NAIROBI, Kenya, July 22 – Cecafa secretary general Nicholas Musonye, has expressed confidence Harambee Stars will overturn their 1-0 deficit and overcome Lesotho in the home leg of their second round clash to progress to the 2015 Afcon group qualifiers.

A Bushi Moletsane’s 70th minute goal left Stars with a mountain to climb and need at least 2-0 win in Nakuru next weekend to advance as the regional governing boss calling upon his compatriots to rally behind the team.

“I’m sure Stars will qualify to the Group stage. What the team needs is support from everyone including the technical bench and sponsorship to motivate the boys.

“Kenyans want to see more matches and if they are really genuine about this, they should support the national team to the best of their abilities,” Musonye told Capital Sport.

The secretary general supported the move by Football Kenya Federation (FKF) to take the second-leg to Nakuru.

“People in Nakuru also want to watch matches too, it’s a good idea because it happens in other nations for example Nigeria where they take their matches to various venues like Calabar, Kano and Kaduna,” he added.

Stars suffered a huge blow when head coach Adel Amrouche was slapped with a one-year ban by CAF for allegedly spitting at a match official during their preliminary qualifier return leg against Comoros in May.

Kenya who have never been eliminated in the Afcon pre-qualifiers are likely to miss the services of key foreign based players including captain Victor Wanyama who might join his EPL side Southampton for the pre-season.

Norway based first choice keeper Arnold Origi, Belgian based duo of Lommel United midfielder Johanna Omolo and Genk winger Ayub Timbe were ruled out of the first-leg due to club commitments since the fixture was outside the FIFA calendar and remain doubtful for Nakuru clash.

The aggregate winner will join 2013 finalists Burkina Faso, Angola and Gabon in Group C.

NAIROBI, Kenya, July 23- Uganda struck first blood as Joshua Cheptegei clinched 10,000m gold with Kenya bagging two medals on the opening day of competition at the IAAF World Juniors in Eugene, Oregon.

Elvis Cheboi and Nicholas Kosimbei trailed the first champion of the Oregon World Juniors for silver and bronze as the 10,000m men title eluded Kenya for the second successive edition of the biennial global showpiece.

In the middle distance heats, silver medallist from Barcelona, Hillary Ng’etich, kept his hopes of ascending to the middle step of the rostrum when he made the semis of the men 1500m.

However, it was compatriot Jonathan Sawe, the winner of the Kenyan Trials for Oregon, who set the fastest mark of the day in winning the first heat in 3:41.35. Ng’etich sealed his place by finishing second in 3:48.40 running in the third preliminary.

Women 800m duo, Margaret Wambui (2:04.24) won heat three as team mate Maximila Imali (2:06.91) barely hang on for third in the second race as both made the semis.

Raymond Kibet (47.91) became the first Kenyan to crash out of competition in the men 400m in a sixth finish as hopeful Alexander Sampao (46.91) won his heat as he seeks to improve on his wooden spoon finish at last year’s Donetsk World Youth.

Cheptengei outclasses Kenyans

The race that mattered on the opening night of action was the medal showdown over 25 laps where Cheptegei, the only junior to run under 28 minutes this year, fulfilled his role as favourite to take the first gold at the historic Hayward Field track.

By the time he was done, 28:32.86 read on the clock as he held off a strong challenge from Cheboi and Kosimbei in the final two laps, finishing with a final 400m burst of 59.6, to capture a memorable victory.

Cheboi came home second after being unable to respond to Cheptegei’s final move with 200 metres to go, crossing the line in 2:35.20, while Kosimbei was third in 28:38.68.

The winner was part of the chase pack which overtook early leaders Keisuke Nakatani and Hazuma Hattori, both of Japan, and held off strong challenges from Kenyan duo Elvis Cheboi and Nicholas Kosimbei for the victory with a 59.6 closing lap.

Cheptegei was clearly proud of his achievement. “I’m so very happy and elated. My family in Uganda is very happy.”

He added that the early breakaway by Nakatani and Hattori didn’t worry him. “Starting slow and finishing fast is how I usually run. I didn’t give up. I knew things would change during the race.

Kosimbei, speaking for the Kenyans, was less satisfied with the outcome. “It was a hard race, especially the last two laps. We were planning to run together with Elvis, and we were sticking to our plan.”

Dennis Masai was the last Kenyan to win gold at the 2010 edition in Moncton, Canada, as the country finished top of the medals standings.

-Sourced from material by the IAAF

LONDON, July 23- A British lawmaker called on Tuesday for fans to boycott English Premier League football matches in protest at the high number of foreign players taking part in the competition,

The overseas presence was making it impossible for England to win the World Cup again, claimed David Amess, a member of the Conservative Party led by Prime Minister David Cameron.

Amess labelled the Premier League an “absolute disgrace” and called for a boycott of English football’s lucrative top-flight ahead of the new season, which starts on August 16.

However, Amess urged fans to attend matches played by teams in England’s Football League, which oversees the three divisions below the Premier League.

“I was unable to support either of the teams that played in the final but the thing that I’m very concerned about was the performance of the English football team.

“They badly let us down,” said Amess in a House of Commons debate held nine days after Germany’s 1-0 win over Argentina to claim the 2014 World Cup title.

He contrasted England’s first-round exit in Brazil with the performance of the 1966 side, who beat the then West Germany 4-2 after extra-time in the World Cup final at London’s Wembley Stadium — the only time England have won the World Cup.

“In 1966 it was my home team of West Ham who provided Bobby Moore, Geoff Hurst and Martin Peters, who led the team and scored all the four goals.

“All of these players were home-grown.

“Nowadays the Premier League is an absolute disgrace. Our footballers are paid far too much money and under perform.

“I’m advising everyone to boycott Premier League matches in the future.

“Not the other league(s), the rest of of the football teams are fantastic.

“But we will never win the World Cup again if we continue to have all these overseas players.”

Earlier on Tuesday, Greg Dyke, the chairman of England’s governing Football Association, reiterated his support for England manager Roy Hodgson despite the team failing to win a single one of its three group games in Brazil.

“I thought Roy Hodgson did quite a good job (at the World Cup) — I’ve got a lot of time for him,” Dyke said, while giving evidence to a committee of lawmakers.

“One of the big problems English football has is the average Premier League manager lasts 12 months if you take (Arsenal’s) Arsene Wenger out.

“The ability to look long-term therefore is going to be quite limited. In England your first job as a manager is to sort out your contract when you go in and the second is to sort out your contract when you leave.

“Our view is Roy has a four-year contract and he will continue that contract,” Dyke also told the Commons’ Culture, Media and Sport committee.

“Some progress was made. But what we are going to look at is are there more fundamental changes we need to make? We’ll look at that in September.”

NAIROBI, Kenya, July 24- Two quick fire first half goals from winger Noah Wafula and Nigerian import Austin Ikenna was all that limping AFC Leopards needed to clinch a first victory in four after overcoming Nairobi City Stars 2-0 at Nairobi’s Nyayo National Stadium.

Wafula capitalized on City Stars midfield blunder to net the first after five minutes before skipper Martin Imbalambala set up Ikenna who powerfully headed home nine minutes later for the decisive cushion.

At the Ruaraka Grounds, Tusker trimmed champions Gor Mahia’s lead to three points following their 2-0 win over KCB who looked destined for the drop.

Jesse Were and Isamel Dunga were on target in the second-half to pile more miseries to the Bankers who are still rooted at the bottom with nine points after managing only two wins.

“The match was very positive especially coming from a loss. The players had psychological fear and that’s why we didn’t play well in the first half but the only way to believe it was over is when they scored,” Tusker FC head coach Francis Kimanzi stated after the win.

At the Nairobi’s Nyayo National Stadium, Ingwe coming from a 2-1 loss to Mathare United, had to collect maximum points to avoid dropping to the relegation zone.

They embarked on salvaging pride with a roaring start with Imbalambala leading fro m the front with fierce shot that went slightly above the bar.

At the half hour mark, midfielder Humphrey Mieno could have extended the lead after receiving Musa Mudde’s cross but the former Sofapaka player failed to net his third goal for Leopards after his feeble shot was rescued by keeper Fredrick Majani.

Ikenna and Wafula had further chances but Majani’s keeping denied the pair their braces as Mieno’s thunderbolt went inches wide with the Kawangware based side tightening the defence.

Keeper Martin Musalia who benched first choice Wycliffe Kasaya, was in form stopping Kevin Ochieng’s header and Nelson Marasowe’s efforts to ensure they pick maximum points.

In the early kick-off at the Ruaraka Grounds, forward Michael Olunga netted his sixth goal of the season to see Thika United beat visiting Western Stima 1-0.

Olunga coming from attending trials in South Africa found the back of the net in the 72nd after former Gor Mahia midfielder Moses Odhiambo set him to place the ball beyond keeper Gabriel Adika’s reach.

After having a dull first-half, Michael Luvutsi came close three minutes to the break after unleashing a long range shot that hit the cross bar but David King’atua’s introduction in the second-half strengthened the attacking that resulted to the goal.

The win saw Thika United beak break their 11-game winless run against Stima with head coach John Kamau applauding his charges for bouncing back from a 3-1 defeat against KCB.

Elsewhere in Machakos, Bonface Onyango and Eric Apul were on target as Ulinzi Stars overcame hosts Mathare 2-0 in the early kick-off to see the Slum boys succumb to their first defeat after in three.

Onyango scored Ulinzi’s opener four minutes after Noah Abich had missed a penalty for Mathare when Oliver Ruto brought down Daniel Mwaura in the box.

Apul doubled the lead in the 63rd after pouncing on Kevin Amwayi’s rebound to ensure they go back to Nakuru with maximum points and maintain their top-eight slot.

The final match at Kenyatta Stadium saw veteran striker John Baraza head home his seventh goal of the season to help Sofapaka salvage a point against visiting Chemelil Sugar.

Hamisi Mwinyi broke the deadlock for the Sugar Millers from a counter attack in the 84th, before Tony Ndolo picked Baraza with a pin point cross to restore parity four minutes later.

NAIROBI, Kenya, July 24- Agnes Tirop failed in her bid to emulate her close pal Faith Chepng’etich as a World Junior Championships gold medallist when she collected her second successive bronze during the women 5000m finals in Eugene, Oregon.

Tirop bowed to the Ethiopian might of the unrelated Alemitus- Haroye and Hawi- who took gold and silver as Day 2 of riveting action at the Hayward Field concluded with Kenya yet to hear their national anthem played at the historic stadium.

The medallists returned 15:10.08, 15:10.46 and 15:43.12 as the Kenyan was reduced to the role of leading the challengers’ home once the Ethiopian pair dislodged from the competition with five laps to go before deciding the top two medals in an internal contest.

Tirop, who also won the third medal in Barcelona two years ago, said post race her progress was checked by injury as she prepares to graduate to senior running next season without realised her dream to rule the world as a junior.

“I feel good about the race. I had a leg injury, coming into the Championships, so I’m happy with the bronze. There is a lot of training ahead, because now I will start to compete as a senior athlete,” she told the IAAF.

There was no indication of the injury before she departed for Oregon, stating her desire to follow in the golden footsteps of Chepng’etich, who reigned supreme over 1500m in Barcelona, after they met in the run-up to Spain and struck a close bond.

“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,” the Form 1 student at Kosirai High School in Uasin Gishu County said before the Kenyan contingent left for Oregon.

Haroye over Hawi

Haroye and Hawi who share the given name Alemitu, upped the pace in the third kilometre, covered in 2:52.88, the fastest 1000m in the race, to build an insurmountable lead over Tirop before the went on to moonlight their illustrious senior compatriots, Tirunesh Dibaba and Meseret Defar after the bell.

The duel for glory which lasted over the final three laps was only decided a few metres from the line.

The fastest junior in the world this year, Haroye ran the third fastest time in the history of the championships to claim her first global title; her best international performance before her arrival in Eugene being when she finished one place behind Tirop in Bydgoszcz.

“This race was a good contest. The conditions in the beginning weren’t that good, but it got better towards the end. I’m really happy. After this, God only knows what will come next, but the door is open,” the champion, who won Ethiopia’s seventh women 5000m gold in ten editions of this event, said.

“It was a good race. There was a bit of wind but the last lap was wonderful. I’m happy to be a silver medal winner and just happy overall,” the silver winner added.

Elsewhere, Overall team captain, Alex Sampao, ran 46.21 to make the final of the men 400m as the third fastest behind Machel Cedenio of Trinidad and Tobago and home runner, Tyler Brown who clocked 45.90 and 45.97.

Sampao, who trailed all finalists home at last year’s World Youth championships, was second behind Brown in the first heat.

Margaret Wambui ran her personal best as compatriot Maximila Imali qualified for the women 800m final as a fastest loser in the semis of their event.

Wambui ran 2 minutes, 3.72 seconds to emerge the second fastest qualifier for the finals after finishing second to Cuban Sahily Diago in the first semi as Imali held on for fourth in the other to qualify as one of the two fastest losers in 2 minutes, 5.37 seconds.

Nafuna Nalyanya’s competition in the women 400m heats ended in disqualification as Stephen Kipkoech also saw his dreams in the 400m Hurdles crushed by sixth finish in the eighth heat.

Medal rush expected

Kenya, who lie eighth in the overall standings with a silver and a bronze, look forward to landing her first honours in early Friday’s action.

Sampao will be out first at 5:45am Kenyan time in the 400m final with Wambui and Imali following soon after at 6:00am.

World Youth champion, Lilian Kasait, will hope to climb the next step and win the World Juniors gold when she and compatriot Valentina Chepkwemoi take to the track for the women 3000m final.

The medal hunt will be completed by the men 1500m duo of Hillary Cheruiyot, who won silver in Barcelona two years and in form Jonathan Sawe, who beat him to the line at the Trials for Oregon besides running the fastest time at the semis of 3:38.61.

That race will start at 6:40am.

-Material from iaaf.org used in this report

ABUJA, July 24- The executive board of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) on Thursday dismissed president Aminu Maigari after he was impeached for misuse of funds.

Vice-president Mike Umeh will now step up to serve as acting president.

A statement from the executive committee meeting said that “after thorough and exhaustive deliberations” on the secretive nature of the federation’s financial dealings and a “failure to call a meeting of the executive committee for the past eight months” during which time many important decision were made, the board had passed a vote of no-confidence on Maigari.

It therefore approved his immediate dismissal from the NFF executive committee on grounds of financial misappropriation, misapplication and maladministration.

Umeh will preside over the affairs of the federation pending the composition of the new NFF executive committee after the elections on August 26.

It is believed that eight of 13 executive committee members signed the impeachment motion.

NAIROBI, Kenya, July 25- Kenya finally opened her gold account at the World Junior Championships in Eugene, Oregon as Mary Wambui and Jonathan Sawe stormed to glory in the women 800m and men 1500m finals on Friday morning.

It could have been three in three had bulldozing American, Mary Cain, not powered past Lilian Kasait and Valentina Chepkwemoi to motor to the top medal over the last 200m in the women 3000m event in between Wambui’s and Sawe’s triumphs.

Having seen Ugandan and archrivals Ethiopian athletes beat them to the middle step of the podium on Days 1 and 2, the Kenyan distance running empire struck back emphatically in the space of 45 minutes at the Hayward Field track as the country rose to the top of the overall standings with 2 gold, 2 silver and 3 bronze medals ahead of hosts USA.

Wambui opens account

Wambui ran the race of her life, three seconds faster than her previous lifetime best which she set in Wednesday’s semi final, as she won over two laps of the track in 2:00.49 in a monumental upset at Hayward Field to land Kenya’s first gold.

In her first season of high level competition, the 17-year old sprinted away from Cuba’s pre-race favourite Sahily Diago, attacking from 70 metres out, to claim Kenya’s fourth junior title in the women’s 800m but the first one in 12 years.

Diago came home for second in 2:02.11, ahead of Australia’s Georgia Wassall, who came out on top of a duel with her compatriot Georgia Griffith for the bronze medal, stopping the clock in 2:02.71

Iceland’s World Youth and European junior champion, Aníta Hinriksdóttir went out astonishingly hard and broke the group into two as she hit the first 200 metres in 27.24 and covered the first lap in a blistering 56.33 as Kenya’s Maximila Imali bowed out of the fight for the medals after appealing to pull her hamstring 150 metres into the race.

Sawe delivers number eight

A closing lap of 53.97 was enough for Sawe to ascend to the World Junior title in the men 1500m as the powerfully built athlete motored to a 3:40.02 season’s best triumph.

Sawe became the eighth Kenyan man to win the world junior Metric Mile title when he kicked away from his team-mate Hillary Cheruiyot Ngetich on the homestretch to reach the finish in 3:40.02.

Ngetich, the silver medallist in 2012, was overhauled by Djibouti’s Abdi Waiss Mouhyadin for silver in 3:41.38; Ngetich finished in 3:41.61.

Ngetich took off fast from the gun but settled once he reached the front, going through 400m in 58.23 but 800m in a more pedestrian 2:01.31 with the whole field packed up behind him.

At the bell, Sawe came to the front and pulled Ngetich, Mouhyadin and Brazil’s Thiago Andre clear of the pack. Sawe reached full flight on the backstretch, and despite Ngetich’s best efforts to close the gap, he wouldn’t be challenged for the remainder of the race.

Of the 15 world junior 1500m finals, Kenyans have now won nine. Mouhyadin won Djibouti’s first medal of any kind at the World Junior Championships.

“I tried to finish as best I could. I expected myself to win. I liked the pace and I felt ready for it,” Sawe said after the race.

The one that went away

World Youth champion, Lilian Kasait and team-mate Valentina Chepkwemoi took silver and bronze respectively in the women 3000m having chased American revelation, Mary Cain home in 9:00.53 and 9:00.79.

After early pace-making by Japan’s Nozomi Takamatsu, Kasait took control of the race as they approached the first kilometre mark, throwing in repeated surges around the second bend to thin the pack.

Joined by Mateiko, Ethiopia’s Etagegen Woldu, Weini Kelati of Eritrea, and Cain, they reached 1000m in 3:03.84.

Chepkwemoi was credited with the second kilometre split of 6:07.39, then Rengeruk took over again. With a few more surges, the pack was narrowed to Rengeruk, Mateiko, Cain and Woldu as they approached the bell.

On the backstretch Cain was clearly itching to go, passing Mateiko on the inside and creeping up on Rengeruk’s heels. Finally with 150m remaining she burst to the front and simply ran away, increasing her lead all the way down the homestretch.

Cain, a finalist at the Moscow Worlds, won gold in 8:58.48 after a final lap of 62.93 to become the first US woman to win a world junior title in an event longer than 800m.

“The pace of the race wasn’t bad. I missed the moment to get Mary Cain. I still won the silver. It’s ok, but I didn’t win,” Kasait said with her compatriot, Chepkwemoi adding, “I am very proud of it. This is my first time and I got a bronze, so I am very proud. The race was not bad and I tried my best.”

Kenya’s medal prospects on Day 4 will come in the last event of the programme when Moses Mukono, a finalist in Barcelona, and Fredrick Kipkosgei take to the track.

-Material from IAAF used in this report

NAIROBI, Kenya, July 23 – Relegation threatened KCB pulled 2008 champions, Mathare United closer to the trapdoor with a resounding 4-0 thrashing whilst veteran winger, Stephen Waruru, notched his seventh goal of the season as Ulinzi were held 1-1 by Nairobi City Stars in the highlight of Saturday’s Kenyan Premier League exchanges.

Waruru, the league top scorer in 2010 when Ulinzi ruled the roost, was again on target after a couple of underwhelming season at Afraha Stadium in Nakuru but his team once again failed to make capital as they surrendered two points.

At Nairobi’s City Stadium, Paul Kiongera, who also top scored for KCB the season before last, rediscovered his mojo with a brace as the Bankers who prop the table registered their third win of the campaign over Mathare at Nairobi’s City Stadium.

Muhoroni Youth continued with their indifferent run after settling to a 1-1 draw with hosts Top Fry Nakuru All Stars in the second game of the Afraha televised double header.

In the early match, City Stars were under stress to collect maximum points to pull away from the danger zone and they went ahead on the 24th minute through Dennis Okoth who finished off a Nelson Marasowe pass.

Waruru pegged them back in the 37th after pouncing on catastrophic defending between keeper Fredrick Majani and defender David Otieno who failed to communicate to each other to punish them.

Stars are five points above the drop zone on 18 as the sides shared the second stalemate of the season after their barren draw in the first leg.

In the earlier kick-off, Teddy Siwa netted a second half goal to help All Stars pick a point from visiting Muhoroni who took the lead in the 22nd through Enos Ochieng who slotted home Daniel Waweru’s free-kick.

At the City Stadium, coach Rishadi Shedu registered his second win of the season as the Bankers bounced back from midweek loss to ruthlessly thrash Mathare to record their highest score line of the campaign.

Ronald Musana broke the deadlock in the 12th after connecting Kiongera’s cross from the midfield to send the ball to the far right corner for his debut goal since joining the Bankers.

KCB scored three goals in the last period, with Kiongera doubling the lead one minute after restart when he picked Benjamin Chaka’s pass from a counter attack before setting up substitute Samuel Mwangi who extended the lead to 3-0.

The Harambee Stars midfielder crowned his man of the match performance a minute later with his brace, looping the ball over Mathare keeper John Wawu.

Derby fever climaxes Sunday

Five fixtures are lined up for Sunday with the mother being the Mashemeji Derby where AFC Leopards welcome archrivals champions Gor Mahia at Nyayo Stadium.

The hype for the return leg is still on as both sides eagerly wait for the big day to see carries the day after Leopards boast of first leg bragging rights courtesy of a 3-1 win.

The social media was a bee hive of activities for the better part of this week as both sides took to their official Facebook walls to taunt each other and predict the score line.

The first leg belonged to Ingwe who outclassed K’Ogalo but for the last five years no team has won both legs and heading to Sunday’s crunch, both sides come from wins but that does not matter when the two titans of Kenyan football step to the pitch.

Ingwe would relish derailing Gor’s title charge and opening it up after Tusker moved to within three points at the summit while K’Ogalo would delight at pushing their ‘in-laws’ closer to the drop zone.

Tusker are in Bandari hoping to pick the scraps and muscle to the lead should they win and Gor lose while the ‘sugar’ derby between Chemelil and Sony takes place in Awendo.

Thika United hope to tax points from KRA at home while Sofapaka, the 2009 champions who are trailing the top two are away to Western Stima.

NAIROBI, Kenya, July 27 – Kenya rugby 7s will face defending champions New Zealand in the Main Cup quarter-finals at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games Sunday after securing two wins in Group B despite losing 20-0 in their final preliminary match against South Africa.

Earlier, Paul Treu charges, got off to a solid start after stewing Cook Islands 28-0 in their opener before seeing off Trinidad and Tobago 35-5 in their second match.

The last encounter saw Treu once again fail to beat his former employers as the record advanced to 6-1 this year following five loses at last season’s HSBC World Series to a single victory.

Shujaa found the going tough from the start with Springboks dominating the African derby as Cecil Afrika opened the lead after piling pressure to ground down for a 5-0 lead before Braco du Preez doubled the lead.

Afrika was instrumental for the third try, setting Saebolo Senalta while team effort saw Kwoggo Smith seal the win as the bronze medalist booked a date with hosts Scotland.

In the second match, Winger Dennis Ombachi scored a hat-trick of tries to send Kenya to Cup quarters after registering a resounding 35-5 win over Trinidad and Tobago in their second Group B match.

Shujaa had earlier on beat Cook Islands 28-0 in their opener as they dominated the contest with Ombachi, the Mwamba RFC player opening the scoring in the third minute after receiving a pass from fly-half Biko Adema who picked the ball from the scrum as he went on to convert for a 7-0 lead.

Ombachi then touched down his brace when he sprinted on the right after Kenya’s record try scorer Collins Injera fed him as Adema did well to convert from a tight angle for a 14-0.

Trinidad pulled one back after utilizing Kenya’s defensive lapse for Joseph Quashie to ground down from a kick as they missed the conversion.

Veteran Humphrey Kayange used his experience to score his first try of the tournament after breaking through from a solo effort as Adema’s kick went through for a 21-5 lead.

Ombachi completed his hat-trick three minutes later as Injera once again set him through to touch the white wash before Felix Ayange hammered the final nail on the coffin after powering through from the midfield.

In the opener, Injera scored a brace of tries to see Shujaa start on a winning note over Cook Island.

Injera opened the scoring midway through the first-half after splitting the defence to touch down with Adema converting for a 7-0 lead.

Shujaa built on their 7-0 lead upon resumption, with Treu bringing on Michael Agevi for Michael Wanjala who increased the pace of the game.

Injera completed his brace minutes later as Adema made no mistake to convert for a 14-0 lead.

Two minutes to the hooter, Billy Odhiambo dispossessed the Islanders to ground down for the third try before Agevi sealed the win.

Duford floored again

Kenyan top swimmer Jason Dunford, once again missed out the chance to medal in the 100m freestyle where he bowed out at the semi-finals after finishing last in a time of 50.78.

Dunford who was stripped off his 50m butterfly title on Friday by England’s Benjamin Proud will compete in his last event Sunday in 100m backstroke for his last stab at Commonwealth glory.

Meanwhile, Sylvia Tanya and Ger Jamie qualified to the semi-finals of women’s 50m Butterfly while Anita Zahra bid goodbye the competition after finishing seventh in heat 2.

Boxers punch their way up

Kenyan boxers continued to post good results, with Nicholas Okong’o progressing to round 16 of the lightweight after flooring Mauritius’ John Colin.

The three judges awarded Okong’o 29 points in each round to bag 89 points while Nickson Otieno punched Samoa’s Patelo Magagi in middleweight to storm round 16.

Simon Mulinge also sailed to round 16 after beating Namibian Immanuel Shapaka in flyweight to book a date with Lesotho’s Moroke Mokhotho.

Kenya Police Elly Ajowi knocked out Botswana’s Thabang Motsewabeng in light heavyweight to collect 83 points while Alumasa Matayo meet hosts Aquel Ahmen in light fly round 16.

Women performed better in Judo but could not reach the medal bracket as with Esther Akinyi come close but was bundled out by Scotland’s Sarah Adlington in the 78 kg in the semis.

Alice Chebet reached the quarters while Levy Kiplagat and Evans Ouko failed to go past the preliminary round in 90 kg and 100 kg respectively.

In Lawn bowls Mirriam Nyokabi was beaten by Jersey’s Lindsey Greechan in round 5, with same case applying in shooting where Shaminderpal Signh and Shitul Shah finished 24th and 25th.

Kenya also lost in the Queen’s Prize pairs final, finishing 13th as England won gold.

In Squash, Safina Madhani was eliminated in women’s consolation plate quarters by Kimbarley Borg of Malta 3-1with her male counterpart Hartaj Bains beaten by Zambia’s Mwinga Legwe by similar score line.

Kenya will seek her first medal Sunday, when track and field events kick-off with the Marathon as the country looks to defend the men’s title and eye for the women’s too.

Oregon, July 27- Bahrain’s Ruth Jebet, that’s right, Ruth Jebet, denied her country of birth Kenya the gold medal in the women’s 3000m steeplechase when she took the honours in 9:36.74 on the penultimate day of the World Junior Championships in Eugene, Oregon.

Jebet simply ran away from the field over the last kilometre of the race to win Bahrain’s first ever World Juniors gold medal, and their first women’s medal of any hue.

After early pace making by Peru’s Zulema Arenas brought the pack through the first 1000m in a quick 3:12.16, Kenya’s world youth champion Rosefline Chepngetich took over and began surging in an attempt to break up the pack.

Jebet moved up before the second kilometre, reached in 6:26.18, and towed Chepgnetich and her team-mate Daisy Jepkemei, the defending world junior champion away from the pack.

Eventually Jebet opened a sizeable gap the Kenyan duo was unable to close. Chepgnetich set out in pursuit but was unable to approach Jebet until the final lap, and by then it was too late and she took silver in 9:40.28.

Jepkemei duelled with Ethiopia’s Buzuayehu Mohamed for the bronze medal through the last lap, ultimately pulling away to give Kenya two women on the podium with a 9:47.65. Mohamed was fourth in 9:48.66.

World Youth champion, Alfred Kipketer and teammate Joshua Masikonde made the finals of men 800m after winning their semis.

Kipketer carried the first semi in 1:48.67 before Masikonde clocked 1:48.09, to win the second to ensure Kenya will have two athletes from eight finalists vying for the medals.

Besides the pair, the country will duel for medals and possible honours in the men 3000m steeplechase where Titus Kipruto and Barnabas Kipyego are in action in the first track final of the closing day of the biennial showpiece.

Sheila Chepng’etich and Winfred Mbithe will then take the stage to battle for the medals in the women 1500m before the men 800 duo wrap up the charge.

Kenya dropped from first on Day 3 to fourth with 2 gold, 3 silver and 6 bronze.

NAIROBI, Kenya, July 27 – Talisman Dan Sserunkuma continued his scoring streak against AFC Leopards with a brace as champions Gor Mahia and archrivals shared a thrilling 2-2 Kenyan Premier League Mashemeji Derby draw on Sunday at Nairobi’s Nyayo Stadium.

Sserunkuma would have won the match for K’Ogalo only for their captain and inspiration, Jerim Onyango’s blunder to open the door for Leopards to level the match in a fast paced encounter marred by violence during the break.

Fans were forced to dash for safety as police lobbed tear-gas to disperse rowdy supporters who breached the buffer zone before security forces restored control with the second-half delayed for over 15 minutes.

Winger Noah Wafula broke the deadlock for hosts Ingwe at the half hour mark after Gor’s defence went to sleep to afford him the space to tap in an Austine Ikenna’s flicked header before Sserunkuma levelled three minutes to the breather after powerfully heading home Eric Ochieng’s corner.

The Ugandan hit-man completed his brace just upon resumption, slotting home a Musa Mohammed deflected shot to record his ninth goal of the season that took him to the top of the scoring charts.

Skipper Martin Imbalambala restored parity for Ingwe through a long range shot that bounced over Onyango, embracing the skipper who had come out of his line.

Both coaches were not satisfied with the results with Gor’s Bobby Williamson particularly miffed by Onyango’s mistake that denied them victory.

“It was a nice game although I’m disappointed with our keeper’s blunder that cost us the win, he could have handled the ball well but that’s how football is. The good thing is that we are still on top of the log.

“It’s surprising teams celebrate when they draw with Gor instead of winning, that was seen in today’s match as Leopards fans celebrated after the final whistle,” Williamson said after the match.

His opposite number, Pietier De Jongh blamed officials for poor officiating; claiming Gor’s second goal was off side.

“Both the referee and linesman were biased since they failed to call offside in our opponents second goal but picking a point is not bad, I’m happy for that and I’m planning for Wednesday’s match,” the Dutchman told.

The sides were without key players who featured in the first leg encounter won 3-1 by Leopards with Harambee Stars forward Allan Wanga and winger Paul Were ditching the den for Sudan and South Africa leagues respectively.

K’Ogalo lost midfielder Anthony Okumu, Rama Salim, Kevin Omondi and Shaban Kenga departed for other clubs.

The teams took control of each half with Leopards having a good run in the first period, Wafula giving K’Ogalo’s defence a hard time as he came close after eight minutes of play when Abdallah Juma picked him from the left and did well to cut in but no one was in the box to tap home for Mohammed to clear the danger.

Six minutes later Sserunkuma, who returned to the team Friday from attending trials with Danish side HB Koge, got a chance to give Gor the lead but he lost his footing after beating defender Jackson Saleh before the sides traded goals for 1-1 at half time.

Gor dominated the first 15 minutes of the second half with Sserunkuma tearing apart Ingwe defence before they could settle in the game.

Ingwe keeper, Wycliffe Kasaya bailed out his side as Otieno, David Owino and Ochieng threatened for Gor before Onyango spilled an effort from Jacob Keli in the 72nd minute but no one capitalised as the champions survived.

However, the captain was caught out by a ball a keeper of his calibre should have handled before Leopards almost stole it when strong appeals for a penalty after Harun Shakava tangled with Ikenna was waved away by the referee moments after the equaliser.
In other results, Chemelil won the Sugar Derby after beating Sony 2-0 in Awasi while Tusker failed to reduce Gor’s lead following their 2-2 draw with Bandari in Mombasa.

Thika United were 1-0 winners over KRA while Sofapaka lost by the same margin to Western Stima at Mumias Sports Complex.

NAIROBI, Kenya, July 28- Alfred Kipketer and Bernard Kipyego lifted their proud nation to finish second overall by breezing to men 800m and 3000m steeplechase gold as the thrilling World Junior Championships wrapped up in Eugene, Oregon early Monday.

Kipketer added the World Junior crown to the World Youth gold he won last year by clinching victory in a staggering 1:43.95 win, the second fastest ever at the World Juniors and sixth quickest of all time at the historic Hayward Field track.

He led countryman Joshua Tiampati Masikonde to the third Kenyan 1-2 in the men’s 800m in the history of the competition as the country’s dominance of the two-lap race was restored.

Earlier, Kipyego led home his team-mate Titus Kipruto in the men’s 3000m steeplechase. Kipyego was clocked in 8:25.57; Kibiego crossed the line in 8:26.15.

Sheila Chepeng’etich scooped bronze in the women 1500m in 4:11.12 as Kenya closed the final day with five medals to move from fourth to second with 4 gold, 5 silver and 7 bronze behind hosts USA who bagged 10 gold, 5 silver, 5 bronze to top the charts.

Kipketer storms to glory

In the men 800m final, the Kenyan duo set a blistering pace from the start, covering the first 200m in 23.59 and the first lap in 49.42, about five meters ahead of the rest of the field.

After the 600m mark, covered in 1:16.51, Kipketer started to move away from Masikonde and went on to win in 1:43.95, close to the championship record of 1:43.79, set by Botswana’s Nigel Amos in 2012.

Kipketer’s time moved him to the ninth on the world junior all-time list.

Masikonde held on to secure silver in a personal best of 1:45.14 ahead of fast-finishing Andreas Almgren, who set a Swedish junior record of 1:45.65 to take bronze.

Seventeen-year-old Kipketer added his gold in Eugene to the world youth title from last year. He was part of the winning 4x800m Kenyan squad at the IAAF World Relays in Nassau and became the ninth Kenyan man to win the global junior gold in the distance.

Only five other athletes have run faster than him at Hayward Field.

Kipyego retains Kenya’ race

Kipyego made the pace for much of the race, keeping the tempo from dawdling and leading the surges which trimmed the lead group down.

He led through the initial kilometre split of 2:53.56; it was Kibiego’s turn to lead at the second split of 5:42.81.

The pack narrowed to the two Kenyans, world youth champion Meresa Kahsay of Ethiopia, and Bahrain’s Evans Rutto Chematot, but with two laps remaining Kahsay began to get left behind.

“With three laps to go I saw I was no longer with the Kenyans,” Chematot explained later, although he remained close up to the bell when Kibiego passed him for good.

It was Kipyego who took off on the last lap, with Kibiego shadowing him but unable to get ahead.

Kipyego stepped smoothly over the last water jump, which Kibiego hurdled a little ineptly, slowing him down a bit. Kipyego got over the final barrier more smoothly, giving him a slight advantage he held to the finish.

“Leading from the start to the end is what we had planned,” Kipyego explained. “This event is for Kenyans.”

Ethiopian pair, Dawit Seyaum (4:09.86) and Gudaf Tsegay (4:10.83) proved a class above Chepng’etich who held on for the third medal in the women 1500m as teammate, Wilfred Mbithe (4:13.80) ran a career best for seveth.

Margaret Nyairera (women 800m) and Jonathan Sawe (men 3000m) are the other gold winners from Oregon.

-Material from IAAF used in this report

EUGENE MEDALLISTS

Gold

Margaret Nyairera Wambui W 800 Metres
Jonathan Kiplimo Sawe M 1500 Metres
Barnabas Kipyego M 3000 Metres Steeplechase
Alfred Kipketer M 800 Metres

Silver

Elvis Kipchoge Cheboi M 10,000 Metres
Lilian Kasait Rengeruk W 3000 Metres
Rosefline Chepngetich W 3000 Metres Steeplechase
Titus Kipruto Kibiego M 3000 Metres Steeplechase
Joshua Tiampati Masikonde M 800 Metres

Bronze

Nicholas Mboroto Kosimbei M 10,000 Metres
Agnes Jebet Tirop W 5000 Metres
Valentina Chepkwemoi W 3000 Metres
Hillary Cheruiyot Ngetich M 1500 Metres
Moses Letoyie M 5000 Metres
Daisy Jepkemei W 3000 Metres Steeplechase
Sheila Chepngetich Keter W 1500 Metres

PITTSBURGH, July 28- English Premier League champions Manchester City cruised to a 5-1 triumph over Italy’s AC Milan on Sunday in a weather-hit friendly at Heinz Field, home of the NFL’s Pittsburgh Steelers.

Manuel Pellegrini’s men stormed into an early 2-0 lead thanks to strikes from Stevan Jovetic in the 11th minute and Scott Sinclair in the 14th, the two making the most of a Milan defense that struggled with Manchester City’s pace down the right flank.

City continued to dominate and added a third as Jesus Navas’s acrobatic effort from outside the area was deflected past helpless Milan goalkeeper Michael Agazzi in the 23rd minute.

City added a fourth after 26 minutes when Nigerian teenager Kelechi Iheanacho, who has been training with the club for several weeks, picked the ball up on the edge of the box, turned and slotted it home.

Sulley Muntari pulled one back for Milan shortly before halftime, making it 4-1 going into the break which was extended as fans were cleared from the stands because of a heavy thunderstorm that brought lightning and a tornado warning.

The sides eventually emerged for the second half and the English outfit picked up where they had left off — Montenegro international Jovetic making it 5-1 in the 58th.

Former City striker Mario Balotelli, who sat out Milan’s 3-0 loss to Olympiakos in Toronto on Thursday, came on for the second half and had a goal ruled out for offside.

The match was part of the International Champions Cup, a collection of pre-season matches featuring eight European clubs all preparing for the start of their domestic campaigns.

At Soldier Field in Chicago, home of the NFL’s Bears, England international Raheem Sterling scored the only goal in Liverpool’s 1-0 victory over Olympiakos of Greece.

The winger struck after just five minutes, seizing upon a deflected strike by Daniel Sturridge and finishing.

Olympiakos came close to equalizing, but Gevorg Ghazaryan was denied by the crossbar early in the second half.

A crowd of 36,170 turned out for the contest, in which Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers selected a starting side that included proven players such as Steven Gerrard, Sterling and Sturridge and also handed a maiden appearance for the club to recent recruit Lazar Markovic.

The result gave Liverpool a winning start to their International Champions Cup campaign, after they had fallen 1-0 to Roma in a friendly in Boston to start their North American tour.

Spanish champions Atletico Madrid were also Stateside on Sunday for some pre-season action, taking a 4-3 win on penalties after playing to a 0-0 draw against Major League Soccer’s San Jose Earthquakes in San Francisco.

The match was notable as the last sports event scheduled at Candlestick Park, the stadium that was the home of baseball’s San Francisco Giants from 1960 until 2000 and has been the home of the NFL’s 49ers since 1971.

The 49ers are moving to their new Levi’s Stadium in nearby Santa Clara in the upcoming season.

LONDON, July 28- Calum Chambers has joined Arsenal from Southampton on a long-term contract for an undisclosed fee.

The 19-year-old made his Premier League debut for the Saints on the opening day of the 2013/14 campaign, going on to feature 22 times in the competition last term.

Chambers joined the Southampton academy aged seven, breaking into the club’s first team squad at the beginning of 2012/13.

Tall and athletic, the versatile youngster started his career in midfield, but established himself at right back last season and can also play in the centre of defence. He is currently captain of England Under-19s.

Arsène Wenger said: “We are very pleased that Calum has agreed to join us. The way he adapted to the Premier League last season with Southampton at a young age shows that he has tremendous quality. He has a lot of the attributes that we look for in a young player and I am sure that he will do well with us.”

Chambers said: “I am so happy to be signing for Arsenal. They are a team I have much admired for their playing style, and a team who have been one of the top sides in Europe for many years. I’m looking forward to joining up with my new team-mates today and beginning preparation for the season ahead.

“I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to everyone at Southampton FC for everything they have done for me and for making this move possible.”

It is expected that Chambers will make his first Arsenal appearance at the Emirates Cup 2014, which takes place at Emirates Stadium on August 2 and 3.

Chambers’ Arsenal squad number will be revealed soon through Arsenal’s official Instagram account.

-Story and picture from Arsenal.com

LONDON, July 29- Liverpool announced on Tuesday the signing of 19-year-old Belgium striker Divock Origi from Lille, but said they will loan him back to the French side for the 2014-15 campaign.

“I am very happy and delighted a club as big as Liverpool showed interest in me. I’m very excited,” Origi told the Liverpool website.

“I know it’s a club with a great history, great fans and a lot of great players. For me, Liverpool is one of the greatest clubs in the world and I’m very excited to be part of this great history.”

Origi travelled to the United States, where Liverpool are on a pre-season tour, in order to complete the deal. Liverpool did not disclose the length of his contract.

After a breakthrough campaign with Lille in 2013-14, Origi impressed for Belgium at the World Cup, scoring an 88th-minute winner against Russia in the group phase to send his team into the last 16.

Origi is Liverpool’s fifth close-season signing, following the arrivals of the former Southampton trio of Adam Lallana, Rickie Lambert, and Dejan Lovren, and German midfielder Emre Can from Bayer Leverkusen.

While the teenager will have to wait at least a year before making his Liverpool debut, he is already excited about the prospect of becoming a part of manager Brendan Rodgers’s side.

“The fact we have a young team and can grow is the most exciting part,” he said.

“With the coach we have, he’s a great manager who can handle a young team. He’s said a lot of good things about Liverpool and told me it’s the perfect club for me.

“This year I’ll have a chance to play at European level, in the Europa League or Champions League.”

Liverpool narrowly lost out to Manchester City in the battle for last season’s Premier League title.

They start the 2014-15 season at home to Southampton on August 17.

NAIROBI, Kenya, July 30 – Harambee Stars head coach, Adel Amrouche has recalled former captain and record scorer Dennis Oliech as Kenya seeks to avoid crashing out against Lesotho in Sunday’s 2015 African Cup of Nations second round return leg at Nairobi’s Nyayo National Stadium.

Oliech who is yet to arrive in the country from France where he attended pre-season training with his Ligue 1 relegated side AJ Ajaccio, missed the first round return leg against Comoros after Amrouche dropped him on disciplinary grounds.

Also boosting the camp are US Major Soccer League side Kansas City defender Lawrence Olum and Norway based midfielder Christian Bwamy who linked up with Al Tawoon defender David Owino, former MC Algiers forward Edwin Lavatsta, KF Tirana’s Francis Kahata and Oman based midfielder Jamal Mohammed on Wednesday.

Bwamy last featured for Stars in 2014 World Cup qualifiers against Nigeria in Calabar last march while Olum returns after missing the Lesotho first leg match.

Stars enter the match trailing 1-0 and will need at least a 2-0 result to progress to the Group qualifiers that consist of 2013 Afcon finalists Burkina Faso, Angola and Gabon in Pool C.

With dependable players Lillestrome first choice keeper Arnold Origi and Belgian based duo of Lommel United midfielder Johanna Omolo as well as Genk winger Ayub Timbe, missing the first leg due to clubs commitments, Football Kenya Federation (FKF) is fighting to see them released since the qualifier is outside the FIFA calendar.

“We have already sent air tickets for all foreign based players called by the technical bench including Timbe and Origi. We had already written to their clubs requesting their release since we are aware the match is not recognized in the FIFA calendar,” a reliable source from FKF told Capital Sport.

The technical bench will be under assistant coach James Nandwa, as Amrouche awaits the appeal against his one CAF ban having been initially slapped with a two-match touchline ban for allegedly spitting at a match official away to Comoros.

Captain Victor Wanyama who is yet to link up with his English Premier League side Southampton for the pre-season and elder bother Macdonald Mariga are expected in camp before the end of the week.

Speedy winger Paul Were who features for South African side Amazulu is expected to make a come back to the national team as well as El Merreikh forward Allan Wanga to join local based players.

NAIROBI, Kenya, July 30 – Comoros head coach, Amir Abdou, has trashed charges levelled against his suspended Kenyan counterpart, Adel Amrouche, that he spat at an official during their 2015 Afcon qualifier on May 30.

The spitting allegations were the reason given by the Disciplinary Committee of continental body CAF to slap a one-year football ban that has been appealled by the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) on the Belgian coach.

The continental body initially handed Amrouche a two-match touchline ban before announcing the suspension from the game Monday last week.

During the match that ended 1-1 at the Saïd Mohamed Cheikh International Stadium in Comoros that saw Kenya progress to the second round 2-1 on aggregate, Amrouche fell foul with the Fourth Official whom it was alleged he spat at in anger.

“In my capacity as the coach of the national team of Comoros, I wish to present to you my version of the events following the suspension decision taken against Mr. Adel Amrouche.

“As one of the people present at the scene of the incident that informed the sanction imposed by the Confederation of African Football, I would like to give my testimony. Mr Adel Amrouche did not “spit” on the referee during the return match, a qualifier for the AFCON 2015, between Kenya and Comoros,” Abdou said in a translated statement.

“He did in fact very vehemently and with agitation express his displeasure but he did not at any point behave in any such manner as alleged,” the Comoros tactician added.

“Through this testimony, the FCF (Football Comoros Federation), which I represent, wishes to support the FKF (Football Kenya Federation), which has appealed against this sanction.

“The very punitive sanction seems to be disproportionate to the infringements associated with Mr. Adel Amrouche’s behaviour during the match, which were characterized by agitation and verbal attacks on various match officials,” the declaration further read.

The Comoros boss and his federation presented themselves to be quizzed for further clarification on the matter.

Amrouche went on with his duties with the Kenyan team on Wednesday despite the uncertainty over his future as the country seeks to overturn a first leg 1-0 deficit when they welcome to Lesotho in the return leg of their second round qualifier.

Speaking after the CAF ban news broke, FKF president, Sam Nyamweya, stated they would ‘vehemently appeal’ the decision that would mean letting the Belgian who was hired in February last year although ‘options are in place’ should the continental body uphold their ban.

Kenya has only lost once with Amrouche in the dugout, a friendly reverse against Malawi last November having fell to Nigeria in the return leg of their 2014 World Cup qualifier last June and Lesotho in Maseru when he was banned from the technical area.

NAIROBI, July 30- Kenya has launched investigations on how its younger athletes are switching allegiance to oil-rich Arab country of Bahrain.

The country was incensed when Kenya-turned Bahraini Ruth Jebet turned up at the World Junior Championships in Eugene, Oregon in the U.S. and ran away with the 3,000m steeplechase gold leaving Kenyans in the dust of her sprint.

Jebet won the women 3,000m steeplechase event in 9:36.74 with Kenyans Rosefline Chepg’entich taking silver ahead of compatriot Daisy Jepkemei.

“We were shocked to find our athlete carrying another countries’ flag. As far as we are concerned, she was training here with our athletes and competing in our championships with a Kenyan passport.

“But she surprised us all lining up in the race with a Bahraini Passport. We are commencing the investigation, to know the circumstance under which those athletes who represented Bahrain and who are behind it,” said Jack Tuwei, Athletics Kenya Vice-President in-charge of Youth Development.

“She is in our school and training with our people. We will team up with the Ministry of Sports and Ministry of Education to see how this happened and who sanctioned her switch.”

Many Kenyans have ditched the red, white and black colours of the national flag in exchange for millions of dollars from Arab countries.

Ordinarily, it is easy to understand because most struggle from a chocking field and only a few get the chance to get a call to national team.

Jebet took the opportunity to run for Bahrain at the tender age of 16, transferring her eligibility in February 2013. In April she won the 3,000 metres and the 5,000 metres at the Kenyan high school championships.

The teenager excelled on her debut for Bahrain, coming second in the 3,000 metres steeplechase to Moroccan Olympian Salima El Ouali Alami at the 2013 Arab Athletics Championships.
Her time of 9:52.47 minutes was a Bahraini national record for the event. She improved upon her own mark that July at the 2013 Asian Athletics Championships, where she seized the lead from the start and never relinquished her position

“Athletics Kenya and sports ministry were never involve in the transfer of allegiance of Jebet. That is why we launched a formal complain to International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF),” said Tuwei.

NAIROBI, Kenya, July 31 – The Eugene World Juniors Kenyan squad did not their target of 10 gold medals to beat rivals USA on the overall title, but for the four top medal winners, the biennial IAAF showpiece marked a new chapter as the aim to reciprocate the performances as senior runners.

The team of 26 returned home to a warm reception at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport as family members livened the busy facility with chants before heading to Riadha House where Athletics Kenya hosted them to a sumptuous breakfast.

Fresh from adding the World Juniors title to the Worlds Youth crown in men’s 800m, Alfred Kipketer is keen to follow in the footsteps of record holder and Olympic champion David Rudisha as he targets to compete at the 2015 World Championships in Beijing, China.

“It’s time to be kind enough and give other upcoming athletes a chance to grow. I’m now heading to the seniors and my first aim is to make it to next year’s World Championships which will be a dream come true,” Kipketer who anchored the 4x800m team to gold at the Bahamas World Relays told Capital Sport.

He explained how the came up with a winning strategy with team mate and silver winner, Joshua Tiampati Masikonde to ensure Kenya reclaims the two-lap title lost to Botswana’s Nijel Amos, the Olympics silver winner.

“Competition was not stiff because we had planed for it, I was confident of making it to the finals having run 1:48 in the Heats. We strategised with Masikonde on how to approach the race since the only threat was from an American.

“We agreed on increasing the pace until 200m to the finish line where I realized my team-mate had slowed so I decided to go for the win in my lifetime best of 1:43.95.”

Margaret Wambui, the winner of the corresponding women’s crown, told of the realisation of a dream on her debut where she completed a stunning 2:00.49 victory.

Despite being eligible to compete as a junior, the little known Wambui from Endarasha in Nyeri County who announced her emphatic entry to the limelight is confident she can mix it with the seniors.

“This is my first time to compete in 800m since I was used to 400m, being my first I’m very happy. I had prepared well for race because I knew competition would be stiff since in a world champion everyone is good.

“I want to be a champion and even break a women’s 800m world record like Rudisha did in the men’s and I believe I can because I have good times,” Wambui stated.

Another promising champion Barnabas Kipyego, who sustained Kenya’s 3000m steeple chase chokehold by claiming gold in 8:25.57, is the latest in a long line of junior champions hoping to dominate the sport like two-time Oympics and three-time Worlds titleholder Ezekiel Kemboi dominate.

Kipyego who retained the title won by Consensus Kipruto in Barcelona two years ago, will debut his senior race at next month’s Stockholm Diamond League.

“The competition went according to our plan and I had to do my best to win the title since this is our event it and also to encourage other athletes to do their best.

“I want to run like Kemboi and hopefully one day I achieve my target of 8:00. I’m looking forward to compete in my first Diamond League which will be a good exposure,” Kipyego announced.

Jonathan Kiplimo also graduated in style by winning men’s 1500m gold in his season’s best of 3:40.02 and for him the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro is his dream.

“We gave our best in Oregon and I won gold though I wanted us to finish 1-2 but Abdi Mouhyadin from Djibouti spoiled the party for Hillary Cheruiyot to win bronze.

“If I’m in a good shape I know I can compete well against champions like Asbel Kiprop,” Kiplimo added.

Kenya won 16 medals, four golds, five silver and seven bronze to finish second behind USA, but for head coach Andrew Maritim, it was a good performance displayed by his charges since they improved from Barcelona medal tally by three.

“We prepared well hoping for the best but it was very competitive because there are some events that we were expecting to have gold but we landed on silver and bronze.

“Our aim was to beat USA at the top but his time round it was technical because they were at home and entered a big team of 61 compared to ours 26 with a lot of their medals coming from field events compared to us where we had no athlete.

“I’m optimistic we will beat them one day since we have done it before,” Maritim said.

NAIROBI, Kenya, July 31- Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero has banned use of alcohol during this weekend’s Kabeberi 7s at Nairobi’s Railways Club to avoid the drunken shamelessness that turned Masaku 7s into a den of sin which would have shaded the Biblical Sodom and Gomorrah late last month.

The County boss said the directive would also apply to all sporting activity within Nairobi and he was categorical that there will be no repeat of what happened, “in Machakos County.”

To enforce his stern directive, Kidero has deployed tight security with the County Inspectorate and organisers ordered not to allow any alcoholic beverages inside the grounds.

“What happened in Machakos…we don’t want a repeat of that in Nairobi and that is why we are making sure by 6pm the pitch is empty,” he said.

“People will be checked, no alcohol will be allowed in the park…we will have Alcoblow in and around the pitch and indecent behaviour will not be allowed.”

He was alluding to the Masaku 7s event on the weekend of June 29 and 31 where shocking photos and videos of amorous behaviour by intoxicated fans/revellers surfaced online and went viral although some were later proven to have ripped from the internet.

The raunchy incidents and the brazen display of moral decadency fuelled by abuse of alcohol and other intoxicants ignited furious debate with the use of sporting events as an excuse to engage in depravity came to the fore.

Without mincing words, the tough-talking Governor added: “That no one will be allowed to drink alcohol in their cars. We know consumption of alcohol make people lose their senses.”

“The gates will be opened at 6am and be closed by 6pm…there will be no late evening activities. Sports being a family event, we will ensure that family values are not violated, sense of decency, decorum is maintained by the people who will be on the match on that day.”

Over 10,000 spectators are expected to grace the latest leg in the domestic rugby 7s series that has surged in popularity.

KRU boss Mwangi Muthee welcomed the directive saying it will help maintain the required standards if the country will ever host an international events with the country targeting to host a leg of the annual HSBC World Series.

“We would like all the supporters to also be responsible so that we can maintain high standards,” he appealed.

“We cannot just allow a few individuals to destroy what it has taken so many people, so long and many resources be derailed by a couple of individuals stealing the show with their ambush operations.”

Mwamba ready to rock

Meanwhile, newly appointed Mwamba RFC head coach John Mbai will be seeking to restore the club’s pride when he takes charge in his first competitive assignment at Kabeberi 7s.

Mwamba, the host club have been drawn in a tricky Pool C against Strathmore, Nondescript and Eldoret as they bid to reclaim the title they last won in 2009.

Defending champions Homeboyz headline Pool D alongside Impala, Kenyatta University’s Blak Blad and Kabras while series holders KCB take on Western Bulls, Kisumu and Catholic University in a relatively easy Pool A.

Kenya Harlequins are also drawn in tricky pool B, where they will battle it out with Kenya Cup champions Nakuru RFC, Daystar University and Nairobi University’s Mean Machine.

Kabeberi 7s is the opener of Safaricom 7s series before the circuit heads to Kisumu for Dala sevens, Mombasa’s Driftwood, Nakuru’s Prinsloo, Nairobi’s Christie and finally culminating with Safaricom international sevens September 26-28 in Nairobi.

The tournament named in memory of former player George Mwangi Kabeberi who died in 1986 will also see the club remember their fallen heroes including Leeroy Okana, Absalom Mutere, Jimmy Owino and former Lioness captain Aberdeen Shikoyi who died in 2012.

-By Joseph Muraya and Alex Isaboke