NAIROBI, Kenya, July 15 – Commonwealth Games silver medallist Benson Gicharu, believes new boxers in the team for this month’s outing in Glasgow are capable of improving medal tally they collected in Delhi, India four years ago.

The boxing team nicknamed the ‘Hit squad’ will be leaving nothing to chance with flyweight Gicharu and middleweight female boxer; Elizabeth Andiego, who were at 2012 Olympics, expected to inspire the squad of 11 to better the silver and two bronze medals they harvested in 2010.

“Everybody is ready and eager to compete, it’s only that I was affected with minor shoulder and thigh injuries but I’m okay now.

“We expect to come home with more medals since we have new blood who are all good including the ladies and I’m sure what I have achieved they will too, every athlete’s aim is to win gold and that’s what I will be going for, I came close in India and I believe I can do it even better this time round,” the Kenya Police pugilist told Capital Sport.

The team only had two outings as part of their preparation in Sri Lanka and Mauritius, and Gicharu called upon the Government to invest in the sport for them to compete effectively against other global powers.

“We have not had enough exposure ahead of the Games, we only had two that really helped us gain fitness, that’s why all boxers who attended training in Mauritius qualified during the trials.

“The Government should put more attention in boxing because accessing facilities such as the gym has been a problem, but all the same we will give it our best. I expect stiff opposition from India and Ireland,” the 29-year-old boxer stated.

Head coach Albert Matito, was happy with the new scoring system introduced by International Boxing Association (AIBA) known as ‘10 a must’ where each boxer is entitled to 10 points in the three rounds.

Matito who is aiming at winning five medals among them three gold and his charges are equal to the task after retaining 2010 bronze medallist Nick Okoth, Kenya Police Elly Ajowi and Sri Lanka King Lion International Boxing welterweight champion Rayton Okwiri who were all in India.

“Before the scoring system was changed where we had point by point and ‘20 a must’ there was a lot of cheating but now we have the best which is the ’10 a must’ where if a boxer scores all in the three rounds, he gets 30 points after the total is added.

“Another good thing is that we have five judges who all score but the scoring system will select only three who have scored the best from gold, silver and bronze.

“We have trained the players with real spurring using our local referees to evaluate them so the team is in good shape and I’m sure we will not miss gold,” Matito declared.

Okwiri who will compete in the welterweight category, concurred with his head coach on the scoring system and will be looking to knock out his tough opponents from Canada and Wales to finish in the medal bracket.

“Preparation has been good since my body is responding well physically and technically, the new scoring system is good because it favours us more since we have endurance and stamina unlike before where the scores was showing and the opponent could monitor on the points,” the Kenya Prison athlete said.

The Glasgow Games will for the first time include the female boxers where Kenya will be represented by Andiego and Flyweight Christine Wangare.

Female athletes will compete in the Flyweight, Lightweight and Middleweight categories over four rounds of two minutes, while the male will battle it out in ten categories over three rounds in a knockout bout format, across eight days of fierce competition.

The team alongside, Cycling, Squash, Table Tennis and Weight Lifting were the second batch to depart on Tuesday.

NAIROBI, Kenya, July 15 – Harambee Stars captain, Victor Wanyama, received his first international red card as visiting Burundi Swallows held Kenya to a goalless draw in a friendly at Nairobi’s Nyayo National Stadium Tuesday.

Stars were using the build-up as preparation ahead of Sunday’s 2015 African Cup of Nations second round qualifiers first leg tie against Lesotho in Maseru.

Apart from Wanyama, five foreign based players including his elder brother Macdonald Mariga, midfielder Peter Opiyo, Sudan based Allan Wanga and Francis Kahata joined the team and were part of the action in the second half.

With head coach Adel Amrouche, suspended for two matches by CAF watching from the stands, assistant James Nandwa started with local based players, giving latest call-ups; midfielders Stephen Ocholla and Osborne Monday as well as defender Dennis Odhiambo the start.

“The match was a good build up ahead of our Sunday match against Lesotho; we have few days to train. I believe the coach has identified our mistakes that we are going to work on,” Mariga said after the match.

The first period was an cagey affair with the hosts coming close to the opener on 10 minutes through defender Stephane Rugonumagabo who almost scored an own goal from James Situma’s cross but his deflected shot hit the cross bar.

The Swallows who were dominating the midfield, responded in the 20th when Amisi Tambwe made a good run from the right to beat Situma, only to see his effort hit the side netting.

KRA forward Geoffrey Kataka could have scored his first international goal at the half hour mark when he shot from range to force keeper Innocent Mboni to spill the ball in the box but Jacob Keli was too slow to tap rebound home.

Stars made five substitutions at the start of the second half with Wanyama, Mariga, Opiyo, Kahata and Wanga coming on as the side resembled its regular starting team.

It took only 13 minutes for Wanyama to be sent off after hacking down a Burundian midfielder and his protests at the Ugandan referee Ssali Mashood saw him receive his marching orders for gross misconduct.

Despite being a man down, Stars continued to pile pressure on the Swallows with Jockins Atudo threatening with a quarter an hour left through a powerful header that forced Mboni to tip over for a fruitless corner.

The last chance for Stars came six minutes later when Mariga and Aboud combined on the left before the former crossed for Harrison Mwendwa whose shot was deflected for Mboni to rescue.

Stars are currently at residential training camp at Kasarani Stadium and are expected to depart before the end of the week for Maseru.

NAIROBI, July 15- The Government stepped in on Tuesday to head off a potential boycott of the Commonwealth Games by athletes by agreeing to pay the team’s allowances.

Kenya will now be represented by 195 athletes in the July 23 to August 3 championships in Glasgow, Scotland.

The athletes had demanded to be paid their full allowances upfront before departure, “as the government had failed to reward the athletes to the 2013 World cross country championships in Poland and the world track and field championships in Moscow.”

Kenya’s team captain, Ezekiel Kemboi raised the issue with sports minister Hassan Wario when the minister visited the team’s training camp at the Kasarani stadium last week.

But Kenya’s Commissioner of Sport, Gordon Oluoch, said the government had now settled the allowances for the Rugby Sevens, Judo and Shooting teams who hade left on Sunday without receiving their money.

“We had a small hitch securing the money from the bank which was in foreign currency,” Oluoch told AFP.

“We want to assure the rest of the team still in the Nairobi residential camp that they will receive their allowances in full before they travel to Glasgow at the end of the week. There should be no cause of alarm,” he said.

NAIROBI, Kenya, July 16- Cameroonian Simon Pierre netted his first goal for Gor Mahia, as the champions stretched their lead to six points, after a 1-0 win over relegation threatened Top Fry Nakuru in a Kenyan Premier League (KPL) match played at Nairobi’s City Stadium Wednesday.

This was a sweet revenge for K’Ogalo after losing 2-0 to the newcomers in the first leg with Pierre scoring the solitary goal in the 8th minute from Erastus Mwaniki’s rebound after he failed to clear Kennedy Opiyo’s free-kick.

With both sides coming from wins over the weekend, K’Ogalo were forced to adjust their squad after missing the services of Ugandan duo Godfrey Walusimbi and Geoffrey Kizito who were replaced by Pierre and Opiyo as well as starting Patrick Oboya upfront for Dan Sserunkuma who is in Denmark for trials.

Top Fry head coach Peter Okidi kept faith with his winning squad against KRA hoping to collect maximum points as they seek to elevate from the relegation zone.

Top Fry failed to utilize their open chances after managing to beat K’Ogalo’s off side trap twice but neither Anthony Nyagor nor Teddy Siwa could find the back of the net as the visitors succumbed to their first defeat after winning four successive games.
Nyangor, could have opened the scoring in the 6th against his former side after Mwaniki broke through from the left to beat Gor’s off-side trap and cut in but Nyagor was too slow to tap in and allow keeper Jerim Onyango who had come out of his line to clear the danger.

Two minutes later, the visitors were punished by Pierre who played in the entire game for the first time after easily slumming the ball past keeper Shaban Odoji when Opiyo’s free-kick rebounded on Mwaniki.

The goal saw Gor take control of the game with Timothy Otieno coming close to double the scores in the 27th when Opiyo looped the ball over the defenders to find him but the former FC Talanta FC player failed to slot in as the ball rolled out to the field of play.

Gor could have gone 2-0 up immediately the second period kicked-off, through Oboya who utilized his pace to sprint on the right just as defender Dennis Sikhai allowed him room to shoot but Odoji repelled for a fruitless corner.

The hosts will blame themselves for not converting their chances in the last-half with Oboya once again going close in the 53rd through a counter attack initiated by Otieno who found the former Harambee Stars forward only for him to blaze wide in front of goal.

Not even Joseph Kariuki could double for Bobby Williamson’s side two minutes later, as he saw his strike hit side netting from Otieno’s long ball.

Top Fry’s best chance to equalise came in the 57th from Mwaniki who once again beat the off side trap to feed Siwa who only needed to loop the ball over Onyango but instead went for power to waste the golden opportunity.

NAIROBI, Kenya, July 16 – National 7s head coach Paul Treu, has recalled fly-half Biko Adema, to replace Nakuru RFC eighth man Martin Owila in the 12-man squad that is in Glasgow preparing for the Commonwealth Games that kicks-off next weekend.

According to communication from Kenya Rugby Union, Owila who was set to make his debut in the shorter version of the game was unable to get his United Kingdom visa processed in time.

This forced the technical bench call-up Adema who left Nairobi Wednesday to link up with the rest of squad in Scotland after Treu omitted him in his initial squad.

Owila was part of the national 15s squad that failed to qualify for next year’s Rugby World Cup after falling at the final hurdle 10-28 to Zimbabwe in their last match of the Confederation of African Rugby Division 1A championship in Madagascar.

Kenya who will be using the Club Games as part of preparation for 2014-15 HSBC Sevens World Series that will see the top four qualify directly to the 2016 Olympics Games in Rio de Janeiro, will be looking to improve their 2010 performance where they were eliminated by Australia in the Main Cup quarter-finals.

Shujaa who are drawn in Pool B will open their campaign against Cooks Ireland next Saturday before taking on Trinidad and Tobago then wrap up with a tricky South Africa in their final preliminary round match.

JOHANNESBURG, July 17- Watching World Cup matches in Brazil has convinced the football stars of Kenya they can qualify for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations (CAN) in Morocco.

A country famous for their athletes has not featured at the continental football showpiece since making a first-round exit 10 years ago.

But ‘Harambee Stars’ goalkeeper Jeremy Onyango believes that is about to change as they prepare for a third-round eliminator in Lesotho this weekend.

Onyango was among 16 players and four coaches who travelled to Brazil thanks to the generosity of President Uhuru Kenyatta.

The head of state told the national team he would bankroll a visit to the World Cup after they won the regional CECAFA Challenge Cup last December.

Onyango told Kenyan reporters the trip was an eye-opener for him and his team-mates.

“Seeing is believing. We watched the stars from the stands and realised they do not possess extraordinary skills that we lack.

“We only need to believe in ourselves and we will do well in the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers,” stressed the shot-stopper.

Should Kenya eliminate Lesotho in a two-leg tie, they would join 2013 Africa Cup runners-up Burkina Faso, Angola and Gabon in a mini-league.

The six-match group phase kicks off in September, lasts three months, and the top two finishers are guaranteed places at the tournament.

Kenya hardly justified the optimism of Onyango this week when held 0-0 by Burundi in a Nairobi warm-up that turned nasty during the second half.

Harambee Stars midfielder Victor Wanyama from English Premier League club Southampton was sent off for hacking down an opponent.

Lesotho had to substitute midfielders Ralekoti Mokhahlane and Motlalepula Mofolo and striker Thapelo Tale during a bruising 2-0 warm-up loss away to Botswana.

But coach Seephephe Matete is hopeful the injured trio will recover as his ‘Crocodiles’ try to build on a surprise 2-0 home win over Liberia in the previous round.

He was unconcerned about the Botswana result: “It is a timely wake-up call to my players, who tend to relax when results are going well for them.”

It is 36 years since Uganda last played in the Cup of Nations finals and 34 years since Tanzania made their solitary appearance.

Both enjoy home advantage as they try to edge closer to ending embarrassingly-long absences from the biennial tournament.

Uganda were scheduled to play Equatorial Guinea, but the central Africans were disqualified for fielding ineligible Cameroon-born Thierry Fidjeu.

Mauritania, beaten 3-1 on aggregate by the Equatoguineans, were restored to the competition and visit a Ugandan side battling to score.

The ‘Cranes’ managed just one against the Seychelles and played a goalless draw with Malawi this week in a warm-up that concerned coach Milutin Sredojevic.

“An inability to score is a chronic problem in Uganda,” admitted the Serb. “We must attack from the right, the centre and the left to try and score goals.”

Tanzania received a boost before hosting neighbours Mozambique when star frontmen Mbwana Samata and Thomas Ulimwengu were freed by Democratic Republic of Congo outfit TP Mazembe.

The Lubumbashi club are in Tunisia preparing for the resumption of the CAF Champions League next weekend.

Midfielder Arnaud Mendy from English fifth-tier club Lincoln City is in the Guinea-Bissau squad for an away game against Botswana.

Malawi have axed full-back and captain Moses Chavula and must do without injured midfielder Robert Ng’ambi when they meet Benin in Cotonou.

Benin rely heavily on West Bromwich Albion midfielder Stephane Sessegnon, scorer of three goals in the second-round triumph over Sao Tome e Principe.

Rwanda, who shocked Libya, visit Congo Brazzaville, and Sierra Leone host traditional whipping boys Seychelles in other first-leg fixtures.

NAIROBI, Kenya, July 17- Kenyan runners Peter Kirui and Josphat Bett hope that doubts over Olympic double champion Mo Farah from the Commonwealth Games will boost their chances of landing gold in Glasgow when the games start on July 23 to August 3.

Track and field competition starts on July 27, but Bett and Kirui are itching to get their medals for the first time after a long period.

“It is not that I wish Farah to miss the Games. It becomes better when you win against a strong competition. But I have been out for sometime now and I believe it will be good to make my return with a win,” he said.

“I have done well in training and Farah is just like any other athlete and he is beatable. I will not discuss his case, but let see how we fair on the track,” said Kirui.

Both Kirui and Bett will be making their second shot at the international championships representing Kenya at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games next week.

Kirui, last featured in the Kenya team at the Daegu (South Korea) World Championships over the 10,000m while Bett last show was a junior in Poland back in 2008, when he won gold in the longest distance on track.

Both faded off the stage and have emerged with resolve to redeem their career and the Commonwealth Games offers both a platform to achieve just that.

“I think we have been away. Personally, I have tried on several occasions since I was a junior. But I was never lucky. Now I have my chance,” said Bett.

The duo will team up with Charles Cheruiyot over the 10,000m distance and the likely absence of the England international has boosted morale in the team.

Farah said he is just getting back into training after staying out with abdomen pain. He declined to confirm if he will be fit for the Commonwealth Games.

Gideon Chirchir, Kenya’s head coach, however pointed out that he is preparing his squad for the big test without focusing on any individual athlete.

“They have to realize that competing at the Commonwealth Games is not by chance. They merit to be in this team and everyone is looking upon them to deliver the results,” Chirchir said.

“But we will not be focusing on Mo Farah alone. He is a good athlete, but the net must be cast wider. Surprises are not inevitable and it is important that Kenya prepare for the 10,000m distance, knowing that Farah will be running too. It is in their country and he has to be there,” he added.

Kenya athletes returned to training after the government agreed to pay them their bonus and the coaches have signed with relief, saying they can now concentrate on the job at hand.

The team had sat out on Tuesday from training to force the government to pay them 1.2 million U.S. dollars for the games.

NAIROBI, July 17– Harambee Stars have moved into the top-100 of the FIFA World Rankings for the first time in eight years as world champions Germany took over from fallen titleholders Spain at the top.

In the latest list published Thursday, Kenya jumped 13 places to 95, a massive boost for the team that will travel Thursday to Maseru to face Lesotho in their second round 2015 Afcon qualifier first leg tie.

Adel Amrouche’s side eliminated Comoros Island in the preliminary stage and have not lost since being pipped 1-0 at home by Nigeria during the 2014 Fifa World Cup qualifiers.

Germany’s charge to claim Sunday’s World Cup title saw them return to the top of FIFA’s world rankings for the first time in around 20 years.

The latest list, published on Thursday, has Germany moving up one place on the strength of their 1-0 defeat of Argentina ar Rio de Janeiro’s Maracana.

Lionel Messi’s Argentina are placed second, an improvement of three places, with the Netherlands leaping 12 rungs into third after their impressive World Cup third place finish.

The James Rodriguez-inspired Colombia move up to fourth (+4), ahead of Belgium (+6) and Uruguay while disappointing Brazil dropped four spots to seventh.

Deposed world champions Spain slumped seven spots to their new modest placing of eighth, with Switzerland and France (+7) completing the top ten.

Costa Rica’s remarkable charge to the quarter-finals was rewarded with a jump of 12 places to 16th.

England’s woeful first round exit resulted in Roy Hodgson’s side dropping ten places to 20th.

Algeria and Ivory Coast who top the Africa standings dropped two places apiece to land in positions 24 and 25 with Africa champions Nigeria up 10 places to 34.

Latest FIFA rankings

1. Germany (+1)

2. Argentina (+3)

3. Netherlands (+12)

4. Colombia (+4)

5. Belgium (+6)

6. Uruguay (+1)

7. Brazil (-4)

8. Spain (-7)

9. Switzerland (-3)

10. France (+7)

11. Portugal (-7)

12. Chile (+2)

13. Greece (-1)

14. Italy (-5)

15. USA (-2)

16. Costa Rica (+12)

17. Croatia (+1)

18. Mexico (+2)

19. Bosnia and Hercegovina (+2)

20. England (-10)

NAIROBI, Kenya, July 17- The moment of truth for 2008 Olympics champion and two-time world men 1500m champion, Asbel Kiprop, is finally here.

Since the lanky 24 year-old launched his season in March with a promise to attack his idol, retired Moroccan great, Hicham El Guerrouj’s 3:26.00 world record, the build up for Friday’s Herculis Monaco meeting, an IAAF Diamond League spectacular, has been dominated by his planned assault.

Some could say his boldness is taking his reputed cockiness too far but to those familiar with his ability, his quest is not far fetched as he prepares to uncork the biggest race of his life.

Monaco magic

In choosing Monaco to be the meet to bless with a new world record, Kiprop is banking on a track where he has ran two of his all time bests in successive years over the metric mile to deliver the Coup de Grace in his sport.

In 2012, he powered to 3:28.88 before returning a year later and a day to his milestone (19 July) to pound the track to submission with his extended legs that left the clock returning a huge PB of 3:27.72.

This is the performance that made him believe the final step in emulating the achievements of his hero El Guerrouj, a former Olympics and world titleholder, in 1500m was a hairbreadth away.

“Unlike in 2012 when I ran so fast and injured my hamstring just before the Olympics, I did not feel the effects last year and after starting the season injury free, I knew this could be the year to run faster than my personal best, even the world record,” he said in March before leading the Kenyan 4x1500m quartet to win gold in world record time of 14:22.22 in Bahamas.

At the IAAF Diamond League meeting in Paris on 5 July, Kiprop undertook a “warm-up” for his Monaco 1500m over 800m, beating Olympics silver medallist at the distance, Botswana’s Nijel Amos into second place as he set a joint world-leading time of 1:43.34 that was equalled by record holder, David Rudisha, last weekend in Scotland.

Kiprop could yet find his plans frustrated by Djibouti’s world indoor 1500m champion Ayanleh Souleiman, or the current Diamond Race leader and biggest domestic rival Silas Kiplagat, whose season’s best of 3:29.70 is only slightly slower than that of Kiprop’s 3:29.18.

What is not in doubt is that the meeting that offered seven world leading times and four Diamond League records last year has a potentially show-stopping act amid the stellar cast assembled and should he achieve his WR dream, Kiprop has stated to this reporter his next bar will be matching El Guerrouj 1500m and 5000m Olympics double from Athens 2004.

Rudisha force

It’s rare for Rudisha, the 1:40.91 standard bearer over 800m to slot into the under card but his progression after a year out injured will be also fascinating.

For the first time in his comeback Rudisha, will square up to the man who moved to fill his void in Ethiopia’s world champion, Mohammed Aman, the only runner to have beaten him twice at full fitness between the fall of 2009 and just before last summer.

Rudisha, feeling his way back this season, gave his strongest indication yet that he is heading back to his best form as he won last weekend’s IAAF Diamond League event in Glasgow, equalling Kiprop’s 2014 best in so doing.

But despite his defeat by Kiprop, Amos still looks a severe danger in the 800m. He clocked 1:43.70 in Paris, and 1:43.63 in Eugene. Aman’s best this year is 1:43.99.

Cherono vs Genzebe

World silver medallist, Mercy Cherono, will be out to once again hand Genzebe Dibaba, who set three world indoor records this winter, another beating on the Ethiopians first Monaco showing in the women’s 5000m.

Cherono has powered to victory of the two miles in Eugene and the 3000m in Lausanne to underline her credentials.

World champion Eunice Sum faces US champion Ajee Wilson in the women’s 800m.

The men’s 3000m steeplechase has lost Kenya’s world and Olympic champion Ezekiel Kemboi with a slight hamstring strain, but the field remains hugely strong on a track where Kemboi’s compatriot Brimin Kipruto set an African record in 2011 of 7:53.64, only one hundredth of a second away from the world record held by Qatar’s Saif Saaeed Shaheen.

Jairus Birech, winner in Rome and Oslo and leader of the 2014 listings with 8:02.37, looks the favourite.

-Material from iaaf.org used in this report

NAIROBI, Kenya, July 17 – At the last World Juniors in Barcelona, Kenya was beaten to the overall title by USA by a five-gold margin, the largest gap between the biggest rivals at the biennial event open to athletes aged 20 and below.

It is with this in mind that the squad for the 15th edition of the IAAF event left the country on Thursday evening with the sole mission of upstaging the hosts at their own backyard in Oregon.

This not about revenge, it is about restoring the country’s pride as the undisputed kings of athletics and in a statement of intent, they send their largest team ever for the event of 26 competitors.

A further invasion into ‘enemy’ territory sees the Kenyans carry sprinters to the event to challenge America’s supremacy over short distances.

Sounding the ‘war drum’ was none other than the man charged with surpassing the 13 medals they won in Barcelona, head coach, Andrew Maritim.

He has set the target of 10 gold medals that would have beaten the Americans who won 9 in Barcelona to top the global charts.

“We gave them necessary skills for the two weeks they were in camp and I’m optimistic each athlete is going for his or her Personal Best and eventually the world title.

“We have provided them the modern way of training knowing that in our team we have more sprinters than before so we are expecting medals from the short races unlike in Barcelona team that had no sprinters so that’s an area that will add advantage,” Maritim told Capital Sport before the team departed for Oregon.

Their two day journey to the battlefield was scheduled to take them through Accra, Ghana, Washington and then Portland from where they will take a two-hour trip to Oregon.

Kenya will first seek to defend her six titles from Barcelona with 3000m steeple chase champion Daisy Jepkemei returning for another bite at the golden cherry.

However, World Youth men 800m champion, Alfred Kipketer, who anchored the national 4x800m relay team to gold in Bahamas comes in as the most exciting prospect in the squad having spurned the chance to race at the Commonwealth Games to crown his progression as an age runner at the grandest stage.

The men 3000m steeple as well as the women 1500m and 3000m crowns vacated by Conseslus Kipruto, Faith Chepng’etich and Mercy Chebwogen, are also in Kenya’s hands.

“If we get some medals from the sprinters we will definitely have a memorable outing.

“We have been the world champions three times and we are going for the same,” the coach added.

Agnes Jebet Tirop who won a bronze in Barcelona, is another returnee seeking to ascend to the middle step of the podium after winning the Africa Cross title in March.

“We are ready for the competition and I’m going for gold this time, I have trained on how to beat our rivals, we do not fear anybody,” Jebet who will compete in the 5000m declared.

African junior 5000m champion, Moses Mukono is out to prove to critics wrong after failing to impress in Barcelona where he finished out of the medal bracket despite having a good outing in the local competitions.

The 19 year-old, African Cross champion is now targeting to win gold in Oregon and graduate to the senior in style just like her role model Chepng’etich.

“We are expecting to perform well especially after having good preparation, I want to win gold so that I can graduate to the seniors successfully in 5000m, I have posted good times in the Diamond League and many people will be monitoring me.

“I want that good transition from junior to senior like Chepnge’tich who is doing well at the moment. We are still the best despite Ethiopians being there we just need to maintain consistency and we shall be there,” Mukono told.

Captain Alex Sampao who was in the 4x400m team for the Bahamas World Relays will be going for her Personal Best as he targets to run 45 minutes in the 400m.

“So far I’m graduating gradually although I participated in the senior’s in 4×4 relay; I had to come back to junior to lay my foundation. I could have made it to the Commonwealth team but I wanted to take part in junior to develop properly.

“Last year I was in Ukraine for the World Youth Championship where I won bronze so coming this far, I’m feeling in good shape and if not at my peak them I’m almost there,” Sampao said.

“We are going to bring the medals, as sprinters we can also make it, its only that we lack proper training but coming from the relay that exposed me, I’m looking forward to winning my last medal in the junior ranks,” the team captain told Capital Sport.

World Youth 5000m champion Lilian Kasait has switched distances to the steeple and by humbling the defending champion in Nairobi, will be out for the same in Eugene.

NAIROBI, Kenya, July 18 – Two-legs for professional golfers have been included in the 2014/15 Barclays Amateur Golf Circuit roster for the first time with the seven-month long tournament set to tee-off at Nakuru Country Club on August 16.

The pros will be using the tournament to prepare for next year’s Kenya Open that is part of the European Challenge Tour and will compete over four days during the Nairobi and Kitale legs of the series where Sh500, 000 (USD 5,695) is up for grabs for the winner.

The third edition of the event, has attracted 35 clubs with over 2, 800 amateur golfers expected to battle it out for the top prize in addition to the top 20 finishers securing slots in the 2015 Kenya Open ProAm that will be held at Karen Country Club.

“We are going to get more participants in this tournament because we have many clubs and the prize money is fantastic, this is the way forward where winners will get a chance to participate in the pro-am at next year’s Kenya Open,” Kenya Golf Union (KGU) chairman Francis Okwara said when launching the event Friday.

“For the professionals, there is nothing good as using a competition as part of their practice, so this is a nice platform for,” he added.

The series that will be hosted in 14 clubs among them Machakos, Nyanza, Nyali and most of those in Nairobi is open to golfers with valid Council of National Golf Unions handicaps and junior golfers ranging from 13 to 18 years.

Organisers will conduct golf clinics as part of the circuit in Nairobi under the guidance of professionals before each tee-off.

“Our main focus is to help the beginners grow in the sport and that’s the reason we are conducting the clinics that we have already started. We expect youths to participate and learn the sport or for those who want to improve their handicap this coaching will really help them,” Director of Consumer Banking, Barclays Bank of Kenya, Zahid Mustafa, stated.

NAIROBI, July 19- Silas Kiplagat produced the shock of the IAAF Diamond League meeting in Monaco as he out sprinted domestic arch-rival, the Beijing Olympics and two-time world champion compatriot Asbel Kiprop, who was chasing the world record, with a blistering 3:27.64 world leading personal best on Friday night.

The other major upsets were the humbling of Olympics champion and record holder, David Rudisha and world champion, Eunice Sum in the men and women 800m races as the latter suffered a first defeat since her Moscow conquest.

Kiplagat buries Kiprop record dream

On the night, Kiplagat’s thrilling performance made him the fourth fastest man in history that was also a Diamond League record, trimming 0.08 off the time Kiprop set in winning here last year.

For the two-time world champion, who finished in a season’s best of 3:28.45, it was a huge anti-climax after he had prepared for an attempt on Hicham El Guerrouj’s 16-year-old world record of 3:26.00 by setting the fastest 800m time of the year, 1:43.34, at the Diamond League meeting in Paris earlier this month.

“At 1200m I knew the race was too slow,” Kiprop told the IAAF website. “We went through in 2.47 and I had asked for 2.45. In the home straight, I could see the others behind me on the big screen and I knew they would get back on me. I could see Silas coming closer and closer. It was a tough race.”

As for Kiplagat, he is now thinking in terms of mounting a world record attempt himself.

“I have the fast time now, but why not be faster and attack the world record?” the Commonwealth champion who will not defend in Glasgow stated with a hint of his customary cockiness.

“I’m still young and ready to train for it. I always run well here, so I’m thinking my win and result is no surprise. I was aware I can do it.”

Japan based teenage national champion, Ronald Kwemoi, lost his first ever race in 1500m after finishing third but he stood out with pride as the new world junior record holder with his 3:28.81 career best performance.

Rudisha fails to respond

It was the second outstanding middle distance race of the evening following the non-Diamond League race over 800m which saw another stunner as Rudisha faded to fifth in a race won by Botswana’s Nijel Amos in a 2014 world-leading time of 1:42.45, with Pierre-Ambroise Bosse setting a French record of 1:42.53 in second place.

As he had hoped, Rudisha, returning from a year off injured, managed a 1.42 clocking here, but the London 2012 had to concede the honours in a stupendously competitive race to the man who followed him home at the Olympics where he ran the 1:40.91 world record for gold.

As he rounded the final bend in the lead it looked as if Rudisha, who had equalled the 2014 world lead with victory in 1:43.34 at the previous Diamond League meeting at Glasgow a week ago, was all set to secure another morale-boosting win.

But, as he entered the final straight, the smaller figure of Amos moved out to pass him in lane two, teeth bared with the effort.

In the final 20m the roars redoubled as Bosse moved through, closing on the Botswana athlete, but running out of room.

As Rudisha faded, two others moved past him in the final 10 metres: Ethiopia’s 2013 world champion Mohammed Aman, who clocked a season’s best of 1:42.83 and Ferguson Rotich Cheruiyot, who finished fourth in a personal best of 1:42.84.

Sum vanquished at last

Despite also enjoying a season best return of 1:57.92, world champion Eunice Sum saw the back of another runner for the first time over 800m in 14 races, stretching back to August 18 last year when she won the world crown in Moscow in a career best 1:57.38.

American Ajee Wilson, who has created a buzz this season, ran a world leading 1:57.67 world lead and career best to finally vanquish the new queen of two-lap running.

The US champion came in with only two defeats at the distance this season in Rome (third) and Oslo (second) where she fell to Sum but it was third time lucky for her.

Jairus Birech, the new kid on the steeplechase block, made it five victories in five outings with the clock stopping at 8:03.33 after motoring alone at the front for long spells as Worlds silver winner, Conseslus Kipruto (8:09.91) came home for second long after the winner had caught his breath.

Former World Youth champion, Hillary Yego, completed the podium in 8:10.23 as former Olympics champion, Brimin Kipruto (tenth), Olympics bronze winner, Abel Mutai (11th) and circuit specialist, Paul Kipsiele Koech (seventh) finished further down the order.

Former World junior champion, Viola Kibiwott (14:33.63/SB) kept up with the Ethiopian pair, favourite Genzebe Dibaba and Almaz Ayana in the women 5000m before being forced to accept third as she failed to fashion a response when the pair took off for the honours with 300m to go.

Genzebe, who has not replicated the form in the winter that saw her set three world indoor records plus bagging gold at the global closed circuit showpiece in Sopot, dug deep to overtake her compatriot for victory in a world leading personal best 14:28.88 against 14:29.19 in the last few metres.

The returning Olympics silver medallist in 10000m, Sally Kipyego, placed just outside the podium in 14:37.18 after missing a huge chunk of the season injured.

Worlds silver winner, Mercy Cherono (14:44.56) failed to reproduce the form that brought convincing wins in New York and Lausanne as she returned home seventh.

-Material and photo from iaaf.org used in this report

NAIROBI, Kenya, July 18 – Harambee Stars are out to make capital from the pressure on hosts Lesotho during the first leg of their second round 2015 Afcon qualifier in Maseru on Sunday.

Buoyed by breaking into the top 100 of the FIFA World Rankings released this week for the first time in eight years on the back of run of 14 internationals without loss, Kenya are hoping to secure an advantage against the side that quashed the dream of established Liberia in the previous round.

According to the FIFA order, Stars start as favourites against the side 36 places below them in their quest to get a win, squeeze a stalemate, scoring or otherwise or should they go down, the advantage of an away goal (s).

The Kenyans will be under assistant head coach James Nandwa, after his fiery Belgian boss Adel Amrouche was slapped with a two-match ban by CAF for confronting match officials in Comoros during their preliminary round return leg where a 1-1 stalemate was enough to see them progress 2-1 on aggregate.

Stars will miss the influence of Belgian based duo of Lommel United midfielder Johanna Omolo and Racing Genk winger Ayub Timbe who scored in both legs of the preliminary round besides the loss of their first choice glove-man, Arnold Origi, who was denied clearance by his Norwegian club because the fixture falls outside the FIFA calendar.

Kenya played to a goalless draw in a friendly against Burundi on Tuesday as captain Victor Wanyama was sent off moments after coming on as a substitute for his first international red card although it will not count against Lesotho.

The game gave little insight into the potency of the Kenyan side that has never lost away under Amrouche’s watch upfront but it appears Stars are going to deploy rearguard action in Lesotho.

Inter Milan midfielder, MacDonald Mariga, who is line to play in his second competitive match for Stars since 2012, called on his team-mates to treat their Maseru assignment as a landmine field.

“I believe we are well prepared and the friendly was a good test to new call-ups. The coach saw our mistakes which we will be working out before Lesotho game.

“I’m in a good shape, I will continue working hard and hope to make it to the first XI but above all we need to either draw or win because I believe we have high chances of making it to the group. We should approach the match cautiously since Lesotho is a good team,” Mariga, the elder brother of Wanyama, told Capital Sport before the team departed for Maseru.

Tusker midfielder, Brian Osumba, who has blossomed for the 2011/12 Kenyan Premier League champions, is the only player making his debut for Stars.

Amrouche dropped four players for the Maseru trip; defenders Dennis Odhiambo (Thika United) and Abdullatiff Mohamed (Bandari) as well as forwards Paul Kiongera from KCB and KRA’s Geoffrey Kataka.

With the absence of Origi, Wilson Obungu is the probable candidate to start in between the sticks as James Situma and Aboud Omar man the full back positions.

Al Taawon defender David Ochieng and David ‘Calabar’ Owino are the favoured centre-half pairing with Wanyama, Finland based Peter Opiyo, Oman based Jamal Mohammed, Mariga and Francis Kahata manning the midfield.

Allan Wanga, Jacob Keli and David Gateri who plies his trade in South Africa are the options upfront.

Fired Lesotho

Lesotho are on a high of stunning Liberia on a 2-1 aggregate in their preliminary clash having overturned a first-leg deficit in Monrovia.

They received an equivalent of Sh25, 000 for each player from the federation ahead of Sunday’s match for motivation besides the benefit of having the core of their squad playing in their domestic league.

The two sides have met five times with Kenya having a better head-to-head record with three wins, a draw and loss.

NAIROBI, Kenya, July 20 – Harambee Stars chances of making it through to the 2015 African Cup of Nations Group qualifiers took a knock after they were humbled 1-0 by Lesotho in the second round of the first-leg qualifiers in Maseru on Sunday.

Midfielder Bushi Moletsane, netted the winning goal in the 70th minute as Kenya lost concentration in the second half.

The result means Stars need at least a 2-0 result at home to be assured of a slot in Group C of the final group qualifiers that features 2013 finalists Burkina Faso, Gabon and Angola for the proper qualifiers to the road to Morocco.

Stars who played without suspended head coach Adel Amrouche, started with Inter Milan midfielder Macdonald Mariga, Jamal Mohammed and Jacob Keli on the bench in favour of Peter Opiyo, South African based David Gateri and Allan Wanga.

The first-half belonged to the visitors as Opiyo combined well with Clifton Miheso, captain Victor Wanyama and Francis Kahata as the Finland based midfielder threatened on several occasions.

Opiyo had his first shot in the seventh minute rescued by Lesotho keeper as Wilson Obungu who replaced first choice custodian Arnold Origi punching the ball over the bar for a fruitless corner on the other end.

Sudan based Wanga could have broken the deadlock four minutes later, when Miheso and Kahata partnered well in the left for the Sofapaka winger to feed the forward who saw his shot punched for a fruitless corner.

In the 20th, Stars thought they had scored the opener after Wanga headed Aboud Omar’s free kick only for the ball to be cleared off the line.

As Kenya continued to boss the game, Kahata saw his shot blocked with Wanyama blasting the rebound wide minutes after Omar’s free-kick rattled the wood work as Lesotho survived the first half onslaught.

Tables turned after the break as Lesotho grew in confidence and pinned Stars back forcing assistant coach James Nandwa to pull out Wanga for Keli but the hosts finally got reward.

Moletsane slammed the ball past Obungu to give them the lead and despite the introduction of Mariga for Gateri and Mohammed for Kahata, the former going close with a well executed shot, Kenya failed to net the crucial equaliser as Keli spurned the last chance with five minutes to go when he fired straight at the keeper with the whole goal to aim at.

There was still time for David ‘Calabar’ Owino to clear off the line and prevent Stars from going further down.

The two teams will play the return leg in Nakuru in a fortnight.

NAIROBI, Kenya, July 21- Typical Harambee Stars, taking one step forward and two steps back within 72 hours to leave Kenyan football with that all too familiar feeling of despair.

On Thursday, the country broke into the top 100 of the FIFA rankings for the first time in eight years and curiously, the usually vocal Football Kenya Federation (FKF) that gobbles up any tiny scrap of success that comes along with relish did not dispatch one of their customary (and irritating) congratulatory messages to newsrooms signed by its lord, Sam Nyamweya.

Perhaps that was the harbinger of what was to come on Sunday in Maseru when the team succumbed to a 1-0 loss to leave them with a mountain to climb when they host Lesotho for the return leg of their second round 2015 Afcon qualifier in Nakuru (why Nakuru? not in any way opposed to devolution) in less than two weeks.

For the risk of incurring a backlash, the defeat to Lesotho was richly deserved and instead of commiserating with the fallen Stars, we should applaud Lesotho who are silently emerging as giant killers after taking Liberia to the cleaners in the first round.

Before the raft of ready excuses are fished out upon the return of the team including poor officiating, maltreatment by the hosts, bad luck et al, the naked truth is Stars were set up to fail since they simply cobbled individuals together to face team.

The old cliché goes failing to plan if planning to fail and there was nothing in the build-up that suggested Stars were taking their Lesotho assignment with the seriousness it deserved, after all, football is a sport where the 23 squad members MUST function as an individual on the pitch.

While 18 members of the team were enjoying their sunshine break in Brazil to watch Nigeria take on Argentina, tiny Lesotho travelled to play Tanzania in a friendly, getting a good idea of how East Africans play and from that, they were able to formulate a plan to contain Stars.

Since they beat Liberia 2-1 on aggregate, Lesotho have been in camp gelling as a team, with most of their players based in their domestic league that was adjusted to give them more time.

Stars waited until some six days to go for head coach Adel Amrouche to convene his players, with the foreign contingent joining the team for the hastily arranged friendly with Burundi on Tuesday that did little to aid their cause.

In between, FKF gashed about the ‘unity’ in the squad after hosting them to dinner to watch the World Cup final at a swanky Nairobi hotel as if they were preparing for a seven course late lunch in Maseru.

Nyamweya and his mandarins need to realise to quote Brazil star Neymar, “Other countries have moved ahead and we must catch up,” of course, not about Stars but his Brazilian side that was shamed despite reaching the World Cup semis and it’s time to dispel this notion that Kenya are a force in football despite boasting fine talent.

Oliech’s absence not a factor

Upon return, Amrouche will see members of his team scatter to their clubs, here and overseas with the likelihood he will miss his captain, Victor Wanyama, who will most certainly be involved with pre-season preparations with Southampton alongside other foreign players who are taken as the backbone of the team.

Being outside the FIFA calendar, these clubs are not obliged to release their players as Lillestrom of Norway did with keeper Arnold Origi and in the full knowledge of that, FKF did not put a contingency in place since to them, Maseru was a stroll in the park.

We will be told of how the team missed chances and luck to win the game by a mile but the cold reality is in modern football, the margins are so thin, the width of a post, the frame of the goal or in the case of Allan Wanga and Jacob Keli on Sunday, inaccuracy in front of goal.

The argument is always fronted that Stars lack axed former captain, Dennis Oliech upfront and the clamour to have him back has already started gathering steam on social media but shouldn’t a nation that boasts of being a football titan find a way past their record scorer?

Colombia World Cup hopes were said to be over when their striking super-star, Radamel Falcao, was injured in the run-up to the Mundial but rather than moan about the loss, they simply shifted James Rodriguez to a more advanced role and boom! The country produced the top scorer in Brazil!

Indeed we don’t boast of the talent of Rodriguez but the fact remains every team worth their salt will always have a Plan B in place. In Kenya’s case, there no working Plan A as we rely on the ‘rojo juu’ (brave heart) modus operadi that on it’s day, works but it’s not a ticket to qualify for Afcon or World Cup finals.

That Bushi Moletsane goal 20 minutes to time could prove enough to slay Stars Nations Cup dreams for another three years and reduce them to travelling to Morocco next year to watch the finals.

Boot camp, suspend KPL

Hope is not lost if FKF, Amrouche and his bench can get their act together, boot camp the individuals they took to Maseru into a team and if necessary, even suspend all domestic competition to give them ample time to turn into a cohesive unit that can conjure at least the two goals they need to overturn the deficit.

Costa Rica, Honduras (before the World Cup) and now Lesotho did that for the sake of their national team taking a good tilt at glory and although suspending the Kenyan Premier League will have ramifications on the fixture schedule and broadcast obligations, it’s a small price to pay for the sake of the aspirations of a nation.

To put it into perspective, Barrack Obama was not US President when Kenya last played at Afcon in 2004, a girl born that year is reaching puberty and within that period, Zambia have been crowned African champions.

Jerim Onyango and Co who travelled to Brazil to watch the World Cup would rather be playing there and exit at the group stage than to say how delighted they were “to learn from the experience,” just like the rest of armchair fans.

NAIROBI, Kenya, July 22- Football Kenya Federation (FKF) will begin the hunt for a new Harambee Stars coach if their impending appeal over the one-year CAF ban on incumbent Adel Amrouche falls through.

In a statement sent to newsrooms on Tuesday, FKF boss, Sam Nyamweya, stressed they would have a replacement in place should their bid to have the suspension overturned does not find favour with the continental governing body.

“Should our appeal and all other channels of reprieve fail, FKF assures the country that it has alternatives to look at and implement to ensure there is no vacuum in the technical management of Harambee Stars now and in the future,” the statement read.

Having earlier told Capital Sport on phone they had not received correspondence from CAF, Nyamweya confirmed the decision to suspend the Belgian had reached them formally, setting off the appeal process as Amrouche’s future at the helm hangs in the balance.

“Football Kenya Federation herewith confirms receipt of the notice of suspension of our national senior men’s team coach Adel Amrouche for a period of one year by the Confederation of African Football.

“From the outset, FKF reiterates that it stands in solidarity with Mr Amrouche and will do everything possible to ensure he continues with his work as head coach of Harambee Stars. In this regard, the federation will invoke the right to appeal provisions as provided for by the Statutes and policy because the decision to suspend the coach for one year is far too harsh a disciplinary measure to be meted out by CAF,” the statement signed by Nyamweya added.

“However, an individual can’t hold the country at ransom and should the appeal fail, we will consider other options. The country must go on, our team must move forward,” the federation boss earlier told with local publication, The Standard, claiming Gor coach, Bobby Williamson, who coached neighbours Uganda before taking over at K’Ogalo, was an early favourite to take over should Amrouche relinquish his position.

Speaking Tuesday, a bitter Amrouche claimed a media conspiracy to force him out of the job with a series of ‘negative reports’ aimed at ‘disrupting the team’

“People keep saying many things about the team instead of letting me continue my work here. This is not right!” the tactacian who was accused of spitting at a match official in their 2015 Afcon first round qualification tie away to Comoros said.

Nyamweya went on arrangements were in place to ensure that the team preparations for forthcoming return leg of their second round qualifier against Lesotho go on despite the appeal process and uncertainity over Amrouche.

“In the meantime, FKF wishes to call on all Kenyans to be calm as we pursue the options available to us with a view to ensuring that the team is well attended as we prepare for the crucial 2015 Africa Cup of Nations Qualifying return leg match against Lesotho and the group stages of the campaign, which we are confident of progressing into,” the federation chief underscored.

Amrouche was initially given a two-match ban that FKF appealed and the Disciplinary Committee sat on Thursday to review his case before CAF’s stunning announcement on Monday they had decided to give the Belgian national the lengthy sanction.

“Yes, these cases do happen. At first, a two-match ban is given before the Disciplinary Committee sits to look into each case and it may decide to give a longer punishment,” Nyamweya explained.

Kenya lost 1-0 in Maseru with assistant head coach, James Nandwa, at the dug-out and will at least play a similar role for the return leg in Nakuru as the appeal process on his boss continues.

Amrouche, who was hired in February last year, was accused of an altercation with the fourth official in their preliminary round 2015 Afcon qualifier return leg against Comoros Island where Kenya drew 1-1 to advance to the second stage 2-1 on aggregate.

It was the second time he has been cited for clashing with match officials after he was suspended for the 2014 World Cup qualifier home tie against Nigeria when he fell foul with the referee in their away match in Calabar that ended 1-1.

Without him, Stars went down 1-0 the team that made the last-16 of the World Cup in Brazil.

Stars have lost only one game with Amrouche in the dugout, a 2-1 reverse to Botswana in a friendly in July last year since he took charge as Kenya jumped from 108 to 95 in the latest FIFA World Rankings.

NAIROBI, Kenya, July 22- The moment of reckoning for Alfred Kipketer comes Friday when he lines-up for the heats of the men 800m at the 10th IAAF World Junior Championships in Eugene, Oregon.

Kipketer is aiming to progress from the first hurdle and the semis before landing his place in the medal race on Sunday so he can add World Junior gold to the World Youth top medal he won last year in Donetsk, Ukraine.

The talented teenager, 17, has already served notice of his capabilities this season by running a World Junior leading 1:44.2 at the high altitude of Nairobi besides anchoring the Kenyan 4x800m relay team to gold at the inaugural IAAF World Relay Championships in Bahamas in March.

The sixth born in a family of eight opted out of the Commonwealth Games senior squad to fulfil his dream of bidding farewell to age running with the greatest prize of all available in the sport for a runner aged 20 and below.

“After Bahamas, I was called for the Commonwealth Trials and even given a lane at the final after I decided not to run in the semis but I told them I want to finish my running as a junior in Eugene since I have many years ahead of me to run as a senior,” Kipketer, said before they departed for Oregon for the biennial IAAF showpiece that starts Tuesday.

The student at Kosirai High School in Nandi started out in the sport in the 100m dash before stepping up the distances from 200m, 400m and finally the two-lap race that has brought him international acclaim after missing selection in the Kenyan team in his first and second years of his secondary education.

“My coach told me not to give up, next time, it would be my time. He suggested we train harder and learn from my mistakes and my prayers were finally answered when I made the World Youth team,” Kipketer told.

It was third time lucky for him last year when he made the Donetsk World Youth squad by winning the Trials in 1:48.9 on June 10 before going on to strike gold in 1:48.01 to secure Kenya’s fifth 800m title in 14 editions of the event.

From the gun in Ukraine, he flew to an astonishing 48.63 split at 400m – which was notably faster than the 49.28 that David Rudisha ran en route to his 1:40.91 World record at the London 2012 Olympics – He was reeled in with 200m remaining but had enough energy in reserve to hold onto the lead in the final metres.

“I did that because I was so scared, I was shaking, it was my first world final and I could not imagine losing. I realised at 600m that I was going too fast to finish so I slowed down and did enough. I was not chasing any record, I just wanted gold,” he revealed.

“I want to be a champion, not only in Eugene but in future. I will keep working hard at it,” he added as he packed his bags for Oregon where he expects to return with the gold.

NAIROBI, Kenya, July 22-Having a friend who stepped up to senior running after bagging four global titles as a junior is the added motivation Agnes Tirop needs as she prepares to upgrade her bronze medal from Barcelona to gold in Eugene, Oregon.

Tirop, 18, is keen on following the golden footsteps of compatriot, Faith Chepng’etich who won at the 2011 World Youth, 2012 World Juniors as well as the 2011 and 13 World Cross junior 6km races when she lines-up for the women’s 5000m race at the 10th IAAF World Juniors in USA that start Tuesday.

Tirop met Chepng’etich when the pair made the Barcelona World Juniors squad a couple of years ago and struck a close friendship that blossomed a year later when she won silver behind Chepng’etich at the Bydgosczcz 2013 World Cross junior race in Poland.

“We met at the Barcelona World Juniors in 2012 and ran together at the Poland World Cross again the following year and this year, we were in Kampala (Africa Cross). She has motivated me a lot. We are both small and we became close and she would tell me I will win like her.

“She talks to me a lot and she has asked me to graduate to the seniors with the World Junior gold. That is what I want to do and God willing, it will happen in Eugene,” explained Tirop.

She was among the squad of 27 athletes that left for the US last Thursday hoping to supplant the hosts and return as the overall winners at the biennial IAAF event open to athletes aged 20 and below.

Born in Mosoriot, Nandi County, Tirop has already established herself as one for the future having already medalled at the World Juniors when she returned with the bronze from Barcelona two years ago.

The seventh born in a family of 10 attended Olbutenet Primary School before joining Kosirai High School in Uasin Gishu where she is a Form 1 student.

She got her first taste of athletics as a Standard 4 pupil at Olbutenet and since then, she has not looked back.

Her breakthrough came in 2012 when she made the squads for the Africa Cross Country and Barcelona World Juniors, medalling at both. Having followed Chepng’etich to the line during the National XC on 18 February, Tirop took silver behind her established compatriot in South Africa over 6km exactly a month later for her first medal in Kenyan colours.

“I will never forget South Africa. It was my first trip outside the country, the first time to board a plane but I was not afraid. Faith made it easy for me, I kept close to her all the time,” she told.

At the Trials for the Barcelona World Juniors, she was beaten by Caroline Jepkoech (15:49.1 against 15:49.6) to the line but secured the second automatic berth where she went ahead to bag the third medal (15:36.74) behind Ethiopian pair, Buze Diriba and Ruti Aga.

“I did not have much help in front and in the end, they were stronger but I was pleased with coming home with a medal.” Her talent came to the fore in Spain and she was signed by Italian manager, Gianni Demadonna.

In 2013, World Cross silver followed before she made her IAAF Diamond League (DL) debut with four outings in Hengelo, Oslo, Zurich and Rieti; running personal bests over 3000m and 5000m of 8:39.13/14:50.36 in Italy and Sweden.

With Chepng’etich graduating to the senior ranks at the start of this year, Tirop duly stepped into her Africa Cross Country junior women crown in Kampala and after three DL outings in Doha, Lausanne and Rome before returning home to lead the queue for Eugene World Juniors in her favoured 5000m, taking the race in 15:40.6 on 25 June.

“I was very excited after winning my first ever gold medal for my country. My friend Chepng’etich won the senior women for the first time and before I ran, she told me I could do it,” she said.

-Picture from iaaf.org

LONDON, July 22- Belgium starlet Divock Origi’s future will be decided in the next week according to his father, with Liverpool leading the race for his signature.

The Reds had long been linked with the 19-year-old, and were said to have been in talks with Lille since before the World Cup, where Origi announced himself to the world with some impressive displays.

He is now reportedly set to join up with Liverpool in America, where they are currently on tour, to undergo a medical before re-joining Lille on a season-long loan.

“The deal isn’t done yet. Liverpool is still the most concrete option,” Mike Origi told Belgian publication Mediahuis.

“There’s another team that shows interest. We want to take a decision soon. On Monday, Divock is expected back at for their [Lille's] first training session.

“We would like to have everything wrapped before that day.”

-TEAMTalk Media

NAIROBI, Kenya, July 22 – Kenyan titleholders, Gor Mahia will open their quest to win their first Cecafa Club Championships in 29 years against Kampala Capital City Authority when action gets underway on August 8 in Kigali, Rwanda.

K’Ogalo will then face Burundi’s Flambeau de l’Est, hosts APR and Telecom of Djibouti to round their five-team tricky Pool B assignment according to fixtures released by Cecafa secretary general, Nicholas Musonye, Tuesday.

Gor will be seeking revenge against the Rwandese who hit them 6-1 on aggregate at the 2009 CAF Confederations Cup in a group where three will qualify for the quarters.

Speaking to the press, Musonye tipped Gor, who have complained about the timing of the two-week regional tournament that ends on August 24, to impress.

“I know what Gor can do even in a short notice because I have been with them for many years and I know they are well prepared. I want to see then go far because they have not played in the championship since I became secretary general.

“I want to see them in good spirits and I will ensure they play well so that they give me a good image in Kigali,” Musonye told Capital Sport.

The cash-strapped domestic champions are struggling to string together a squad to sustain their push for the crown in the second leg of the Kenyan Premier League with head coach, Bobby Williamson, suggesting the Cecafa tourney should have been held at the end of the year.

Musonye also declared all 14 clubs eligible had confirmed participation including defending champions Vital ‘O’ of Burundi in the annual tournament that will be held in Amahoro and Nyamirambo stadiums.

The Secretary General added organisers are on the verge of making the regional showpiece even bigger as they moot the introduction of Cecafa Champions League in two years.

“We are assessing all our competitions to form a strong league so that our top clubs are engaged in football to aid progress in African competitions.

“We don’t want to be in hurry for the introduction of the Champions League and that why we have given ourselves two years to ensure we don’t interfere with the CAF programmme,” he announced.

Southern Sudan’s Atlabara will take on KMKM from Zanzibar while Rwanda’s Rayon Sport face Tanzania giants Young Africans alongside the Gor match on the opening match day.

Musonye declared they have five teams on standby in case any pulls out with the deadline for arrival in Kigali set for August 6.

The winner will receive Sh2.6m (USD30, 000) while runners up and third will walk away with Sh1.75m (USD 20,000) and Sh876, 000 (USD10, 000.

Groups

Group A: Rayon Sport (Rwanda), Young Africans (Tanzania), Coffee (Ethiopia), Atlabara (South Sudan) and KMKM (Zanzibar).

Group B: APR FC (Rwanda), KCC FC (Uganda), Flambeau de I’Est (Burundi), Gor Mahia FC (Kenya) and Telecom (Djibouti)

Group C: Vital’O (Burundi), El Merriekh (Sudan), Police (Rwanda) and Benadir (Somalia)