NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 18 – World champion Hellen Obiri and Ethiopia’s Tadese will be the marquee athletes at the ‘Cross Internacional de Itálica’ in Santiponce on the outskirts of Seville on Sunday, the sixth leg of the 2019/20 World Athletics Cross Country Permit series.

The event promises to be a rematch of last Sunday’s races in Elgoibar as both podiums will be on show again.

Will Worku confirm breakthrough?

Turning 18 the day after the race, the young Ethiopian will be happy to celebrate his birthday one day in advance with a victory to confirm his overwhelming win last weekend was no fluke.

The reigning world U-20 cross country silver medallist proved to be in stellar form last Sunday and should be tipped as the main favourite in the 10km event.

One of his stiffest opponents should be Burundi’s Thierry Ndikumwenayo, the 22-year-old who will be making his sixth appearance on Spanish soil this cross country campaign.

He’s produced three wins — in Alcobendas (24 Nov), Aranda de Duero (1 Dec) and Cantimpalos (8 Dec) — plus a runner-up finish in Soria (17 Nov).

The Italy-based runner, who was ninth at the World Cross Country Championships in Aarhus last year, only finished outside the top-five in Atapuerca (9 Nov) where he finished sixth.

Kenya’s Richard Yator and Aron Kifle, runner-up and third respectively in Elgoibar should also be in contention.

The Kenyan was 13th in Aarhus while Kifle has changed his base from Madrid to Nijmegen after joining the Global Sports agency.

He will be joined by fellow Eritrean Yemane Haileselassie, an 8:11.22 3000m steeplechase specialist who reached the Rio Olympics final.

Watch out too for USA’s Paul Chelimo and Shadrack Kipchirchir. The former is the reigning Olympic 5000m silver medallist and is fresh from a fourth place in Elgoibar while Kipchirchir came tenth at the Doha worlds over 10,000m and holds a PB of 27:07.55 set in 2017.

Robel Fsiha of Sweden and Turkey’s Aras Kaya, the gold and silver medallists at last month’s European Cross Country Championships, will clash again in Seville.

However, both don’t seem to be in the same kind of form that led them to medals in Lisbon; Kaya took sixth at Madrid’s New Year’s Eve 10km race in 28:13, fifth in San Giorgio Su Legnano on 6 January — four seconds clear of Fsiha — and sixth again in Elgoibar last weekend.

Spanish hopes rest on Carlos Mayo and Ouassim Oumai. The former took the European U-23 10,000m title in 2017 before being slowed by injuries which prevented him to make an impact in the senior category.

Fully recovered now and his successful medical school studies behind him, Mayo is fresh from a fourth and eight place finishes in Amorebieta and Elgoibar.

As for Oumaiz, the 20-year-old surprised the athletics world by winning the opening permit series race in Atapuerca ahead of some world-class athletes to start the Europeans Cross Country championships as one of the men to beat.

He confessed afterwards that he couldn’t carry that burden and opted to drop out of the race when he fell well behind.

The Spaniard has recently joined the NN team and seems ready to bounce back on Sunday.

Morocco’s reigning world 3000m steeplechase bronze medallist Soufiane El Bakkali will make his European winter season debut here after finishing sixth last year. Ethiopia’s Amorebieta winner Enyew Mekonnen and Eritrea’s Awet Habte, a 27:48.35 10,000m specialist, will also fight for a top-ten place.

Obiri the woman to beat

The women’s cast is headed by the reigning world cross country champion Hellen Obiri.

The 30-year-old Kenyan kicked-off her winter campaign successfully in Elgoibar where, after running alongside compatriot Beatrice Chebet for most of the race, broke away from the reigning world U20 cross country on the last lap.

The 19-year-old Chebet should pose the main danger for Obiri, again alongside the reigning world 5000m silver medallist Margaret Kipkemboi Chelimo.

The 26-year-old captured a surprise silver in Doha where she set a lifetime best of 14:27.49 and has shown fine form recently by winning a 5km road race in Bolzano on 31 December before taking second at the Campaccio cross country on 6 January.

Trying to deny a Kenyan clean sweep over the 9135m contest will be Ethiopia’s Tsehay Gemechu, fourth at the Doha worlds over 5000m in a career best of 14:29.60.

Barely two weeks later the 21-year-old set a 1:06:00 personal record for the half marathon in New Delhi. She’ll be racing her first race of the year on Sunday.

Gemechu will be joined by fellow Ethiopian Tsige Abreha, the winner in Amorebieta.

Kenya’s Eva Cherono, third in Elgoibar, and Bahrain’s World Championships marathon silver medallist Rose Chelimo will also be on show.

The European response should come from Spain’s Irene Sánchez-Escribano, fifth in Elgoibar and Britain’s former (2014 and 2015) European XC silver medallist Kate Avery, who finished 30th at the Lisbon Europeans and is fresh from an easy cross country win in Stirling last Saturday.

Weather forecasters predict a pleasant sunny early afternoon on Sunday with temperatures of 12-14 C, some gusts of wind but no chance of rain.

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NANYUKI, Kenya, Jan 18 – Roy Kimoi scored the winner with four minutes to play as the Juja Youth Soccer Association (JYSA) came from a goal down to beat Irigiro from Murang’a 2-1 to progress to the Central Region final of the Chapa Dimba na Safaricom Championship in Nanyuki on Saturday.

Dickson Elegae had scored from a freekick to cancel out Pio Ouma’s early goal and it all seemed to be headed to penalties after a tightly contested second half, but a moment of brilliance from Kimoi ensured the Juja side progressed to their first ever final.

At the end of the opening 45, it was all square between the two sides, much thanks to goalkeeping howlers from either of the shot stoppers.

It would be JYSA’s Michael Boas who would gift the opening goal when he tried to make a Cruyff turn inside his own area, Ouma dispossessing him of the ball and slotting the ball into the net with a beautiful rabona goal.

Eight minutes later, his opposite number Kelvin Muregi’s butter fingers handed JYSA the equalizer when he let a freekick from range off Dickson Elagae slipped between his butter fingers when he looked as though he had gathered it well.

It was a contest between the two sides, each showing their worth. Irigiro had however most of the scoring chances and Ouma thought he had broken the deadlock early on but his goal was ruled out for offside.

JYSA had a fourth minute chance just after Irigiro’s disallowed goal but Roy Kimoi hit the ball over the bar with only the keeper to beat after the defense failed to clear the ball.

The Juja based side had another brilliant chance in the 27^th minute but were denied twice. Kimoi had a shot from the right well saved by the keeper with Robert Khalfa’s shot from the rebound cleared off the line by Zablon Muya.

In the second half, it was more of a tough contest, the two sides balancing on the scales. Irigiro’s Muya had a good chance five minutes after the restart but he shot over and wide from the right with space ahead of him.

JYSA were more attacking and they showed intent, raiding Irigiro’s goal at every available opportunity. And they got the reward in the 86^th minute when Kimoi slotted home after turning three defenders on their bum after a good pass from skipper David Kiarie.

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NANYUKI, Kenya, Jan 18 – On their debut, Ulinzi Youth is optimistic of clinching the Central Region Chapa Dimba Na Safaricom title after narrowly edging out Kirinyaga’s Kiamatugu by a solitary goal at the Nanyuki Stadium on Saturday to book a slot in Sunday’s final.

Brian Kefero scored the lone goal for the ‘military boys’ based at the Laikipia Air Base (LAB) and a junior team to Kenyan Premier League club Ulinzi Stars which is based in Nakuru.

They will take on Juja’s JYSA in what is expected to be a closely contested final.

The military boys broke the deadlock in the 17^th minute when Kafero scored from the edge of the six yard box after running into an Anthony Masinde cross from the left.

The goal had been coming for the home side as they had started strong on attack. Masinde and Kafero had combined earlier on in the ninth minute when Kafero forced the keeper into a full stretch save after taking a stinging shot off a Masinde cutback.

After the goal, Ulinzi still commanded possession in Kiamatugu’s half and came close again in the 19^th minute but Kelvin Akmat’s shot from range went just over with the keeper off his line.

Kiamatugu were limited in their forays upfront, but they were given a chance in the 25^th minute off a freekick from range, but Stephen Mwaniki struck inches wide with the keeper well beaten.

Kafero should have scored his second 10 minutes from the break but he failed to put the ball into the net after doing well to loop it over the keeper who was speeding off his line.

The second half was a closely contested affair but the home side had more chances with George Okwaro shooting wide unmarked from the left while goal scorer Kafero had two more chances with shots from inside the box that went wide.

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NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 18 – Hosts Mwamba RFC fell to a second successive loss after going down 13-18 to visitors Nakuru as the Kenya Cup entered the 11th round on Saturday.

In other results, Kenyatta University’s BlakBlad hammered Western Bulls 44-0, Impala were 37-29 victors over Menengai Oilers, Kabras Sugar hit Kenya Harlequin 34-3, Nondescripts succumbed 11-37 to Homeboyz RFC while champions KCB RFC thrashed 55-7.

At the Nairobi Railway Club, Nakuru bounced back after last week’s defeat to Kabras Sugar and so was the case to Mwamba who went down to Oilers.

Collins Onyango’s two penalties saw Nakuru lead 3-6 with Elvis Namusasi slicing the posts for Mwamba. Oscar Ouma scored Nakuru’s first five pointer with Onyango adding the extras.

Emmanuel Mboya would add Nakuru’s second to see Wanyore lead 3-18 at the interval.

Second half was all about Mwamba as Edwin Machange bagged a brace but a knock on towards the end saw Nakuru carry the day.

The four-point wins means Nakuru stay sixth with 29 points as Mwamba remains seventh with 25 after picking a losing point for going down with less than seven points. 

–By Raga House-

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NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 18 – The Kenya men’s basketball team Morans booked a place in the next round of the 2021 Fiba Afro-basketball pre-qualifiers after providing a spirited fight to down tough opponents South Sudan 74-68 in a tight contest played on Saturday at a fully packed Nyayo National Stadium Gymnasium.

Kenya finished top of the round robin format after powering past Eritrea, Tanzania, Somalia, Burundi and now favourites South Sudan and will now join Senegal, Angola and Mozambique in Pool B of the qualifiers.

The top three from the last qualifiers will advance to the tournament finals to be played in 2021.

With the match being a decider, the fans turned up in large numbers and could not fit in the gymnasium, forcing the tournament organisers to lock the gates but they were overwhelmed by the fans.

This saw the match being delayed for over an hour as the organisers calmed the situation.

Morans, charged by the home fans, led the first quarter 5-19 but the South Sudanese rallied to go for the break leading 30-29.

Kenya would then stretch their lead to 38-32, before moving further ahead to 44-35. The South Sudanese side pulled their way back into the match with a late Pout three, but Kenya again moved into the fourth 52-46.

Griffin Ligare tallied 26 with 6 assist Robert Nyakundi posted 18 and Bush Wamukota hit 13 with 18 rebounds. Makuey Jambo 15 and Dol Bakl shot 12 for the losers.

Kenyan coach Cliff Owuor said. “We talked as a team to deny them the ball and control the boards. Stop their execution and that was it. We are happy to qualify for the next round”

Earlier in the day, Burundi beat Eritrea 101-54 while Tanzania lost 101-84 to Somalia.

Burundi, Eritrea, Tanzania and Somalia were the other teams in the five day competition.

Kenya will open their AfroBasket 2021 Qualifiers campaign in the next window to be played from November 23 – December 1, 2020 at venues yet to be determiined.

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NANYUKI, Kenya, Jan 19 – The magical Jane Njeri struck a second half brace as defending champions Falling Waters successfully retained their Chapa Dimba Na Safaricom Central Region girls’ title with a 3-1 win over Limuru Starlets at the Nanyuki Stadium on Sunday.

Njeri who has finished the tournament with six goals added on to skipper Mariam Lutomia’s first half strike with Limuru’s consolation slotted home from the penalty spot by Joy Kanja in the 82^nd minute.

Falling Waters, previously known as Barcelona Queens, will now progress to the national finals for a second consecutive time, hoping to do better than last season when they fail to progress past the semi-finals.

Lutomia broke the deadlock after nine minutes with a belter from the right after the ball was recycled back into play from a poorly defended corner. Hannah Wangari picked the ball at the edge of the box before putting her captain through.

Just before that, Lutomia had shown her predative nature from range with a freekick from almost 35 yards out that was turned behind or a corner by the keeper.

Wangari had also come close a few minutes earlier when she was set up by Jane Njeri at the edge of the box, but her well angled shot flew just inches over the bar.

Despite going down, Limuru Starlets never gave in the pressure and anchored by their star player Joyce Nyokabi from the middle of the pack, they tried all but in vain to unlock a resolute falling Waters defense.

Damaris Akinyi who scored a hattrick in Saturday’s semi final came close for Limuru but she couldn’t get the right technique to lob the ball over the keeper after she raced off the line.

While the defending champions were also limited in their chances, they came close a minute to the break but Lutomia’s freekick from range brushed the bar on it’s way out, but they ensured they went to the break tails up at 1-0.

The Nyahururu based team kept their momentum in the second half and doubled their lead in the 66^th minute when Njeri dribbled past the keeper to slam the ball into an empty net picking up a brilliant defense splitting pass from Wangari.

Limuru’s day went from bad to worse when they had to change their first choice keeper Susan Njeri who picked up an injury.

Just three minutes after coming on, new girl Nancy Matika was picking the ball from her own net when Njeri completed her brace with a penalty after Naomi Nanjala was axed inside the box.

Limuru picked up momentum in the last 10 minutes, but it was a little too late. They came close in the 80^th minute when Damaris Akinyi struck the upright after the keeper spilled a shot, but they got their consolation two minutes later from the spot.

Eunice Ariviza handled inside the box and Kanja stepped up, slotting the ball hard and low to the bottom left.

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NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 19 – Nigeria’s former Africa player of the year Victor Ikpeba will be the chief guest at the 2019 Safaricom Sports Personality of the Year Awards (SOYA) to be held January 24 at the Mombasa Sports Club.

The former Nigeria Super Eagles star, who was crowned Africa’s finest in 1997, is expected in the country on Tuesday, then he will travel to Mombasa to hold a series of clinics with the local football sides before attending the gala on Friday.

“I’m so excited to be returning to Kenya after many years and it’s a great honour to be invited as the chief guest of a sports awards gala in county that has rich sporting talent like Kenya,” Ikpeba said.

He added: “I have just been in Kenya twice, first when we played Harambee Stars in a World Cup qualifier immediately after we won the 1996 Olympics gold medal in Atlanta Georgia and they frustrated us, holding us to a 1-1 draw. The second time I came in quietly for an Olympic promo in 2012. This time I will have more time to see the beauty of the country and mingle with some of the world beaters.”

Ikpeba, who featured at the 1994 and 1998 FIFA World Cup tournaments with Nigeria has had stints with French Ligue 1 side AS Monaco, Bundesliga side Borussia Dortmund and Spanish La Liga side Real Betis. He also had stints with teams in the Middle East before he hanged his boots.

This year’s gala has been sponsored by Safaricom with co-sponsorship from County Government of Mombasa, Kenya Pipeline, Communication Authority of Kenya, New KCC, Lapfund, Kenya Power, UBA Bank, Nairobi Bottlers, Kenya Ports Authority, NHIF, NSSF, Kenya Tourism Board and GOtv.

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NANYUKI, Kenya, Jan 19 – Debutants Ulinzi Youth came from a goal down to beat Juja Youth Soccer Association (JYSA) 3-1 to clinch the Chapa Dimba na Safaricom Central Region boys’ title at the Nanyuki Stadium on Sunday afternoon.

Clinton Sheitara scored the opener for JYSA, but a spirited Ulinzi clawed back with goals from Brian Kafero, Emmanuel Lenkai and Kelvin Akmat sending them to the national finals on top of a Sh200,000 cash reward.

JYSA had to finish the match with 10 players after keeper Michael Boas was shown a str

In an end to end affair, an exciting first half saw Ulinzi go to the break with a 2-1 lead, having fought from a goal back in a half they totally dominated.

They were stung early when Shitera scored after 10 minutes, slamming the ball into the net after Ulinzi keeper Elijah Mambo palmed Robert Khalifa’s cross into his path.

The Juja based side had knocked on the Ulinzi door early with Dickson Elegae coming close with a freekick in the second minute that was pushed to the bar by the keeper while he had another effort five minutes later turned behind for a corner.

But, Ulinzi pushed on by a partisan home crowd were relentless despite going down early. They raided the JYSA half passing the ball beautifully around the pack.

Kelvin Akmat had a chance in the 12^th minute, but his shot off a Lenkai pass was just wide. Eight minutes later, Anthony Masinde had a glorious chance to put Ulinzi back on level terms when he was put through on goal by Akmat, but he placed his shot wide with only the keeper to beat.

The Military boys kept on hunting and they were finally rewarded in the 29^th minute when Kafero scored his second goal of the tournament with a neat finish from inside the box after controlling George Okwaro’s cross from the left beautifully on his chest.

Three minutes later, Masinde thought he had put his side level when he tapped home a loose ball inside the box but he was flagged down for offside. Two minutes later though, he provided the second goal.

The winger did well to skip away from his marker before cutting back the ball for Lenkai who controlled and shot low into the bottom right.

Ulinzi kept the hunt but were almost pegged back in the 44^th minute when Sheitara was left dangerously unmarked on the right, but this time keeper Mambo made a good save.

Ulinzi were relentless in the second half as well and they came close again in the 52^nd minute when Masinde’s well struck volley from the edge of the area met an equally brilliant save from JYSA keeper Michael Boas.

The shot stopper was however beaten in the 72^nd minute when Akmat’s well curled freekick from the right dipped beyond him and into the net to seal the victory for the Laikipia Air Base based side.

Boas became the victim with 10 minutes left to play, his day going from bad to worse after being shown a straight red card for handling the ball outside the area. And with no substitute keeper on the bench, skipper David Kiarie had to swap to go in goal.

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NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 21 – Robert Keter’s world 5km record of 13:22 has been ratified.

Keter, who was something of an unknown when he lined up for the Urban Trail Lille 5km on 9 November, upstaged a quality field to take seven seconds off the previous world record.

Keter made his way to the front before the second pacemaker dropped out, but three fellow Kenyans – Stanley Waithaka, Davis Kiplangat and Gilbert Kwemoi – were all close behind. Those four men began to pull away from the other athletes in the lead pack with less than a mile left to run.

There was a relatively tight turn at 4km as they looped back on to the Boulevard de la Liberte, but Keter got there first and started to increase the pace for the final kilometre. He continued to pull away from his three compatriots and they were unable to match Keter’s finishing pace.

Keter turned into the Place de la Republique with a clear lead and crossed the finish line in 13:22, breaking the previous world record set by Switzerland’s Julien Wanders in Monaco on 17 February 2019.

The 5km road distance was introduced as an official world record event in November 2017, with the inaugural record to be recognised after 1 January 2018 if the performances were equal to or better than 13:10 for men and 14:45 for women.

If no such performances were achieved in 2018, the best performances of 2018 (13:30 by Bernard Kibet and 14:48 by Caroline Kipkurui) would be recognised on 1 January 2019. Seven weeks into 2019, Wanders and Sifan Hassan bettered those marks in Monaco by clocking 13:29 and 14:44.

Several athletes, however, have gone quicker than Keter’s 13:22 before the 5km became an official world record event. The fastest time ever recorded for the distance remains Sammy Kipketer’s 13:00 clocking in Carlsbad in 2000.

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NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 21 – The national football team Harambee Stars has been drawn in Group E with neighbors Uganda, Mali and Rwanda for Africa 2022 World Cup Qualifier second round.

In the draw conducted on Tuesday in Cairo, Egypt, forty teams were divided into ten groups of four teams each, playing in a round-robin format.

Group winners will advance to the third round which will see five home and away fixtures to be played in November, with the aggregate five winners representing Africa in the 2022 FIFA World Cup in  Qatar.

African football champions Algeria, led by Riyad Mahrez, will take on Burkina Faso, Djibouti and Niger.

Other heavyweights such as Senegal, relying on 2020 African Footballer of the Year Sadio Mane, and Mohamed Salah’s Egypt will take on less-fancied nations.

Madagascar, surprise quarter-finalists in last year’s Africa Cup of Nations, will face the Democratic Republic of Congo.

All five African teams failed to reach the knockout stage of the 2018 World Cup, the first time that had happened since 1982.

African 2022 World Cup qualifying, second-round, draw:

Group A

Algeria, Burkina Faso, Niger, Djibouti

Group B

Tunisia, Zambia, Mauritania, Equatorial Guinea

Group C

Nigeria, Cape Verde, Central African Republic, Liberia

Group D

Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Mozambique, Malawi

Group E

Mali, Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda

Group F

Egypt, Gabon, Libya, Angola

Group G

Ghana, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia

Group H

Senegal, Congo Brazzaville, Namibia, Togo

Group I

Morocco, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Sudan

Group J

DR Congo, Benin, Madagascar, Tanzania

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NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 22 – Harambee Starlets midfielder Corazone Aquino will travel to Portugal on Friday to seal a one-year contract with top tier side Atletico Ouriense in what is the continuation of a new dawn for Kenyan women footballers.

This comes in the wake of the duo of keeper Annette Kundu and Ruth Ingotsi sealing a move to Cyprus while red hot forward Mwanahalima Adam is set to undergo month long trials in Sweden with another top-flight side Djugardens IF.

Another star player on the move is striker Cynthia Shilwatso who is also expected to travel to Sweden to join a second-tier club.

Aquino meanwhile has her move secured after finally getting her visa on Monday and she will join the Ourem based club for the remainder of their top-flight campaign.

“This is like the biggest thing in my career yet and I am so excited. I am thankful to God because women’s football is finally getting the recognition it deserves. At least we will have ‘foreign based’ Harambee Starlets players in the squad for once,” joked Aquino who has been a mainstay in the team for the last four years.

She added; “I can’t wait to get started at the new club. I have been told of it’s history and what they want to achieve and all their ambitions have attracted me. The rest is now to go and work hard and be a mainstay and definitely move up the ladder,” Aquino noted.

She added; “It is not easy, but I know where I have come from and that is motivation enough for me.”

Ouriense are placed eighth in the 12-team 1a Divisao and have accumulated 15 points from 12 matches. They are 24 points off leaders Benfica and have lost their last three games.

Aquino’s arrival at the club is expected to offer them a huge midfield steel and having done well for Starlets during the Olympic qualifiers and the 2019 CECAFA Women’s Challenge Cup, the 21 year old is expected to be a direct fit.

Aquino has previously played in Sweden where she plied for Malmo based FC Rosengard.

Meanwhile, Adam expects to impress the coaching team at the Stockholm based Djugardens and hope to follow in the footsteps of Harambee Stars forward Michael Olunga who also started his overseas venture in Sweden.

“It is a huge opportunity for me and I hope to go there and do my best InshaAllah. I am equal to the task and knowing how much this opportunity means to me, I will not let myself and Kenyans down,” Adam who is awaiting her visa told Capital Sport.

The Swedish Women’s League starts in mid-February.

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NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 22 – Harambee Stars head coach Francis Kimanzi believes Kenya’s draw for the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers is tough, but doable.

Stars were drawn in Pool E with neighbors Rwanda, Uganda and West African side Mali for the first phase of qualification which kicks off in March.

“I believe to be honest it is a fair group for us. It is tough, but doable. We know Uganda very well and Mali as well we saw them at the Cup of Nations in Egypt. Rwanda is also another regional tough side. This will be closely contested group but I believe if we get our act right, we can manage something,” Kimanzi told Capital Sport.

Kenya has never qualified for the World Cup, but upon their first ever election in 2016, the current office led by Nick Mwendwa had said they will give a credible shot at attempting to qualify.

Reacting to the draw, Mwendwa said; “I believe we can do something here. It is a very balanced group and we will give our best shot for it.”

The qualifiers are set to kick off in March and will run back to back alongside the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations which were brought back after the change in calendar to allow Cameroon host the showpiece in January/February.

Kmanzi knows only too well it will be a tough task playing back to back matches but he believes he has put together a strong and deep squad for all the assignments.

“We have been working to get a big squad because we knew this year was going to be heavy on us and I am happy with what we have so far. We now only need to plan and prepare well for every game and take each match at a time,” Kimanzi stated.

Meanwhile, skipper Victor Wanyama has also reiterated the same comments, saying Stars can dream of a third round berth if they play with commitment and resilience.

The winners of each of the 10 groups will advance to the final play-off round where the teams will be drawn against each other to get the final five to represent Africa in Qatar in 2022.

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RAS AL KHAIMAH, United Arab Emirates, Jan 22 – World marathon record-holder Brigid Kosgei is the standout name in the women’s field for the Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon, scheduled for February 21.

Kosgei, who broke the world marathon record with her stunning 2:14:04 run in Chicago last year, will return to the UAE after finishing seventh at the 2018 edition of the race.

Her official half marathon PB is 1:05:28, but she also won last year’s Great North Run – a slightly downhill point-to-point course – in 1:04:28, the fastest time in history for 13.1 miles.

“I am really excited to come back to the Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon after two years. I know that this year the line-up is one of the best ever for a half marathon and I really hope to run fast,” said Kosgei.

The 25-year-old Kenyan is one of several women in the field with a PB inside 66 minutes.

She will line up against Fancy Chemutai, whose best of 1:04:52 is just one second shy of the world half marathon record and 2016 world half marathon champion Peres Jepchirchir, who briefly held the world record following her 1:05:06 victory in Ras Al Khaimah in 2017

Ethiopia’s Netsanet Gudeta, who set a women-only world record to win the 2018 world half marathon title, and Joan Melly Chelimo, the fourth-fastest woman in history will also be in contention.

Rosemary Wanjiru, who recently went to third on the world all-time 10km list with 29:50, will be making her half marathon debut.

In the men’s race, world marathon silver medallist Mosinet Geremew will take on Two-time Prague Half Marathon winner Benard Kimeli and European record-holder Julien Wanders.

Ethiopian trio Andamlak Belihu, Solomon Berihu and Amdemwork Walelegn are also in the field along with Kenyan duo Alexander Mutiso and Kibiwott Kandie.

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NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 16 – Malkia Strikers head coach Paul Bitok hopes both the Ministry of Sports and the Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF) will approve of his plans to prepare the national team in the best way possible for their return to the Olympic Games.

Bitok who helped guide Malkia to their first Olympics since 2004 believes the girls stand a chance to perform well in Japan, but it will all depend on how well they prepare for the extravaganza.

“There are many people who are already willing to host and sponsor us outside the country. I will make a program and give it to the Federation and the Ministry of Sports and I hope they will approve it,” Bitok told Capital Sport.

“It will be a very tough tournament because we will be playing against the best 12 teams in the world. We must have good preparations with international friendly matches to give us a chance to compete. Otherwise it will be the same old story when we come back that we didn’t prepare well,” stated the tactician.

Malkia booked a ticket to the Olympics after finishing top of the five-team round robin tournament in Cameroon and the victory over the hosts was the biggest catalyst to push them to Tokyo.

“It was really exciting because we had been talking about it for over one month and we wanted to make history. We needed to take Kenya where it was as the powerhouse of women’s volleyball,” Bitok stated.

He added; I am very happy particularly because this happens immediately after coming back from Rwanda after 10 years. I am very proud and even if I retire, I will have achieved something for Kenya.”

At the 2004 games in Athens Greece, Kenya lost all its five matches without winning a single set. This year though, the Kenyan girls hope to do well and win some matches.

The same sentiments are shared by skipper Mercy Moim who noted that the team will strive to ensure they do well at the game.

“We just don’t want to go there to participate. We want to go and win games and see if we can get even to the knockout rounds. It is very possible because we have a good team,” Moim noted.

She added; “Personally I feel really happy because I have tried three precious times to qualify with the team but failed. This time, we finally got it.”

Meanwhile, Bitok says he will continue integrating young players into the team after youngsters Gladys Ekaru, Joy Luseneka and Sharon Chepchumba exploded with good performances in Cameroon.

“We had taken quite a long time without changing players and I think it is time we start giving confidence to these young players. We have to put a blend of senior and young players and going forward I will be doing the same. We need to have good transition,” Bitok opined.

The team last week met President Uhuru Kenyatta in Mombasa where they were promised maximum support in their preparations for the Olympics.

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NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 22 – For a second consecutive season, Jane Njeri finished as the Central Region Chapa Dimba na Safaricom girls golden boot winner, having netted six goals to aid her team Falling Waters to a second consecutive crown.

But Njeri, 17, would have turned out different had she left the scars of her past come haunting her down. Instead, she chose to drown her sorrows on her God-given talent which now looks well on course to guide her to dine with kings and queens.

The story of the teenager who idolizes Brazilian pair of Marta and Neymar is that of hope, determination and a drive to make the best out of her life.

-Lost father, forced to flee

On a fateful day in January 2008, Njeri, then just four years old living in Eldoret with her family, was rendered homeless together with her family, when the outcome of a national election bore violence that resulted to the killing of more than a thousand people across the country.

Njeri and her family, not only lost their home and property, but the bread winner of the house as well. Her father would fall into a statistic as one of the more than 1,000 people who lost their lives in the infamous post-election violence.

They were forced to flee to Naivasha where they settled at an IDP (Internally Displaced Persons) camp.

“I was young but I remember that life was so difficult for us. We had to stay in a tented camp and mum had to struggle to feed us and provide our basic needs. We struggled a lot until when we were given permanent houses and then mum got a job to help us out,” Njeri, the fourth born in a family of five states.

She suffered lots of trauma and the sorrow of losing her dad at such a young age had a huge bearing on her.

“It was sad but at the end of the day, some things are beyond your control and you just have to accept God’s will and try to make the best of the life you have at the moment,” she said, a sad grim beginning to show on her face.

-Solace in football

The soft spoken, pint sized assassin however found solace in football. She used to play alongside the boys when in school, just as a way of enjoying herself and seeking happiness.

But when she moved to Falling Waters High School in Nyahururu, it transited from a hobby to an actual activity she took serious.

“The school had a girls’ team and I began playing there. That’s when I discovered that I really had a talent and started taking it seriously. My mum had watched me play and she used to encourage me a lot and she always told me that one day, my talent will change our lives,” she stated.

And just four years on, her career seems to be taxing on the runway, ready to hit the skies especially at a time when women’s football in Kenya has taken a turn for the better.

“I want to work very hard and use my talent to help my family. I want to help mum and my brothers because I don’t want them to go through the same life that we had when growing up. I know it is possible and I will keep working hard,” she stated.

Having also scored six goals to finish as the top scorer in last season’s edition, Njeri earned the right to enter into an All-Star team that travelled to Barcelona for a training camp and she hopes for a second consecutive season, she will be on a plane to Spain.

-Lessons from Barcelona

“I really learnt a lot when we were in Barcelona last year. I learnt about professionalism; keeping time, preparing well for games and taking everything you do serious. Going there opened my eyes a lot and it motivated me more to try and be a full professional,”

“I watched Messi and Barcelona play live and it was one of the best days ever. I would have never known that at one point in my life I would be there. Now I don’t want it to be a once in a while thing. I want to actually go and play for a big club there,” the confident Njeri states.

Having finished her High School Education last year, Njeri now looks to sign for a Premier League club and also dreams of playing the national team, Harambee Starlets.

“Last year there were several clubs that came to try and sign me but I refused because I wanted to finish school first. This year I am now ready and I hope I can get a good team. I also want to play for the national team because that is the best platform to get noticed internationally,”

“One day I want to be a star just like Neymar and Marta. I am working hard to achieve that. I know I can do it,” she further asserted.

Her immediate focus though is on helping Falling Waters clinch the Chapa Dimba national crown having fallen in the semi-finals last season.

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NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 22 – The battle for qualification to the 2020 Magical Kenya Open is set to intensify as the 2019/20 Safari tour heads to Sigona Golf club from the 25th to 29th of January, for the ninth leg.

With a total of 10 players set to qualify to the prestigious Magical Kenya Open, Sigona offers the professionals an opportunity to score valuable tour points with two legs left to play.

Johnnie Walker sponsored Dismas Indiza currently leads the standings with 330.6 points, with Thika Golf Club’s Simon Ngige in second, Greg Snow, Erick Ooko, David Wakhu, Riz Charania, Kopan Timbe and Jastas Madoya rounding up the top eight local PROs slots for the Kenya Open.

Nigeria’s Andrew Odoh Oche and Uganda’s Philip Kasozi currently occupy the two slots reserved for regional players in 13th and 14th place respectively.

Last year’s Safari tour winner Greg Snow comes to Sigona as the odd on favourite to lift the title, after back-to-back wins at Thika Greens and Muthaiga.

He is expected to face stiff competition from the current series leader Indiza, who will be looking to get back to winning ways after faltering at Thika and Muthaiga.

Great Rift Valley’s Jastas Madoya who blew hot and cold at Muthaiga will be another player to watch out for, alongside Thika Golf Club’s Simon Ngige and Golf Park’s David Wakhu.

Royal Nairobi Golf club’s Erick Ooko will also be out for a good performance, after failing to make the CUT during the Muthaiga leg.

At the same time, the Kenya Breweries Limited (KBL) through its Johnnie Walker brand, has announced a sponsorship for the Hole-In-One prize at the Sigona and Karen legs of the Safari Tour; as well as the PRO-AM prizes for both events.

While making the announcement, KBL’s Head of Marketing International Spirits and Reserve, Grace Nshemeire- Gwaku, expressed the company’s delight in being part of the Safari Tour, while reiterating its commitment to continue supporting the growth of sport in the country.

Action at the Sigona Golf club will tee off on the 25th with a Pro-Am event, where a projected field of 200 players are set to participate, before the professionals take center stage from the 26th to the 29th.

From Sigona, Safari tour action will move to the Uganda Golf Club for the Kitante Open, from the 12th – 15th of February, paving way for the last leg the Karen Country Club from the 22nd – 25th of February.

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MOMBASA, Kenya, Jan 23 – The Kenyan sporting royalty will invade the Coastal town of Mombasa on Friday evening for the 16^th edition of the annual Sports Personality of the Year Awards (SOYA) where Kenya’s best performing sports stars from 2019 will be feted.

Themed “Night Under the Stars, with the Stars”, the 2019 SOYA is being held at the Coastal City for the second year in a row and after being staged at the historic Fort Jesus last year, the gala will head down to the Mombasa Sports Club for this year’s showpiece.

Since the inception of the awards in 2004, no sportsperson outside track athletes has won the overall crown while only two non-track and field athletes, Jason Dunford in 2007 and Collins Injera in 2009, have won the Sportsman of the Year award.

At the same time, no sportsperson apart from Vivian Cheruiyot has won the award twice. The former track queen who has transited to road running clinched the accolade in 2011 and 2016.

Meanwhile, two Paralympians have beaten able bodied athletes to win the overall SOYA crown, Henry Wanyoike clinching the inaugural crown in 2004 and Samuel Muchai in 2018.

This year’s awards promise a tantalizing contest for all the top titles.

Body builder Evelyne Okinyi Owala has managed to muscle her way into the top five for the sports woman of the year accolade and she will flex her muscles against seasoned track athletes to clinch the coveted crown.

She will contest for the crown against three world champions and a newly crowned world record holder.

Hellen Obiri (5,000m), Ruth Chepng’etich (Marathon) and Beatrice Chepkoech (3,000m steeplechase) will be there to contest and so will Brigid Kosgei, still basking in the heat of her world record breaking run at the Chicago Marathon.

In the Sportsman of the year category, Harambee Stars forward Michael Olunga will also find himself wading in uncharted waters as no footballer has ever won the crown, mostly dominated by track and field stars.

World Marathon record holder and current sporting darling Eliud Kipchoge, 1500m champion Timothy Cheruiyot, just recently voted African male athlete of the year, world and Olympic steeplechase king Conseslus Kipruto, and world Half Marathon record holder Geoffrey Kamworor.

Kipchoge won the award for 2018’s best last year after his record breaking run at the Berlin Marathon and will look to become the first man to win the accolade back to back.

Meanwhile, Vincent Mutai, who won an unprecedented three gold medals at the International Para Athletics Championships last year, and the 2018 Sports Personality of the Year Samuel Mushai are among the nominees for the Sportsman Living with a Disability Award.

Multi-talented Asiya Sururu, who is set for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in rowing and World Para Athletics bronze medallist Nancy Chelagat highlight the Sportswoman Living with a Disability category.

Full list of nominees:

Sportsman of the Year;

‪1. Michael Olunga – Football

‪2. Geoffrey Kamworor – Athletics

‪3. Conseslus Kipruto – Athletics

‪4. Eliud Kipchoge – Athletics

‪5. Timothy Cheruiyot – Athletics

Sportswoman of the Year;

1. Evelyn Okinyi Owala – Body Building
2. Beatrice Chepkoech – Athletics
3. Hellen Obiri – Athletics
4. Ruth Chepngetich – Athletics
5. Brigid Kosgei – Athletics

Sportswoman Living with disability;

1. Beryl Atieno – Deaf Athlete
2. Catherine Nyaga – Special Olympics
3. Ruth Jemurgor – Deaf Athlete
4. Asiya Sururu – Wheelchair Tennis
5. Nancy Chelagat – Paralympian

Sportsman Living with disability;

1. John Koech – Deaf Athlete
2. Onesmus Mutinda – Special Olympics
3. David Omondi – Deaf Athlete
4. Samuel Mushai – Paralympian
5. Vincent Mutai – Paralympian

Coach of the Year;

1. Alex Alumirah – Vihiga Queens (Football)
2. Carey Odhiambo – Morans (Basketball)
3. David Ouma – Harambee Starlets (Football)
4. Curtis Olago – KCB RFC (Rugby)
5. Paul Bitok – Malkia Strikers (Volleyball)

Sports Team of the Year men;

1. Kenya Morans – Basketball
2. Gor Mahia – Football
3. KCB RFC – Rugby
4. Kenya Tennis Beach Team – Tennis
5. Bandari FC – Football

Sports Team of the Year women;

1. Malkia Strikers – Volleyball
2. KPA Women’s Team – Basketball
3. Vihiga Queens – Football
4. Kenya Lionesses – Rugby
5. Harambee Starlets – Football

Most Promising boy;

1. Albert Njogu – Tennis
2. Eugine Adare – Basketball
3. Daniel Sakari – Football
4. Geoffrey Okwatch – Rugby
5. Dominic Ndigiti – Athletics

Most Promising girls;

1. Jentrix Shikangwa – Football
2. Mary Moraa – Athletics
3. Belinda Wanjiru – Golf
4. Faith Atieno – Basketball
5. Faith Jepkemboi – Athletics

Federation of the Year;

1. Kenya Motor Sports Federation
2. Kenya Sports Federation of the Deaf
3. Kenya Tong-IL Moo-Do Federation
4. Athletics Kenya
5. Special Olympics Kenya

Community Hero;

1. Johanna Omollo – Football
2. Bernard Makumi – Football/Athletics
3. Peter Ongondo – Cricket
4. Erick Kimaiyo – Athletics

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NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 23 – Free scoring Tusker FC forward Timothy Otieno has been belatedly named the LG/Sports Journalists Of Kenya Association (SJAK) player of the month for November, beating Ulinzi Stars forward Oscar Wamalwa and Sofapaka’s Brian Nyakan to the crown.

Otieno hit the back of the net five times in November to stand out among the final three shortlisted for the crown to become just the third player to won the crown more than once. He last won it during his time at Posta Rangers four years ago.

“I knew the award was not far off because of the kind of run the team has had and credit to my teammates for helping me get this recognition,” an elated Otieno said during his crowning moment at the team’s training grounds in Ruaraka.

Otieno whose target for the first half of KPL was to score ten goals helped himself to half the number in November alone breaching Nzoia Sugar twice then getting on the score sheet each time he came up against KCB, Western Stima and his old club Posta Rangers.

He now wants to score at least eight more goals in the remaining 16 league games to hit a target set at the beginning of the season.

“That month got me called up to the national team and I want to keep scoring to maintain my stay with Harambee Stars and help Kenya achieve something special,” said Otieno who performance forced the national team selectors to call him up for the regional CECAFA Senior Challenge staged in Kampala, Uganda last year.

“I also aspire to lay my hands on the golden boot. It has been my dream and I’ve tried to win it in the past but it looks feasible this season with the entire team firing on all cylinders. They can really help me win it,” Otieno offered.

The post Tusker’s Otieno named KPL’s November best appeared first on Capital Sports.

MELBOURNE, Australia, Jan 24 – Unseeded 15-year-old Coco Gauff beat reigning champion Naomi Osaka in straight sets in a major upset at the Australian Open on Friday.

The American prodigy, making her Melbourne debut this year, beat the third seed 6-3, 6-4 in the third round to avenge her heavy defeat at last year’s US Open.

The youngest player in the draw will play 14th seed Sofia Kenin of the United States or China’s Zhang Shuai.

“Oh my gosh. Two years ago I lost the first round in the juniors and now I’m here — this is crazy,” said Gauff.

“I was just telling myself one point at a time and just keep fighting because you never know what happens on this court.”

This was the second instalment of a budding rivalry that could light up tennis for the next decade or more, having met at the US Open, where Osaka won easily.

The teenager Gauff, who spent time training with Serena Williams in the off-season, had said she would be less nervous and more aggressive this time round.

And so it proved as they rattled through the first five games in barely 15 minutes at the 15,000-capacity Rod Laver Arena.

Osaka, a relative veteran at age 22, fired into the net to drop serve in game eight and then racked up more unforced errors in gifting Gauff the first set in 32 minutes.

“Come on!” shouted Gauff, ranked 67 but fast making a name for herself as the most exciting prospect in women’s tennis.

The young American carried the momentum into the first game of the second set, breaking a subdued and rattled Osaka, a two-time Grand Slam champion.

The Japanese broke back for 1-1 when Gauff volleyed into the net, but it was a rare mistake by the American and she broke once more, before serving for the match at 5-4.

The nerveless teenager clinched victory on the first match point when Osaka fired into the net.

Gauff announced herself to the sporting world at Wimbledon last year when, as a qualifier, she stunned Venus Williams in the first round.

She did the same thing to the seven-time Grand Slam champion on her Melbourne debut this week, then came back from a set and 3-0 down to defeat Sorana Cirstea on Wednesday.

When Gauff and Osaka met five months ago in New York, also in round three, then-world number one Osaka crushed the tearful and overawed teenager 6-3, 6-0 in a little over an hour.

That first clash was memorable also for what happened afterwards, when the teenager cried and Osaka consoled her, before Osaka herself began welling up.

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NAIROBI, Kenya, Jan 24 – The Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani will host the opening leg of the 2020 World Athletics Continental Tour (Gold level), Nairobi becoming the first African City to host the lucrative event.

The pilot year of the Sh200mn Gold meeting series will now visit four continents – Africa, Asia, Europe and North America.

This will be a massive incentive for Kenyan athletics especially coming just before Nairobi hosts the World Under-20 championships and the one-day meet will be a massive platform to test the systems ahead of the July event.

Nairobi will stage the 3000m steeplechase, 5000m and 10,000m for men and women as part of its programme. This is expected to be the highest quality senior international meeting to be held in Kenya’s history.

The core events in Nairobi will be the men’s and women’s 200m, the steeplechase and women’s triple jump.

World Athletics president Sebastian Coe said the impetus for creating the Continental Tour was to provide more competition and earning opportunities for more athletes.

“Between the Wanda Diamond League and the Continental Tour all disciplines will be catered for and many more athletes will have access to top class competition,’’ he said.

The Continental Tour will be divided into three levels – Gold, Silver and Bronze – whose status will be determined by the quality of competition and prize money on offer.

The Gold Level meets will each offer a total of Sh20mn (200,000USD) in prize money, to increase the number of high-quality competitive opportunities available to showcase the sport’s best athletes.

Those disciplines that are not included in this year’s Diamond League final – 200m, 3000m steeplechase, triple jump, discus – will be core events in the Continental Tour Gold meetings, as will the hammer throw.

Each will have guaranteed prize money of Sh2mn ($US20,000) at each meeting.

Performances in those events will attract the same level of world ranking points as the core Diamond League disciplines, and the overall tour winners will receive wildcard entry to the  2021World Athletics Championships in Oregon, USA.

Continental Tour schedule

2 May – Nairobi KEN (Africa)

10 May – Tokyo JPN (Asia)

13 May – Nanjing CHN (Asia)

22 May – Ostrava CZE (Europe)

1 June – Hengelo NED (Europe)

9 June – Turku FIN (Europe)

13 June – Kingston JAM (North America)

7 June- Szekesfehervar HUN (Europe)

6 September – Silesia POL (Europe)

15 September – Zagreb CRO (Europe)

-Additional info courtesy World Athletics

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