race was even closer.

The initial lead pack may have been larger than in the women’s contest, but the attrition happened earlier in the race with the top four contenders making a break at the half-way stage.

After a pack of about 29 men covered the first lap in 6:39, there were still 19 men in contention by the end of the second lap, reached in 12:49, as Kenya’s Emmanuel Bor led from Ugandan duo Thomas Ayeko and Philip Kipyeko.

But Alfred Barkach and Julius Kogo suddenly emerged as the leading Kenyan contenders as they joined Uganda’s Ayeko and Kipyeko and Ethiopian cross-country champion Enyew Mekonnen to form a breakaway lead pack.

Kipyeko was the first of the quintet to fall behind, leaving four men to battle it out for three medals as they entered the final lap.

Mekonnen was ultimately unable to keep up with his opponents; in the frantic surge for the finish line, Barkach got the better of Kogo and Ayeko to take the title in 30:47.

Kogo and Ayeko were given the same time with Kogo being awarded the silver and Ayeko the bronze.

With Bor and John Chepkwony finishing in the top seven, Kenya once again picked up the team title. Uganda earned team silver, while Eritrea took bronze ahead of Ethiopia.

U20 titles for Kipruto and Gebregziabher

Following his convincing defeat at the recent Kenyan Cross Country Championships, Rhonex Kipruto gained revenge on compatriot Stanley Waithaka to take the U20 title in Chlef.

The race played into the hands of the big kickers. 16 men were still in the lead pack at half way and nine of those remained in the group as they approached the final lap.

Kipruto proved to have the best strength, though, and opened up a five-second gap on Waithaka by the finish line, winning in 25:01.

Ethiopia’s Solomon Berihu took bronze in 25:08, while Kenya picked up another gold medal in the team contest.

Girmawit Gebregziabher may be a relative newcomer, but she is fast making a name for herself.

In the U20 women’s race in Chlef, the Ethiopian moved to the front of the lead pack at roughly half way, then went on to create a 14-second winning margin by the end, crossing the line in 20:40.

Just as she had done at the Ethiopian Cross Country Championships last month, teammate Tsige Gebreselama finished second to Gebregziabher while Kenya’s Hellen Ekalale was one second in arrears, taking bronze in 20:55.

Kenya may have missed out on individual honours in this race, but – with 18 points to Ethiopia’s 19 – they narrowly won team gold.

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NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 18 – Local and international professional golfers will on Monday compete for three 2018 Barclays Kenya Open Golf Championship slots at a Pre-Qualification event that will be held at the Vet Lab Sports Club.

This will be the last opportunity for any golf professional, local or foreign to grab a last-minute ticket into what is the most lucrative Tournament on the 2018 European Challenge Tour.

Nakuru’s Richard Ainley, Muthaiga’s Nelson Mudanyi, Windsor’s David Opati and Eldoret’s Boniface Simwa will be relying on their local knowledge of the challenging 18-hole layout at the Vet Lab Sports Club to qualify for the Kenya Open; they will face stiff competition from strong and experienced European journeymen including:

Englishman and European Tour Champion, Oliver Wilson; Argentinian and three-time Challenge Tour Champion, Alvaro Velasco; and Frenchman, Victor Riu (a Challenge-Tour Champion)

Speaking to the media over the weekend, Kenya Open Golf Championship Tournament Director, Patrick Obath, said the Pre-Qualifier was necessitated by the enhanced interest at this year’s Kenya Open, adding that it offers fans an opportunity to watch a prelude of the Kenya Open before it tees-off on Thursday.

“This year we will be having a Pre-Qualification event at the Vet Lab Sports Club on Monday the 19th of March whose purpose is to select professional players who will fill in the final three slots for this year’s Championship. Locally trials like this are only seen in Athletics, but globally, all top golf events stage Pre-Q events,” he said.

He added; “The Pre-Qualifier will also give golf fans also a chance to watch the professionals in action ahead of the main event on Thursday and this event will give Vet Lab a brilliant opportunity to see how their new 18-hole golf course will hold up against some of the best golf professionals in the European Challenge Tour.”

12 Kenyans, 2 Tanzanians, 2 Ugandans 2 South Africans, 2 Zimbabweans and 1 Malawian are among African Professional players due to battle it out against the foreign contingent of players which includes, among others, 5 Englishmen.

The high number of foreign players at the Pre-Qualification event shows the new stature of the Kenya Open as an annual global golf event.

The tournament tees-off at 7:30am and will culminate in a bush drive and dinner for the players at the Nairobi National Park later in the day courtesy of the Kenya Tourism Board.

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NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 18 – Gor Mahia Youth FC from Makadara and Beijing Raiders from Starehe are the Champions of the Nairobi region Chapa Dimba Na Safaricom football tournament in the Boys and Girls category.

Gor edged out Slum Dwellers from Westlands scoring 3-0 in the Boys finals for Nairobi region held on Sunday at Nairobi’s Stima Club Grounds.

On their side, Beijing Raiders triumphed after putting up a skilled match against Acakoro Ladies from Kasarani winning 5-0.

“We are very proud of our victory today. The game was tough and the field was muddy but we won! We remain hopeful to win the National finals come 25th of March,” Gor Mahia Youth skipper Chris Alpher said.

Beijing Raiders coach, Mark Okwiri said; “This is a great moment for our team and we actually cannot hide our joy. It is really a big step for us.”

The journey has been long and winding for us but now we can see the light at the end of the tunnel. The national finals will not be a walk in the park but we will give it our best.”

The two winning teams each received a cash reward of  Sh200,000 and will now proceed to the National finals set for March 22- 25th at Bukhungu Stadium in Kakamega County.

“The regional finals have ended today and all the regional champions from across the country are gearing to go,” Director -Consumer Business Unit, Safaricom, Sylvia Mulinge.

“We have already done the draws for the National finals and each team is aware of their challenger as at now. We applaud all the winning teams for the job well done and wish them all the very best in their quest for National victory,” she added.

At the grand finale, the winning teams will walk away with Sh1mn each and an opportunity to go for an international training and mentorship camp in London in April.

Over 270 games were played across the entire Nairobi region with 174 teams taking part in the competition that kicked off with group stages on of 13th January 2018.

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NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 17 – Kepha Aswani and Umar Kasumba grabbed a brace each as Sofapaka edged out Tusker FC 5-4 in a high scoring Kenyan Premier League encounter hosted at the Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos on Sunday.

Aswani sent hosts Sofapaka ahead five minutes after kick-off after making good use of a miss-kick from Tusker keeper Bryne Omondi.

But Mathew Odongo levelled the scores for Tusker in the 10th minute after Sofapaka defence failed to clear danger in the box.

Apollo Otieno netted at the half hour mark from a long range cracker that deflected Sofapaka defender Moussa, to see the Brewers take a 2-1 lead at the interval.

However, Sofapaka restored parity in the second half through goal keeper Mathew Kigonya in the 50th when he stepped up to convert a penalty after Stephen Waruru was hacked down in the box by Bonaventure Khasabuli.

Tusker responded two minutes later through Hashim Sempala who sent the Sam Timbe side ahead two minutes later from a well struck volley from the left wing.

Aswani scored again for Batoto Ba Mungu to bring them back in the game following his simple finish to both sides tied to a 3-3 draw.

Coming of the bench, Kasumba proved to be a super sub when he ensured Sofapaka picked maximum points thanks to his two goals in a space of 12 minutes that watered down Jackson Macharia’s goal fourth goal for Tusker.

Tusker finished with 10 men after Sempala was sent off in the 90th minute.

The win took Sofapaka to fourth place with 13 points while Tusker are 14th with just six points after playing seven matches.

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NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 18 – Carl “Flash” Tundo navigated by Tim Jessop in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X won the 66th edition of the Safari Rally in the Great Rift Valley region to equal Shekhar Mehta’s record of five wins.

Shekhar one of the greatest Safari drivers won the event in 1973, 79, 80, 81 and 82 during the World Rally Championship days while Tundo won it in 2004 in Mombasa, 2009,2011, 2012 and 2018 after the event had been relegated to African Rally Championship (ARC) status.

Tundo has achieved all the five wins with Jessop on his navigator’s seat.

And the three times former Kenya champions (Tundo and Jessop) did it in bravado after leading the second round of the 2018 FIA African Rally Championship (ARC) from start to finish.

Flash as is he fondly referred to as displayed awesome skills on flash floods to rack up the most coveted racing crown in the country.

He clocked 1:55.05hours to beat Baldev Singh Chager of Kabras Sugar Racing to second as three times Ugandan champion Jas Mangat seals the podium dash.

Chager and Mangat moved up on the leaderboard after the second Skoda Fabia R5 of Onkar Rai and Gareth Dawe was involved in an accident.

Both Onkar and Gareth were airlifted to Nairobi for specialized treatment although the latter was reportedly unconscious after their Skoda nosedived on the last section.

Onkar’s father Jaswant Rai was at the scene of the accident when his team was being airlifted by the event’s safety chopper.

Tundo savored the fairy tale success. “It hasn’t sunk in yet. We are so chuffed with the victory but really sorry about Onkar’s accident,” said Tundo.

Randeep Singh of Tanzania also savored his career best Safari finish after returning his Evolution X machine in fourth overall place.

Randeep was happy with the position and had this to say: “It was such a though rally and we are happy to be back in one piece.”

Kenya’s Menengai Cream duo of Eric Bengi and Tuta Mionki also registered their career best finish on Safari which was also the second round of the Kenya National Rally Championship (KNRC)

“Due to the flash floods we too it really easy and pushed where we could. But quite a shame that Onkar had to exit with an accident. We wish him and his navigator quite recovery,” said Bengi who is the 2016 KNRC Two Wheel Drive Champion.

Bengi’s was chuffed that his Subaru Impreza N12 was now getting reliable after a series of retirements last year.

“We have really worked to improve onntje reliability of the car and I’m glad the results are now coming through,” said Bengi whose female navigator Tuta WS equally elated .

Farhaaz Khan of Kenya settled for sixth place.

“Yesterday (Saturday) was good day for us. We had an incident in CS 6 where as we were victims of stone throwing. Luckily we managed to make us to service and finish the day in 8th overall,” Khan said.

“Very happy with what we have achieved thus far. We pushed constantly on the last day today (yesterday) and it paid off.”

“Well done to the service crew for replacing the windscreen at the overnight parc ferme of day two to enable us to continue today (yesterday),” said Khan.

Duncan Mubiru of Uganda was happy with seventh place while Mahesh Halai of Kenya took 8th.

The rally culminated at the Sopa Lodge in Naivasha which was the the event’s service, perc ferme and rally headquarters.

Day three yesterday saw the crews repeat Kedong which is directly opposite Sopa Lodge.

SAFARI RALLY 2018 PROVISIONAL RESULTS

1.Carl Tundo /Tim Jassop 1:55:05

2.Baldev Chager/Ravi soni 2:04:34

3.Jas Mangat/Joseph Kamya 2:05:27

4.Randeep Singh/Gurvinder Singh 2:06:19

5.Eric Benji /Tuta Mionki 2:07:25

6.Farhaz Khan/Karshif Shaikh 2:09:48

7.Duncan Mubiru /Musa Nsubuga 2:14:38

8.Mahesh Halai /Katan Halai 2:20:19

9.Arkif Virani/Azhar Bhatti 2:21:56

10.Ammar Haq/Victor Okudi 2:22:17

11.Nikhil Sacharia/Arkif Khan 2:30:25

12.Sohanjet Pure/Adnan Din 2:33:34

13.Minesh Rathod/Shamer Yusuf 2:41:47

14.Richard Arrowsmith/Roger cmiowood 2:42:38

15.Edward Maina/John Ngugi 2:44:13

16.Geoff Mayes/Mactavish Jamie 2:44:58

17.Izhar Mirza/Kevit Dave 2:45:22

18.Matt Shinnors/Catherine Shinnors 2:45:48

19.Imraan Khan /Thabit Khadwala 2:45:54

20.Pierro Cannobio /Sylivia Frigo 2:53:30

21.Daren Miranda/Wyne Fernandes 2:54:50

22.Moez Malik/Steve Njenga 3:05:24

23.Sarit Shah/haria Shah 3:17:18

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NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 18 – AFC Leopards interim coach, Dennis Kitambi stayed unbeaten since taking charge of the club after guiding his charges to a 2-1 win against Kakamega Homeboyz in a Kenyan Premier League clash played at the Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos on Sunday.

There was late drama in the dying five minutes added by referee, when AFC was handed a controversial penalty in the 95th minute after Esiye was judged to have deliberately handled the aerial ball when he was going for it with his keeper, Wanyika.

Odera, who lost his mum recently did well to convert the penalty that ensured Ingwe picked maximum points and their fourth successive win under Kitambi.

Kakamega Homeboyz head coach, Mike Mururi was not pleased with the decision, slamming the referee, saying he issued a soft penalty.

“I thank my players; they have played very well under instructions, but let us lose fairly. The referees should be fair. I’m not happy with the last penalty that AFC got, I’m not happy with officiating because the goalkeeper went to clear the ball and the player did not handle the ball intentionally, It’s not a penalty,” an angered Mururu lamented after the match.

“AFC is a good team, they are playing well and they have improved but officiating was not fair. I’m happy with how my players have played and I will just tell my players to have a strong character and be mentally tough for anything,” Mururu added.

His corresponding counterpart Kitambi, was totally reading from a different script as he praised his charges a spirited fighting spirit.

“It’s a an important win, we are putting pressure on Gor, fantastic fighting spirit from the boys because we had to dig deep  in order to get that goal, but we need to improve on our defence. I am happy with Odera – a boy who has scored four goals in four matches tells you that he wants to play and you just have to heed and give him the chance,” smiling Kitambi said.

AFC Leopards took the lead in the 13th minute through Marvin Omondi who well timed to powerfully connect a Jaffery Odenyi cross past Kakamega Homeboyz custodian Michael Wanyika.

However, Homeboyz responded immediately, a minute later courtesy of Moses Mudavadi who picked a set-up from Eston Esiye to slam the ball home from close range to lift his side back in the game.

On the half-hour mark, Marvin Omondi could have bagged a double for himself and AFC Leopards when Ezekiel Odera found him but the striker missed the ball infront of goal with keeper Wanyika already beaten.

The win saw AFC Leopards return back to second position on the log with 16 points same as bitter rivals Gor Mahia who have a better goal difference and a goal in hand.

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NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 18 – Hard fighting Gor Mahia bowed out of the CAF Champions League after going down 1-0 on aggregate to Esperance of Tunisia in the first round.

Esperance won 1-0 in the return leg played in Tunis on Sunday after the first leg ended in a 0-0 draw hosted at the Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos 10 days ago.

A spirited Gor Mahia, playing under a hostile environment, pressed hosts Esperence to their edge despite conceding a goal in the 20th minute, but thanks to the solid defence of the home team coupled by time wasting, they denied the Kenyan champions an away goal that could have seen them write history by proceeding to the Group Stages for the first time in over two decades.

Unlike the last time when Gor played in the same Stade Olympique de Radès pitch where they lost 5-0, it was a much improved K’Ogalo that played this time, showing composure and defending well.

Esperance took the lead after the Gor midfield failed to thwart a build-up from the hosts that gave Anis Badri an opportunity to smash the ball past K’Ogalo shot-stopper Boniface Oluoch.

The result saw K’Ogalo relegated to the CAF Confederation Cup where they will know their opponents for the play-off round when the draw will be conducted March 21.

Gor Mahia will now turn attention to the Kenyan Premier League where they seek to defend the title.

They are currently leading the log on 16 points and with a match at hand.

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NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 19 – A decision by the Sports Dispute Tribunal to recall two athletes who were selected to represent Kenya in the Commonwealth Games has been temporarily upheld, pending the hearing of a case in which the Kenya Squash and Racket Association seeks to nullify it.

The Association through its lawyer, Katunga Mbuvi, argues that the decision was arbitrary and made too late in the day with barely two weeks into the Commonwealth Games in Australia.

Justice George Odunga has directed  a temporary stay of the Tribunal’s  decision stating that the “leave sought” to file the case operates “as stay” pending the determination of the  case filed by the Kenya Squash Rackets Association against  the tribunal and an aggrieved player, Khaaliqa Nimji who wanted the selection done afresh.

Veteran lawyer Katunga Mbuvi told the judge that that unless the decision is stayed the players who were selected stand to be harassed based on the decision of the tribunal.

The judge granted an order prohibiting the Tribunal and Khimji from using the ruling to harass and intimidate the members of the Kenya Squash Racquets Association and the players who were selected to represent the country in the forthcoming Commonwealth Games as they prepare to leave to travel to Australia.

Mbuvi has filed a supporting affidavit signed by David Ngunjiri Theuri which states that the complaint which the Tribunal entertained was already overtaken by events since the selection had already been done.

“The resultant tribunal decision therein has caused unrest, confusion and interfered with the applicant members and officials preparation to attend the scheduled Commonwealth games,” Mbuvi told the trial court.

He said the Association did a country wide selection and picked two best players who qualified.

“These two met the conditions and qualifications set by the Commonwealth host country , Australia,” the lawyer said.

He said the Tribunal’s decision would invariably reverse matters.

“There is no way the Association can repeat the pre-trials qualifications because the deadline for reporting and presentation of names was March 7 2018,’ Mbuvi said.

The lawyer said the Tribunal made an arbitrary decision to order re-selections as it did not involve all parties in its proceedings.

Mbuvi has asked the court to render the Tribunals decision void in law and unforceable.

The court will make a final ruling to quash the decision after the parties file their final submissions on March 20 2018.

Justice Odunga said the matter is urgent and directed parties to file their papers by end of business Monday.

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NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 19 – The Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) has appointment Ian Snook as the Head Coach of the Kenya Simbas.

The New Zealand national brings with him a vast wealth of experience, having served in various high profile coaching and consulting capacities in New Zealand, Australia, England, Ireland, Laos, Japan, Croatia, Italy and South Africa.

He will be assisted by his countryman Murray Roulston who has previously served on the coaching staff of Super Rugby side Highlanders and also served in various coaching and consulting capacities in New Zealand, Japan, Trinidad & Tobago and Romania.

The duo are currently  working with the technical team of Dominique Habimana, Charles Ngovi, Richard Ochieng, Chris Makachia and Simiyu Wangila on their conditioning program and are expected in the country during the first week of April.

Meanwhile, the Kenya Rugby Union is targeting a series of build up matches against European opposition in the run up to the Rugby Africa Gold Cup which doubles up as the 2019 Rugby World Cup Qualifiers.

Ian Snook Coaching Experience

1978- 1986         Club Coaching (Wairarapa and Taranaki)

1986-1989         Club Coach and Director of Coaching at Bedford Rugby Football Club, England

1989-1991          Club Coach at Cambridge University Rugby CLub, England

1992                     Club Coach and Director of Coaching, Old Wesley Rugby Football Club, Dublin, Ireland

1993-1994          Director of Coaching and Representative Coach for Manawatu Rugby Football Union, New Zealand

1995                      Director of Coaching, Manawatu Rugby Football Union, New Zealand

1996-1997         Director of Coaching and Provincial Coach, Border Rugby Football Union, South Africa

1998-2000       Director of Coaching and Club Coach for Canberra Kookaburra (later became Vikings) in the NSW Premiership Competition,Australia

2001-2005      Technical Director and Head Coach, Toyota Shokki Rugby Club, Japan

2006 -2007     Coaching Coordinator for Marist Saint Pats and Wellington Rugby Union

2007 -2008    Director of Rugby, Taranaki Rugby Football Union, New Zealand

2008-2010     Senior and Club Coach, CUS Genova, Italy

2011-2012       Coaching Consultant, Cornish Pirates (England), Clubs & Schools (Taranaki, New Zealand)

2013-2015      Senior Club Coach, Clifton Rugby Club,Coaching Consultant Cornish Pirate, Mid Canterbury and local schools

2016                 Zagreb RFC (Croatia) Guest Coach

2017                Assistant Coach, Francis Douglas Memorial College 1st XV

2017               Head Coach Laos National Team

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NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 19 – The final three slots for the 2018 Barclays Kenya Open Golf Championship were filled at a Pre-Qualification tournament that was held on Monday at the Vet Lab Sports Club, where all Kenyan professional golfers missed out.

Frenchman Victor Riu, who braved the morning rain over the course of his first few holes, qualified automatically after posting a 6-under par score at the par-72 golf course.

Niclas Johansson from Sweden and Pedro Figueiredo from Portugal joined him for this year’s Kenya Open after emerging second and third respectively in a six-man play-off decider that was held over the first nine to determine the remaining two players who will take part at the tournament.

Other players involved in the play-off included Mateusz Gradecki, Samuel Steel Robertshawe, Gary Hurley and Roussel Robin from France. The play-off was occasioned after three players – Niclas, Pedro and Mateusz – finished T2 with a point score of 69.

Niclas, who had finished 3-under par during the Pre-Qualifier, holed a birdie on the 3rd while Pedro scored level par on the 5th to claim 3rd position.

Poland’s Mateusz Gradecki emerged 1st reserve after bogeying on the 5th while Irishman Gary Hurley emerged 2nd reserve with a birdie on the 2nd.

Englishman Samuel Steel Robertshawe ended the day 3rd reserve having made par on the 2nd. Reserve players replace any player who, having already qualified for the tournament, may pull out at the last minute.

Kenyans who took part at the Pre-Qualifier, who include Nelson Mudanyi (Muthaiga Golf Club) Richard Ainley (Nakuru Golf Club), Kenneth Bollo (Royal Nairobi Golf Club), Anil Shah (Royal Nairobi Golf Club) and Sigona’s Sujan Shah, all failed to grab a slot at this year’s Kenya Open during the Pre-Qualifier.

Three-time Challenge Tour Champion, Alvaro Velasco, former European Tour Champion Oliver Wilson, and current Cape Town Open Champion, Rhys Enoch, also failed to qualify with each posting 80, 71 and 72 point scores respectively.

Speaking at the end of the event, Kenya Open Tournament Director, Patrick Obath, said competition witnessed today points to the level and quality of golf expected during this year’s Kenya Open.

“The competition we witnessed today confirms the level and quality of golf we expect to see at this year’s Barclays Kenya Open and I believe that fans will have a great chance to watch high-quality golf that we believe will be different from the previous years’,” he said.

The Pre-Qualifier was the last opportunity for any golf professional, local or foreign to grab a last-minute ticket into what is the most lucrative Tournament on the 2018 European Challenge Tour.

The three will now join the rest of the field in preparing for the 2018 edition of the Barclays Kenya Open by participating at the two PRO-AM events which are lined-up for tomorrow and Wednesday at the Muthaiga Golf Club.

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NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 20 – David Beckham’s wife Victoria has been demonstrating her boxing skills during her tour in Kenya to see the BoxGirls scheme in the country.

The 43-year-old designer is in Kenya to see some of the projects supported by Sport Relief first hand, but jokingly blamed tight jeans for her lack of boxing prowess.

During the visit she also met and spoke to villagers, expressing how delighted she was that the girls she met had big dreams for their futures, such as wanting to be lawyers and doctors.

Speaking about the visit, Victoria said she had been supporting the work of Sport Relief for over a decade.

“I first went on a field trip to Peru in 2004 for the A Mile In Their Shoes documentary,” she said.

“Fourteen years later, here I am in Kenya, visiting incredible community projects that are protecting, educating and empowering women of all ages,” she explained.

“It is all down to the amazing generosity of the British public and the money you donate, that girls across the world are being given brighter, happier and healthier futures,” she added.

-By elleuk.com-

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NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 20 – The Professional Golfers of Kenya (PGK) has received Sh1mn from Safaricom for the sponsorship of a Tournament Management System (TMS) for their members.

The TMS includes a full tour membership system, tournament entry option, player database and financial recordings.

It will also have information on tournament draws, scoring, cut and a result facility linked directly to the website www.progolfkenya.com.

The website which will be available on mobile will also give members access to communication via email or SMS, of their tee-off times and scores after the last round.

“It’s an honor for us to be part of yet another golf sponsorship, just a few days after we announced our support for this year’s Barclays Kenya open. We continue to invest in the sport because we believe in its potential to attract and transform the lives of the players” said Steve Okeyo, Regional Sales and Operation Director, Safaricom.

PGK has already trialed the system during a series of qualifiers for their members in preparation for this week’s Kenya Open tournament.

“We are absolutely thrilled as PGK Board to be able to provide these facilities for our members using a digital platform.  We hope this will inspire young golfers to take up the game as a career. It has eased the administration of our tournaments and allowed all players to concentrate on the golf round”, said PGK Chairman Charan Thethy.

The platform has been developed by OCS Sports in the United Kingdom, who also partner with a number of the world’s leading professional tours and golfing federations including The European Tour and The Sunshine Tour South Africa.  PGK hopes to attract events throughout the year, which will be placed on the TMS well in advance.

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NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 20 – Kenyan-born Dutch distance runner Lornah Kiplagat was a master of the 21.1km distance, securing a hat-trick of world half marathon titles between 2006 and 2008.

No distance defines Lornah Kiplagat quite like the half marathon.

During a long and glittering endurance running career, which included winning the world cross-country title plus success over the marathon and on the track, it was her hat-trick of world half marathon titles scooped from 2006 to 2008 – the former two courtesy of world best marks – with which she is best associated.

Born in Kenya, Kiplagat quickly developed an impressive road-running reputation with several international half marathon victories before making her IAAF World Half Marathon Championships debut in 1998 in Uster, Switzerland aged just 24.

Competing against an experienced field, which included defending champion Tegla Loroupe and South Africa’s Elana Meyer, she finished more than three-and-a-half minutes behind Loroupe, the race winner, in 21st.

“It was only my second World Championships after competing at the World Cross in 1996 but my run in Uster encouraged me and motivated me that the future will be better,” she says.

By the time Kiplagat returned to the World Half Marathon Championships some seven years later, she was a different athlete.

Having learned to conquer her nerves, which had plagued her during the early phase of her career, she went into the 2005 edition in Edmonton as a mentally stronger athlete.

She was also among the favourites, having triumphed at the Rotterdam Marathon earlier that year.

Yet in torrid wet conditions in Alberta, she suffered a nagging hamstring cramp, which made the race a hard slog.

“I didn’t have a lot of fun,” she recalls of the 2005 edition. “It was raining for most of the race, I couldn’t get warm and I felt cold for the entire run. My hamstring cramped very early in the race but I didn’t want to drop out; I hoped to manage the problem.”

To that end, Kiplagat was successful. She took the silver medal in a tight battle from Kenyan Susan Chepkemei – just over a minute behind the race winner Constantina Dita of Romania – but was encouraged by her performance in challenging circumstances.

“The fact I was able to manage my hamstring during the race and could still sprint to silver in the later stages was a good sign for me,” she says.

Returning the following year for the temporarily renamed IAAF World Road Running Championships in Debrecen – where the competitors would tackle the slightly shorter 20km distance – Kiplagat had a new-found confidence after taking silver at the World Cross Country Championships earlier that year.

Her self-belief was justified. With a blistering pace from the outset, at 10km the leaders – including Kiplagat – were some 49 seconds under Paula Radcliffe’s 20km world record pace.

The pace, perhaps understandably, slowed during the second half of the race but Kiplagat proved too strong for Dita in the latter stages to stop the clock in 1:03:21, taking five seconds from Radcliffe’s world record mark.

“I felt very strong throughout the race and I was determined to win gold this time and not silver again,” recalls Kiplagat. “I felt very happy to be become a world champion and this motivated me to achieve more. It was incredible to attain a world record at a World Championship.”

Kiplagat entered the defence of her title the following year in Udine (reverting back to the traditional half-marathon distance) lacking in confidence.

Earlier that year she was elated to defeat the track and cross-country specialists in Mombasa to take add the world cross-country title to her growing CV.

But a calf injury later in the year forced her to abandon attempts to run at the IAAF World Championships in Osaka and the injury had created nagging doubts leading into Udine.

“I was worried because I knew I hadn’t trained much in the weeks leading into the competition,” she explains. “I never expected to win because my injury had not completely cleared and I didn’t know how it would act.”

Instead, the enforced training break worked wonders as she encountered no injury issues in Udine and sped to the gold medal courtesy of a world record time of 1:06:25, as well as lowering her 20km best.

After 10km – reached in 31:10 – only Kenyan Mary Keitany could live the pace before Kiplagat maintained her relentless speed to burst free from her rivals and lower Meyer’s eight-year-old world record.

“I was surprised by the speed at 5km, 10km and 15km,” she says. “I felt comfortable and my injury did not cause me any problems. I couldn’t believe I could run away from the group. I remember the cheering at the finish line. I had goose bumps all over. It felt great.

“Alongside the World Cross Country Championships, it will remain my best race,” she added. “To win and break a long-standing record in a World Championship when not expected to because of a calf injury was incredible.”

She returned in 2008 in an effort to secure a hat-trick of titles in Rio and would not be denied.

Hampered by a knee problem in the countdown to the event, she once again managed to overcome injury to deliver the golden ticket as she romped to a resounding win in 1:08:37, finishing 80 seconds ahead of silver medallist Aselefech Mergia of Ethiopia.

“I vividly remember running alone along the beautiful beach of Copacabana and Sugarloaf Mountain,” said Kiplagat, who broke clear of the field after just seven kilometres. “Those memories will stay with me forever.

“To win gold three times in a row at my favourite distance, I couldn’t ask for more and I’m honoured to be part of history.

“My three world half marathon wins have made me the person I am today, and it continues to motivate me every day to promote running as either a professional or recreational activity.”

Kiplagat insists the IAAF World Half Marathon Championships are special because of the standalone attention the athletes receive, coupled with the mass participation element to the race.

Yet one question remains: why does she feel she was suited to the half-marathon distance?

“Throughout my career,” she says, “I felt the half marathon was the distance I could manage and give my all comfortably without damaging my body.”

Kiplagat in numbers

5 – The number of IAAF World Half Marathon Championships she contested, which included three gold medals and one silver medal

19 – The number of seconds she cut from Elana Meyer’s eight-year world record when winning the 2007 World Half Marathon Championships

34 – Kiplagat’s age when she secured her third and last world half marathon crown

80 – The number of seconds Kiplagat defeated silver medallist Aselefech Mergia by at the 2008 edition in Rio

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NAIROBI, Kenya, Mar 21 – World record-holder Dennis Kimetto will next compete over 26.2 miles at the Vienna City Marathon, an IAAF Gold Label road race scheduled for April 22.

Although the likes of Haile Gebrselassie and Paula Radcliffe have contested the half marathon in the Austrian capital, this will be the first time in the 34-year history of the event that a marathon world record-holder has lined up for the Vienna City Marathon.

The 34-year-old, who ran a world record of 2:02:57 in Berlin 2014, hopes to rekindle his career in Vienna next month.

“I was able to train without injuries for a good period,” said Kimetto, who last completed a marathon in London in 2016 when he finished ninth in 2:11:44. “I believe in my capabilities and want to show a strong performance in Vienna.

“If conditions are good then I want to attack the course record (2:05:41),” he added of the mark set by Ethiopia’s Getu Feleke in 2014. “The most important thing is that after several disappointing races in the past two years I can achieve a good marathon result again.”

Kimetto took the road-running scene by storm with three major wins in the spring of 2012. He first won the star-studded Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon, and then won the Berlin Half Marathon with a lifetime best of 59:14 before returning to the German capital one month later to break the world 25km best with 1:11:18.

After a second-place finish in 2:04:16 – the fastest debut marathon on a record-eligible course at that time – in Berlin later that year, Kimetto went on to win the Tokyo and Chicago marathons in 2013.

Kimetto’s world record has survived challenges from marathon superstars Eliud Kipchoge, Wilson Kipsang and Kenenisa Bekele over the past three years. But during that time, Kimetto has struggled to reproduce his dominant form from 2012-2014.

“Dennis wants to show something in Vienna,” said his manager Gerard van de Veen. He is an athlete of extraordinary quality.

“After he ran his world record in Berlin, his physical problems started. I think the race in Berlin took a lot out of his body. We suggested to him to run in Vienna because we have good experience with the event and the course is fine for running a good time.”

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