NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 6 – The dilapidated artificial turf at the City Stadium simmers under the sweltering mid-morning Nairobi sun with the partly burnt long and grown grass bushes around the perimeter swinging side to side, whistling through the soft wind in soliloquy.

The Russia end of the stadium is unrecognizable with the long grass almost swallowing up the view of the seating areas and snakes finding a new habitat from beneath the stoned seating areas.

The Stadium, once a revered home ground of record Kenyan Premier League (KPL) champions Gor Mahia sleeps in almost near neglect, the simmering turf punctuated with wear and tear and small hounds of rubber pellets telling the lengthy story of a stadium long dead in its glory.

A go-to venue for most Nairobi based teams from the Kenyan Premier League to the lower tiers, the City Stadium has swum in neglect since it was switched from natural grass to a synthetic pitch through a FIFA project in 2008.

Under the Nairobi County Government, there have been plans to renovate the stadium and especially replace the artificial turf.

“At the moment we are in phase one of the renovations where we are doing the dressing rooms, washrooms and the Main Stand. After that, we will move into phase two which will include replacing the turf, the floodlights and building two more  terrace stands,” Hashim Kamau, the Nairobi Sports Board chair told Capital Sport.

Already, the Nairobi County Assembly has approved a Sh20mn budget for phase one, but a further Sh180mn is required for phase two, as per Kamau.

This, however, has been hindered by the current County Allocation Revenue Bill 2020, that has not been passed due to an impasse on the third generation formula for revenue sharing at the Senate. However, he hopes that the same can be resolved in the next coming weeks.

“We are planning to tender for the turf laying works in the next two weeks. At the moment, the contractor is not working because basically we have not finished his payments,” Kamau further explains.

A new toilet block has been built, though yet to be completed while the changing rooms have also had a small face-lift, also yet to be completed.

There was talk of the government taking over the rehabilitation and running of the stadium, but Kamau says there has been no formal approach from Kencom House.

“We have no problem with the Government helping but as at now, there has been no one talking to us about it,” he notes.

Kamau is however hopeful, and equally sounds confident that the stadium will get a new face by April next year.

Capital Sports visited the stadium on Wednesday, and this is it’s current state.

The post IN PICTURES: City Stadium lying in sorry state. But is there hope? appeared first on Capital Sports.

NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 6 – Goalkeeper David Mapigano, nicknamed Kisu has cut short his two year stay with record Kenyan Premier League champions Gor Mahia with a year left on his contract to join Tanzanian side Azam FC on a two-year deal.

Mapigano had hinted he will not be returning to Nairobi after travelling back to his home in Tanzania when the Kenyan top tier was halted in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, unless his dues were paid in full.

And on Thursday, Azam who finished third in the Tanzanian premier League announced that he had passed his medicals and penned a two-year deal that would keep him at Chamazi till 2022.

Gor Mahia head coach Steve Polack has confirmed that the custodian had talked to him and made known his intention.

“I talked to him over the phone a week ago and he said he wasn’t sure of coming back. A few days later we talked again and he confirmed that he would be leaving,” Polack, who has already lost another keeper Peter Odhiambo told Capital Sport.

The reigning champions have already snapped up Levis Opiyo from City Stars with the former Mathare United and Posta Rangers man set to rival experienced Boniface Oluoch for the number one spot at Gor.

Polack has however confirmed he has his eyes on adding another goalkeeper, but notes that will depend on how fast the club avails funds.

“Everything now totally depends on how quick we solve the financial issue. David left because it couldn’t be resolved quick enough. Now  we can’t even talk about new players because we have not fulfilled the financial obligations of those who are here,”

“I have talked to the club and I have asked them to act quick on this,” Polack further noted.

Skipper Kenneth Muguna is also stalling on a new contract with Tanzanian side Simba SC also rumored to be eyeing his services while winger Boniface Omondi has already left for Wazito FC.

The post Goalkeeper Kisu cuts short Gor Mahia stint, joins Azam appeared first on Capital Sports.

NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 6 – A gentle knock on his bedroom door in the wee hours of the morning on May 15 2011, woke Wilfred Bungei up just as he was recovering having spent the better part of the day in hospital after drowning in way too many gulps of vodka.

It was his adopted son. The message he carried of heart-wrenching proportion was passed down to him. His friend and colleague Samuel Wanjiru was dead.

“I was shocked. I woke up and cried my heart out and I think I cried for the whole day. He was a very young person and that day, I felt it was supposed to be me dead; not Sammy,” Bungei says in a heart-to-heart interview with Capital Sports.

For him, this was not only a heartbreaking episode, but a wake-up call; literally.

A friendship that had blossomed way before they both won Olympic titles in Beijing in 2008 had wrapped up in the blink of an eye.

The Olympic marathon champion had died from head injuries after allegedly falling off the balcony of his Nyahururu home and according to autopsy reports, there was some considerable amount of alcohol in his system.

At that time, Bungei was a full-fledged alcoholic, gulping heavy pints of his favorite vodka without limits and severally also shared a drink or two with Wanjiru.

The young marathoner’s death stunned his mind.

Earlier the previous day, he had to be taken to hospital after losing consciousness following a continuous mid-morning to afternoon drinking marathon. In hospital, they had to drown him in three packs of drip to wake him up.

Was alcohol going to lead him to the grave, probably much same it had done to his bosom buddy Wanjiru? His head spun and he thought it was about time he changed his ways.

Bungei tried to mend his path all through the following months, taking a few steps forward and many back but it had to take another major episode in his life for him to decide enough was enough. He missed the birth of his third child in Eldoret.

“My wife asked me whether I could be there for the birth of our child since for the first two, I was not present due to my athletics commitments. I said why not, I would be happy to see the process,” explains Bungei.

“I told myself that I wouldn’t be courageous enough to watch everything so I thought taking a few sips of alcohol would make me calm. All through the journey while I drove her to hospital, I was sipping my drink. I continued when we reached and I could occasionally go to the car, take a sip and come back to check on her,” he adds.

After almost two hours, Bungei finished the 750ml bottle of vodka that was in his car and he decided to go to a shopping centre nearby and get another bottle as he knew he faced a long night ahead waiting for his wife to deliver.

But he was never to come back.

In the wee hours of the morning, his car was found to have swerved into a ditch with the lone driver, Bungei, unconscious inside and his body cold as ice.

“They thought I was dead when they found me there. My body was very cold because I had rolled down all the windows and I had no pulse. I was quickly rushed to hospital by my friends, coincidentally, the same hospital my wife was in,” narrates Bungei.

He was wheeled in to the health facility where doctors quickly worked to stabilize his condition, his wife who had to undergo a caesarian section to give birth was just getting out of theatre at around 6am, a few minutes after he was rushed in.

“The nurses were talking and they were saying how Wilfred Bungei was brought to the hospital unconscious. That’s how my wife learnt that I was admitted. Imagine coming out of theatre only to hear that your husband has been brought in unconscious!” Bungei further posed.

At around 3pm, he finally regained consciousness and couldn’t remember a thing of what happened or how he found himself on a hospital bed. He was so disenfranchised that he tried to pull away all the tubes he had on his body to try and keep him stable and had to be restrained by friends.

For him, it was shameful and he decided enough is enough. “It was a dramatic scene. One that will be a constant reminder of why I should never go back to alcohol,” Bungei says.

With the help of his family, Bungei checked into a rehabilitation centre in Nairobi to help cut down his alcoholism. September will mark nine years since he last sipped from the bottle.

“I started with one bottle, then went to two and before I knew it, I was having one too many. I went into alcohol because suddenly I had so much time in my hands. For all the 15 years that I was involved in athletics, I completely lived the life of an athlete. But now after retirement, there is nothing much to do,” Bungei explains.

Going into rehab was a decision he says he will never regret.

“Right now I cannot stand alcohol. I don’t even use alcohol-based perfume. Even the food that is usually marinated in alcohol, I cannot touch,” he says.

After leaving rehab, Bungei took it upon himself to share his story and ensure that someone somewhere, especially a sportsman does not fall to the same trap he fell in.

Wanjiru’s death still pained and for him, he wasn’t supposed to be dead. Again, no one else should die.

“When I got sober, I realized that I cannot hide and say I don’t have flaws and that’s why I decided to get out and tell my story. Most people asked me why I was doing it since it was equal to tarnishing my name but for me it is not about tarnishing my name but telling my story to help someone else going through the same,” explains Bungei.

He adds; “Sammy lacked someone to help him deal with everything that was going on for him and for me I think I was lucky because I had family around me and they had a huge influence. I think if it were not for them I wouldn’t be alive right now,”

“We were with him (Wanjiru) in London and I saw there was a problem. I wasn’t an alcoholic then but then immediately I started being one, I understood where the problem was. We were not supposed to lose Sammy and we cannot afford to lose any other athlete,” adds Bungei.

He now says he is working with several athletes who are undergoing similar problems and he is always reached out to whenever there is such a case. This, is something he says he is happy to do always.

Bungei who has his own personal business ventures has his life in order and is currently in the construction industry as a contractor working with a tea firm.

Also, he plans to have a second shot at the Emgwen Parliamentary seat in 2022, having lost as an independent candidate on his maiden attempt in 2017.

“I am never motivated by money or the tag mheshimiwa. I am not looking for this seat for myself but for the people. There are so many things you can do when you have a political office and that is a motivation for me,” Bungei further notes.

He looks back at time, his struggles and wins, and believes he has a bigger and better call: service to mankind.

The post How Samuel Wanjiru’s death slapped Wilfred Bungei to reality, ignited his recovery from alcoholism appeared first on Capital Sports.

NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 6 – The long awaited duel between the world’s two fastest marathoners, Olympic champion Eliud Kipchoge and Ethiopia’s Kenenisa Bekele has been confirmed for October 4 after organizers for the London Marathon announced the race will go on despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The race had initially been set for April 26 but was shelved as the world grappled with the virus.

However, this year’s race will only feature elite athletes who will compete in a bio-secure environment.

“Elite races for men, women and wheelchair athletes will take place on an enclosed looped course in St James’s Park in a secure biosphere and times will be eligible for Olympic qualification,” a statement from the organizers on Thursday evening read.

Women’s world record holder Brigid Kosgei has also been confirmed for the race and will headline the women’s field.

The organizers further said there will be no spectator access to maintain the biosphere but BBC Sport plans to broadcast eight hours of coverage during the day.

Also, London Marathon will move from its usual April date to Sunday 3 October to give the best chance for the mass race to return in 2021.

“We had detailed plans to deliver a socially distanced mass participation event – either a run or a walk – and we were planning to utilise new technology to do this. We were looking to use a revolutionary technology using Bluetooth and ultra wideband ranging, which is about to be launched worldwide,” says Hugh Brasher, Event Director of the Money London Marathon.

He adds; “Despite all our efforts, the fantastic support from all of our partners and the progress that has been made on planning for the return of smaller mass participation events that are not on the roads, it has not been possible to go ahead with a mass socially distanced walk or run.”

Despite the mass racers not allowed, there will be a virtual race on the day.

Participants will have 24 hours to complete the 26.2 miles, from 00:00 to 23:59 on Sunday 4 October. They can run, walk, take breaks and log their race on a new London Marathon app being developed by event partner TCS.

The post Kipchoge, Bekele duel on as London Marathon organizers confirm race for Oct 4 appeared first on Capital Sports.

NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 12 – The Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Electoral Board has released guidelines for the Federation Polls which will be conducted for a third time after being twice cancelled by the Sports Disputes Tribunal (SDT).

The board on Tuesday unveiled the roadmap that will see national elections conducted on October 17, perhaps putting to an end the circus that has seen the polls go in circles with countless rounds of litigation.

“Football is a members club and FIFA is aware of this exercise. I have not received any letter from a member asking me not to proceed to hold elections,” Board chair Kentice Tikolo said as she unveiled the roadmap for the new polls.

According to the roadmap, county elections will be held on September 19, just shy below a month before the national polls are held where elections for the President and National Executive Committee members will be held.

A communique from FIFA sent on August 5 to FKF CEO Barry Otieno directed the Federation to come up with a new road map and report back on the same.

“Given the present circumstances, we are of the view that FKF elections shall be organised as soon as the situation permits and in line with safety precautions implemented by the relevant Kenyan authorities,” a letter signed by FIFA’s Chief Member Association Officer Veron Mosengo-Omba read.

It adds; “For the sake of good order and to guarantee a peaceful context, we encourage FKF to start as a whole the electoral process (i.e. from branches to national level) in accordance with FKF statutes, and electoral code currently into force, and/or the FIFA statutes/guidelines where required or applicable.”

In March, the SDT nullified the second attempt of polls by the Federation, citing a party of the eligibility rules that was contested as not in the spirit and letter of the constitution as it locked out several members.

When the second round of polls was cancelled, the federation had already held county elections and had vowed that they will not repeat the same when the new dates are announced. However, as per FIFA directive the polls will start afresh.

The polls were cancelled for the first time last year when several issues were picked out including the lack of public participation including the formulation of the board as well as the rules governing the elections.

The Federation was tasked to do a repeat exercise, one which they did and the new eligibility rules as well as the board were passed at the Annual general Meeting.

With the Tribunal giving a thumbs up to the entire process, the eligibility rules for presidential candidates were questioned as not giving a fair platform to others hence the elections halted.

The Tribunal through chair John Ohaga organized a stakeholders’ meeting to chart the way forward, but the Federation insisted they will only wait for word from FIFA and announce the way forward from there.

Per the new guidelines released by Tikolo’s team, the eligibility rules have been tweaked to fit FIFA statues. For the president and vice president’s seat, every candidate must;

1. a) Have at least five endorsements from any of the FKF Members
2. b) A candidate must have played an active role in football either as a player or an official in two of the last five years.
3. c) A candidate Must meet chapter six of the 2010 Kenyan constitution
4. d) A candidate must be a Kenyan Citizen

A section of candidates who have shown interest in the top seat have already expressed reservations at the new roadmap, but the Federation has insisted they will go on with the process.

With the country still monitoring on the evolution of the COVID-19 pandemic, the modalities for the elections have not yet been finalized.

“The Electoral Board in consultation with FKF and FIFA will continue to explore the safest options for conducting the said elections, including the possibility of delegates voting virtually, should the COVID-19 situation in the country deteriorate in the coming weeks,” the board said.

The post Will Kenya finally hold long-awaited football elections? appeared first on Capital Sports.

NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 12 – Organizers for the Nairobi leg of the World Athletics Continental Gold Tour, The Kip Keino Classic, are hoping to have spectators for the October 3 event scheduled for the Nyayo National Stadium.

This is going to be Kenya’s first public sports event since the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic in March which caused a halt to major sporting events all over the world.

Race director Barnaba Korir, who is also an Athletics Kenya National Executive Committee member says they are working with the ministry of health and ministry of sports to see out a possibility of having at least 15,000 fans at the afternoon event.

“The capacity of the Nyayo Stadium is 30,000 and we are looking to have at least half of that in the stadium. Of course we are working very closely with the Ministries of sports and health to work out the protocols to ensure there is a safe way for fans to be there,” Korir told Capital Sports.

He adds; “We saw what happened in Turku (Finland) yesterday and we were very impressed. The event went down very well and there were fans. There were no incidences and that at least gives us hope that ours will go down well too.”

The Ministry of Sports is scheduled to release guidelines for the return of sports in the coming days and the success of the Continental Gold Tour will go a long way in clearing the path for more events to be opened up.

The event has meanwhile been pushed forward by a week to October 3, up from the earlier September 26 date.

“The Doha Diamond League was rescheduled to September 25 and this has forced us to push our event because we also want it to be big and attract big names. That is the sole reason we pushed by a week,” Korir noted.

With the country opening up its international borders and allowing more countries to fly in, Korir is optimistic that athletes of huge stature will come to the country and take part in the event.

“Yeah that was a very huge relief for us because at least now we will have more athletes coming in. Before there was some uncertainty about rules on how they are going to allow foreigners into the country but with the new protocols I think everything will be okay,” opined Korir.

The organizers are yet to release the events to be competed on in the race but Kenyan athletes are hopeful they can get a chance to compete on home soil.

Meanwhile, as they announced an adjustment of the re-jigged athletics calendar on Tuesday, World Athletics also affirmed the cancellation of the Frankfurt and Paris Marathon races which were scheduled for October and November respectively.

The post Organizers planning for spectators at Nairobi’s World Athletics Continental Tour appeared first on Capital Sports.

NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 12 – Kenyan Premier League (KPL) side Sofapaka will have a Sh7mn increase in sponsorship allocation for the next two seasons after betting firm Betika announced the renewal of their partnership on Wednesday.

Betika signed a one-year extension with the 2009 league champions last year worth Sh35mn, but will now spread Sh77mn for the club over the next two years.

“We are glad to have our partnership with Betika continue to grow. We are delighted to have the firm once again come to our aid during these uncertain times. We hope this will go a long way in motivating the players to effectively deliver on the pitch,” Sofapaka owner and chairman Elly Kalekwa told the club’s official website.

Batoto ba Mungu had an underwhelming campaign in the just concluded season halted by the COVID-19 pandemic as they were 10^th in the standings by the time the season was concluded.

According to the revised fixture released by the Football Kenya Federation after mid-season results were tabulated to cancel the season, Sofapaka officially ranked ninth.

The post Sofapaka get Sh7mn sponsorship increase ahead of new football season appeared first on Capital Sports.

NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 12 – Harambee Starlets forward Cynthia Shilwatso says she is looking forward to playing against some of the world’s best teams including Barcelona after sealing a move to the Spanish Primera Division Femenina.

The former Vihiga Queens forward has recently signed with Spanish top tier side EDF Logrono and has already started training with the new employers ahead of the new season.

“I really feel happy to be here because this is a massive step in my career. I have been welcomed very well by my new teammates and coaches and I already feel at home,” Shilwatso who made her Harambee Starlets debut aged 18 in 2017 told Capital Sport from her base in Spain.

She adds; “Spain is one of the best countries in world football and playing here is quite an honor. Also, getting to compete some big teams like Barcelona, Real Madrid or Atletico Madrid is a challenge anyone would relish. For me, I want to keep working hard enough to impress the coaches and get a chance to play in those kind of games.”

Shilwatso started training with Logrono last week Thursday, just a day after arriving from Nairobi and she is adjusting to the demands of a different culture.

“It’s very different from back home. The quality of the pitch is amazing and the club’s facilities too are world class. On the pitch, the intensity of the training is very high and if you sleep for even a minute, you will be left behind,” she says.

Adding; “I really have to work hard to adjust and I am glad I arrived just when they are starting their pre-season and I think so far I have done well. I have my work cut out because to maintain being at the top, I can’t stop working.”

Shilwatso has been a revelation with the national team and has been tracked by the club since last year when Starlets played the Olympic Qualifiers and into Tanzania where they clinched the CECAFA Women’s Challenge Cup for the first time ever.

Her impressive left foot and work ethic earned her a move to the big leagues.

And now, Shilwatso who celebrated her 21^st birthday last month hopes she will do enough to merit a move upwards, with her target also being to help her new club do better in the Premier League.

“The team finished seventh last season which was unfortunately cancelled because of COVID-19 and my aim would be to score goals and help them finish in a better position.”

“Also, this is just the beginning for me and I want to continue growing, play for the biggest teams in the world and in bigger competitions as well like the Champions League,” Shilwatso further states.

As she waits for the new Spanish season fixture to roll out, Shilwatso has her work cut out on the training ground, but points out that she is ready for the task and ready to fly Kenya’s flag high.

The post Starlets ace Shilwatso excited to battle Barca, Real Madrid in Spanish top tier appeared first on Capital Sports.

NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 13 – Winning titles is Vincent Oburu’s primary target after completing a move to Wazito FC from AFC Leopards where he grew from the youth ranks to play in the senior team for the last three seasons.

The fast-paced left footed forward was unveiled on Thursday as a Wazito FC player, barely a week after Leopards announced that he had ditched the club.

“Joining Wazito good step in my career because it gives me a place to work and improve. I expect to work well with the coach and my new teammates to achieve what every team wants; to win titles and perform well,” Oburu said as he was unveiled by the club.

The youngster shot to the limelight through the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) Under-20 tournament where he shone for AFC Leopards, then under head coach Boniface Ambani.

He was quickly promoted to the senior team where his start was almost slowed down by a tussle between Ingwe and arch rivals Gor Mahia who also claimed a stake at the player and that they had signed him before the issue was resolved and he went on to don the blue and white riot into of AFC Leopards.

He has now been snapped up by the younger Ambani, Fred, who was just recently confirmed as the head coach at Wazito.

“I think Oburu needs no introduction. He is a very good striker and he definitely adds quality to the team. One of our problems last season was failing to score goals and I think with him in the team he will help solve that problem,” Ambani told the club’s official website.

The club has been on a steady rebuilding process since releasing 14 players from their roaster. Already, they have confirmed Ambani as the head coach while former Western Stima and Sony Sugar tactician Salim Babu has been drafted in as his assistant.

The club has also brought on board the Stima duo of Fidel Origa and defender Maurice Ochieng while goalkeeper Peter Odhiambo and winger Boniface Omondi have arrived from Gor Mahia.

The post Former AFC Leopards youth star Oburu eyes winning titles after Wazito shift appeared first on Capital Sports.

NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 8 – The shredded 2020 athletics calendar is set to try and piece itself up with the Wanda Diamond League season opening Meeting de Herculis in Monaco on Friday night where 11 Kenyans will strut the track, most for the first time this year.

The Diamond League which was set to gun off in May with the Doha leg was halted, just like most sporting events all over the world, with the advent of the novel coronavirus.

But with the world slowly opening up, World Athletics have come up with a ‘make-up’ season calendar which will salvage some pride and competitiveness for athletics fans.

The number of Kenyans in the French principality would have been 12, but reigning world and Olympic steeplechase champion Conseslus Kipruto had to pull out after his pre-travelling COVID-19 tests returned positive.

Thus, Kenyan eyes will be on world champions Beatrice Chepkoech, Hellen Obiri and Timothy Cheruiyot as well as Olympic champion Faith Kipyegon.

Chepkoech, the women’s steeplechase world champion as well as the world record holder will step up to the 5,000m race, most likely to build her endurance after a long lay-off. She will have Obiri for company as well as 1500m specialist Winny Chebet.

Obiri, the reigning world champion of the 12-and-a-half lap race had admitted that she might not be ready for the race as she was yet to pick up form well after the lockdown that limited training.

She will renew rivalry with Sifan Hassan, who beat her to the 10,000m world title in Doha last year.

Meanwhile, Cheruiyot will have a bone to pick with the Ingebrigtsen brothers when he gets down to the track in the 1500m race. Cheruiyot lost against the Norwegian brothers in the Maurie Plant Memorial Race in June.

He says he has prepared well for the Monaco duel and will set out for positive results as he looks to salvage some pride from the almost lost season.

For company, Cheruiyot will have training partner Timothy Sein who will most likely pace for him as well as Vincent Kibet.

Faith Kipyegon will meanwhile step down from her 1500m speciality and race in the 1,000m race where she is set to compete against Briton Laura Muir as well as world 800m champion Halimah Nakaayi of Uganda and countrymate WInny Nanyondo.

At the same time, there will be another Uganda vs Kenya match up in the men’s 5,000m when reigning world 10,000m champion Joshua Cheptegei takes on youngsters Jacob Krop and Nicholas Kimeli.

In the 800m, Ferguson Rotich will come up against reigning world champions Donovan Brazier of the USA while in Kipruto’s absence in the men’s steeplechase, Leonard Bett will step in to box up against Moroccan Soufiane El Bakkali.

After Monaco, the Diamond League will head to Stockholm, Sweden on August 23.

The post Eleven Kenyans to compete at season opening Monaco Diamond League appeared first on Capital Sports.

NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 14 – Javelin Olympic silver medalist Julius Yego is skeptical about competing this year and says he has switched his focus on starting his build up for the Tokyo Olympics to next year.

Speaking to Capital Sport from his home in Eldoret, Yego says he hasn’t trained as well as he could have wished due to the stoppages caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and thus will only look to keep his body fit before stepping up the intensity next year.

“Even my coach told me that we look forward to next year. This year is gone like that and we won’t be able to compete. We have not had good training. For track athletes it’s easier because they can get a road and run. But for a technical sport like javelin, you need to do more. It has been difficult,” Yego says.

The 29-year old has been recovering from a niggling injury he picked up during the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro and he has endured a tough spell since then.

He had hoped to build up to his comeback this year with the target being the Tokyo Olympics, but the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic slowed him down.

“It has been very difficult to train. I have just been around my home in Eldoret and luckily a month ago I got some finances from World Athletics through the athletics support fund and with it I made my own gym in the house. I was also lucky because the Eldoret Sports Club allowed me access to their field to train so I have been doing just easy throwsto make sure my shoulder doesn’t sleep that much,” Yego added.

He says lack of a tartan track to train has been a huge challenge but remains optimistic the country will open up in the next few months for sports to return.

He is also pessimistic of competing at the Nairobi leg of the World Athletics Continental Tour scheduled for October 3, especially noting that javelin will not be a core event in the meet.

“Maybe I can compete but that will depend on whether we can access a place where we can really train. That will be my first competition this year and I can’t just risk because I can easily get injured. It is better to be healthy until next year when we can compete well,” noted Yego.

At the same time, he remains focused on achieving his life-long ambition, clinching the Olympic gold.

“I am looking forward to a good performance next year. Winning the Olympics is my main goal. I have silver from 2016 but now I want the gold; that will be a precious thing for me,” noted Yego.

The post Javelin star Yego skeptical of competing in 2020 appeared first on Capital Sports.

NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 14 -National men’s basketball team head coach Cliff Owuor hopes Kenya can win the hosting rights for one of the two legs of the 2021 FIBA Afrobasket qualifiers which are scheduled for November this year and February 2021.

The group stage qualifiers are to be played in two venues in home and away basis. One of the four teams in the group will host the first round of qualifiers while another country will host the second round.

According to Owuor, Kenya wants to host the opening leg in November.

“The Kenya Basketball Federation is working on that. If we can get the necessary support from the government and sponsors, we can host the first leg in November,” Owuor said.

He added; “We really appreciate our fans for always coming out to support us and if we get the opportunity to host, it will be a big event and I know our fans will rally behind us in big numbers to help us pull through to the final tournament.”

Having won the six-team regional pre-qualifiers that were held at the Nyayo National Stadium in January, Kenya booked a slot to the final round of qualification and have been drawn in a tight pool that has African giants Senegal, Angola and Madagascar.

Senegal have played in the FIBA World Cup five times, Olympics three times and have had 28 appearances at the Afrobasket, winning the title five times, finishing second six times and third five times.

Angola have meanwhile been at the Afrobasket 20 times and have the most championship titles, winning 11 with the last one being in 2013.

Mozambique have been at the Championship 14 times but are yet to win any crown.

“We are in a pretty tough group and some people are referring to it as the group of death. All those teams have the experience of the championship and it will be tough. But for us, we have great momentum in our play and progress and I am sure if we get necessary support we will be able to compete with these teams well and qualify,” a confident Owuor stated.

“For us to be sure of qualifying, we need to win at least three games over the two legs,” he adds.

Three teams out of the four in each group will qualify for the final tournament in Kigali, Rwanda next year. Kenya has never played at the tournament for the past 27 years.

However, coach Owuor hopes they can pick a leaf from their performance at the FIBA Afrocan last year where they reached the final and use the same energy to vie for a place in the more prestigious Afrobasket tourney.

The post Kenya hopes to host one leg of the FIBA Afrobasket qualifiers appeared first on Capital Sports.

NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 14 – Tanzanian league champions Simba SC have completed the signing of Kenyan international Joash Onyango from Gor Mahia FC.

The tough-tackling sweeper, nicknamed the ‘Berlin Wall’ by Gor faithful arrived in Tanzania yesterday and inked his contract with the Wekundu wa Msimbazi on Friday.

ALSO READ: Built On Patience And Persistence, Gor’s ‘Berlin Wall’ Joash Onyango Looks To Rise Higher

Onyango had made it clear with Gor that he was not going to extend his contract due to non-payment of salary arrears and once the club failed to meet their financial obligations, the defender listened to the offer on the table.

He loved the offer on the table and penned a two-year deal.

“I am happy to have made this important step in my career to join Simba. It is a huge challenge and I am ready for it. I want to thank God for giving me the opportunity to play there for the last few years and I wish the club all the best in the coming season,” Joash told Capital Sport after penning the deal.

He becomes yet another former Gor Mahia player to move to the Tanzanian side after Francis Kahata, Meddie Kagere, Danny Sserunkuma and Raphael Mungai Kiongera.

Gor have meanwhile lost another key player with keeper Fredrick Odhiambo, winger Boniface Omondi having joined Wazito FC. Skipper Kenneth Muguna is also said to be on his way out of the club.

Simba picked on Joash after being impressed with his performance when Kenya played Tanzania in the qualifiers of the African nations Championship (CHAN) last year July and have been tracking him since then.

Onyango shot to the limelight when he put up a superb performance for the Harambee Stars in their match against Ghana in the qualifiers for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) despite being shown a red card in the second half.

He joined Gor Mahia from Western Stima in 2017 and despite seeing limited playing time in the first season ended up being a rock pillar of the back four.

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NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 14 –Timothy Cheruiyot promised that he would land a revenge on the Ingebrigtsen brothers after they beat him at the Maurie Plant memorial Virtual race in June, and the World 1500m champion delivered the promise on a cold platter at the Monaco Diamond League on Friday.

Cheruiyot blazed to victory, clocking a world leading time of 3:28.45 ahead of the younger of the Ingebrigtsen brothers Jakob who finished in a personal best time of 3:28.68. Briton Jake Wightman came in third, squeezing ahead of Henrik Ingebrigtsen.

The world champion showed his intent from the gun, taking a striding lead within the first lap, guiding on the pace of training partner Timothy Sein and Vincent Keter.

He blazed through the first lap in a sizzling 53.5 seconds. However, the chasing group caught up with two laps to go and at the bell, the lead had been reduced to 4m.

With Sein dropping out, he urged his training partner on as the Ingebrigtsens breathed on his back.

Cheruiyot kept the lead even at the home straight when Jakob seemed to be catching up with him. With 50m to go, he continually threw a glance over his shoulders to ensure Jakob was at arm’s length and he pumped in the final bit of strength to pick victory.

Cheruiyot punched the air with glee, showing just how much it meant to him to return to the track with victory.

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NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 14 – Like a hungry lion waiting on a mistake from it’s prey to pounce and feed, world champion Hellen Obiri pounced on a mistake from Ethiopian Gidey Letesenbet to win the season opening 5,000m race at the Monaco leg of the World Athletics Diamond League on Friday, clocking 14:22.12, setting a new meet record and a world lead as well.

The Ethiopian strode ahead of Obiri at the bell and sought to tire off the Kenyan before the home stretch, but a mistake to step out of the inside lane with 300m to go gave Obiri space to pox herself in and put up a superb finishing kick that she has now been famous for.

Obiri, who had earlier said she does not feel fully fit for the race put on the afterburners before establishing daylight between her and Gidey, to put up an impressive start to the Diamond League season.

World 10,000m champion Sifan Hassan looked to be Obiri’s biggest opponent on the day, but the stars aligned in the Kenyan’s favor when hassan dropped out of the race with two and a half laps left.

From then on, it was Obiri versus Gidey.

With Winny Chebet, a 1500m specialist doing pacing duties, Obiri and world steeplechase champion Beatrice Chepkoech kept themselves within the leading pack from the gun.

However, Chebet could not sustain the demands of a 5,000m race for long as she dropped off the leading pack at the 3,00m mark.

With three laps to go, it was a duel between Hassan, Gidey and Obiri, before Hassan dropped out.

Cheokoech finished sixth after clocking 14:55.01

Meanwhile, Ferguson Rotich could only finish eighth in the 800m race, clocking 1:45.48 in a race won by world champion Donovan Brazier who timed 1:43.15 in an American 1-2. Hoppel Bryce was second in 1:43.23.

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NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 14 – Olympic 1500m champion Faith Kipyegon showed the superb side of her sprinting game, putting up a scintillating run as she stepped down to the 1,000m race at the Monaco leg of the World Athletics Diamond League winning the race in 2:29.15, just a second shy of the World Record.

Kipyegon dominated the race from gun to tape, sticking close to the leading pack in the first lap and a half.

She looked energetic even in the wake of some challenge from Briton Laura Muir, but kept her feet on the gas peddle controlling the race.

With a lap to go, she bolted upfront and increased the gap between her and the chasing pack to come just within touching distance of the world record.

However, her time still counted for an African Record, a World Leading time and the second fastest ever time over that distance.

Briton Muir finished second in 2:30.82, a British National Record and Personal Best time.

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NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 15 – Kenyan Premier League side Wazito FC have snapped up experienced midfielder Kevin Kimani from Mathare United as the club continues with its rebuild ahead of the new campaign.

Kimani was unveiled on Saturday, just a few days after the club announced the capture of forward Vincent Oburu from AFC Leopards.

The club has also signed up the Western Stima duo of Fidel Origa and Maurice Ojwang.

“I was supposed to join the team earlier because it was an anticipated move from a while back and finally it has happened. I am happy to be here. I am here to improve the team in my own way and I am looking forward to working with my new teammates to move the team forward,” Kimani told the club’s official website.

The midfielder who has had various stints abroad had a relatively successful season with Mathare, skippering the side and scoring crucial goals.

Head coach Fred Ambani believes Kimani’s addition will add some steel into the squad especially with his experience.

“When you have a young team, you need to throw in some experience and leadership in there. When you have Kim at the club it is a big boost because he is a natural leader who the younger players will definitely look up to,” Ambani said.

Wazito fired 14 players at the end of the last campaign and have been on a process of picking up a new team to deliver for the forthcoming campaign after huffing and puffing in the 2019/20 season.

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NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 15 – Playing as a centre back, Harambee Stars midfielder Anthony ‘Teddy’ Akumu scored his first goal for Kaizer Chiefs as the South African giants stretched their lead on top of the Premier Soccer League (PSL) with a come-from-behind 3-2 win over Polokwane City on Saturday.

Akumu who didn’t play in midweek against Bidvest Wits was handed his chance against Polokwane and started off in his preferred midfield position before being switched to defense in the second half after Daniel Cardoso was substituted.

The former Zesco United and Gor Mahia midfielder tapped home at the back post off a corner in the 75^th minute to tie the game at 1-1 after substitute Willard Katsande had scored four minutes earlier.

Polokwane had gone 2-0 up with Lesiba William Nku scoring in the 17^th minute before Jabulani Maluleke doubled their tally in the 61^st minute of the game.

Chiefs who are under pressure from Mamelodi Sundowns for the title completed the comeback in the 79^th minute when Samir Nurkovic scored a belter from range to make it 3-2.

Meanwhile in Japan, striker Michael Olunga scored the solo goal for Kashiwa Reysol as they lost 3-1 to second placed Cerezo Osaka. This was their first loss in the last five games.

Bruno Mendes opened the scores for Osaka in the fifth minute before Reysol’s Taiyo Koga turned the ball into his own net 10 minutes after the restart.

Jun Nishikawa scored the third for Osaka three minutes to time but Olunga pulled one back for Reysol a minute later for his 11^th goal of the season.

Reysol face Vissel Kobe in their next match on Wednesday.

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ELDORET, Kenya, Aug 20 – The Eliud Kipchoge Foundation has received a shot in the arm after Absa Kenya entered into a partnership to support hard-hit upcoming athletes and help them manage through the negative economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Following the outbreak of the virus, sporting activities and events were suspended both locally and internationally to curb the spread of the virus resulting in loss of livelihoods for most sportspersons, more so the junior upcoming athletes.

Absa Bank Kenya, in collaboration with the Eliud Kipchoge Foundation, joined hands to distribute relief items to affected athletes at three training camps including Kaptagat, Iten and Kapsabet.

“We understand that people and businesses are going through a tough period and are looking for a partner to hold their hand and help them get through the difficulties occasioned by the pandemic. For our athletes, we recognize that the pandemic has hit their community severely with the cancellation of most sporting events thereby impacting the livelihood of most of our junior and upcoming athletes,” said Absa Bank Kenya Strategy Director Moses Muthui.

Kipchoge, who has all through the pandemic been lending a helping hand to distressed athletes, appreciated the gesture from Absa and requested other Kenyans of goodwill to explore ways of supporting sportsmen and women during these challenging times.

“We have seen sports such as football resuming, which is an indication that athletic competitions will also be back soon. Therefore, we should not give up training. I would like to thank Absa for being very supportive to the sporting community,” Kipchoge said.

Through this collaboration with Absa Bank, the Foundation will support upcoming as well as professional athletes who are in need of help to continue with their training.

“We will continue to partner with like-minded organisations to provide all the support we can in line with our ambition to be a force for good in all the communities where we do business. We believe in our athletes’ success now and even in the future and as a brand, we are guided by the overarching purpose of bringing people’s possibilities to life, “Muthui added.

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NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 20 – The Kenya Hockey Union (KHU) will this week start a program to develop the national hockey sport system funded by Olympic Solidarity through the National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOC-K).

The program will run for three months and will involve coaches, technical officials and players from all over the country.

It will be conducted by an expert from Pakistan, Tahir Zaman who is an International Hockey Federation Trainer and Educator.

This program is aimed at improving the national system of hockey development and build up a sustainable grass root base.

The specific objective is to increase the number of young athletes who can compete in continental and International events and therefore Introduce more competition for young players.

The program will also develop the Hockey 5 Format and Small areas competition at school and club level. NOC-K hopes to promote hockey in schools as a safe game with Olympic values.

One of the main objectives as well is to develop and implement a coaches education system to school Physical education teachers and Senior athletes.

The results to be achieved are to support a sustainable progressive development of Hockey.

Kenya is currently ranked, in the world, Men 48th and 4th in Africa and in women 45th in the World and 3rd in Africa. KHU aims to maintain a top 3 position in Africa and improve the world ranking.

The teams attempted to qualify for Tokyo in the previous All African Games competition in 2019, but were unsuccessful.

This program kicks off four months of NOC-K seminars and training targeting different stakeholders in sports. Most of these had been planned for the year but interrupted by the pandemic, therefore most of the training will be online and where necessary or possible, physical training will be done.

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