PRAGUE, Czech Republic, Sep 5 – Kenya’s Peres Jepchirchir smashed the women-only race world record at the Prague Half Marathon in the Czech Republic on Saturday morning.
The 26-year-old Kenyan clocked 1:05:34 at the Prague 21.1KM, shattering the previous record of 1:06:11 set by Netsanet Gudeta of Ethiopia at the World Half Marathon Championships in 2018.
Breaking away from the small field just 20 minutes into the race, Jepchirchir set out on a ravaging pace over the 16.5-lap course in Prague’s Letna Park, passing 10 kilometres in 30:32. She slowed over the waning laps but still finished well under the previous mark.
“I was thinking to run maybe 1:04:50, but I’m so happy,” said Jepchirchir, who raced to the world half marathon title in 2016.
This is Jepchirchir’s second world record over the distance. She clocked 1:05:06 in a mixed race in Ras Al Khaimah in 2017, a record which stood for just under two months.
With her pacing duties over early, Jepleting went on to finish second in 1:07:07. Dorcas Kimeli was third in 1:07:14. Kimeli is expected to race next at the World Athletics Half Marathon Championships Gdynia 2020.
-Kandie sizzles 58:38
The men’s race kicked off at 08:00, handing that field much hotter conditions to contend with. Similarly to the women’s race, it was largely solo affair with Kibiwott Kandie breaking away to go it alone after 10 kilometres.
“It’s difficult to run alone,” he later said, but was rewarded for his efforts with a 58:38 run to become the fifth fastest man over the distance with the sixth fastest performance of all-time.
Kandie ran well early in the year, winning the Ras Al Khaimah Half Marathon in late February with a world-leading 58:58, just six days after his triump at the fiercely competitive Kenyan cross-country championships. But then the Coronavirus pandemic forced a halt to that momentum.
“My wish is to run again when this pandemic is over,” he said. “It will be a pleasure to continue competing.”
In early March Kandie was also named to the Kenyan team for the World Athletics Half Marathon Championships.
Philemon Kiplimo Kimaiyo was second in 59:56 with Benson Kipruto third in 1:00:06.
NAIROBI, Kenya, Sep 6 – Kenyan Premier League returnees Nairobi City Stars have signed forward Erick Ombija from champions Gor Mahia and also roped in 18-year old goalkeeper Elvis Ochoro from Hakati Sportiff.
The Kawangware based side have so far signed five players, with Ombija being the only established player, the four others being youngsters.
Ombija who graduated to the Gor senior side from the Youth Team playing in the Division One League had been loaned out to Coast Stima where he had a gooscoring return and had notched 17 goals by the time the season had been halted in March.
“My decision to join City Stars comes at the right time and I am glad to join the Lions Pride and be part of a team which will challenge the for the title,” Ombija told the club’s official website.
Keeper Ochoro spent four months last year at the Famed Generation Foot Academy in Senegal from where Liverpool forward Sadio Mane and Watford’s Ismaila Sarr began their careers.
“It’s a dream come true to join a club like City Stars. I want to learn from the best and up my game through this God-given platform. I appreciate the chance and opportunity and promise to grow through the ranks in the near future,” the shot stopper noted.
City Stars have so far signed Rowland Makati from Vapor Sports, Timothy Ouma from Laiser Hill Academy and Ronney Kola Oyaro from Kenya School of Government (KSG).
Nairobi, Kenya, Sep 7 – Defensive midfielder Sven Yidah has dumped Kariobangi Sharks for Kenyan Premier League returnees Nairobi City Stars, penning a two-year contract with the Kawangware based side to become their sixth pre-season acquisition.
Yidah brings to an end a four-year stay at Sharks and will seek a new adventure with City Stars.
“I am happy to join Nairobi City Stars. They have an ambitious project and I am eager to play a part in making it a success. I will also be joining my former teammates (Ebrima) Sanneh, Shittu (Salim Abdalla) and Wycliffe (Otieno) who also played a huge role in convincing me to be part of this project. I promise work hard and to be full committed every day and any day,” Yidah told the club’s official website.
The midfielder joined Sharks from Ligi Ndogo in 2016, playing a role as Sharks rose to the top-flight. He became a regular figure in their midfield and is perhaps most famously remembered for his penalty celebration during the SportPesa Super Cup in Tanzania last year that went viral.
He is now the second high profile player to leave Sharks after Michael Bodo also left the club to join Sofapaka.
NAIROBI, Kenya, Sep 7 – Football Kenya Federation (FKF) president Nick Mwendwa has said the Federation will cater for the costs of the initial COVID-19 tests that will allow teams to resume training following a five month shutdown occasioned by the pandemic.
Mwendwa says the Federation has already submitted its proposals for the return to football and are only waiting for a go-ahead to allow the teams resume training on September 15.
“As far as testing is concerned, we are negotiating with several providers to see if and how we can provide testing for our players, officials and referees. We want to make sure that it’s done for all teams together so that it can be cheaper for us,” Mwendwa told Capital Sport.
The Ministry of Sports last week unveiled a raft of measures that will be adhered to, to ensure a safe return of sporting action as the country also grapples to contain the coronavirus.
Among the mandatory requirements set out by the committee led by Chief Administrative Secretary Noor Hassan is testing of all players and officials.
The issue of the cost of testing proved to be a huge concern for Federations. But now, FKF have taken the partnership approach to see how they will make the burden lighter for clubs.
Gor Mahia’s Geoffrey Ochieng attempts to go past teammate Joachim Oluoch during a past training session at teh Camp Toyoyo Grounds. PHOTO/Raymond Makhaya
The Federation says it will ensure its protocols are followed to the latter, with an October 23 date set for a possible return to competitive action in the Kenyan Premier League.
“After testing we will fumigate all facilities and we will also have protocol officers in every stadium to supervise clubs and ensure they have the right procedures in place. This is a big job for FKF to get done and ensure a safe and healthy return to sports with all CAF, FIFA and Ministry of Health regulations adhered to,” Mwendwa added.
Meanwhile, the Federation boss says the return to competitive action will be devoid of fans and approximates that this can go on for the next six months.
“We will not have fans maybe until April so that we can ensure the safety standards are up to scratch and achieved to the fullest. From there hopefully fans can be back in the stadium and we can begin seeing the return of football in its fullness,” says the Federation boss.
At the same time, he remains optimistic that once teams resume training, the remaining games of the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Shield matches will be completed to allow Kenya to front a team for the CAF Confederations Cup.
CAF has set an October 20 deadline for all Member Associations (MAs) to forward teams which will play in continental football next season. Already, after the Federation declared an end to all domestic leagues, Gor Mahia’s name was forwarded to play in the Champions League.
NAIROBI, Kenya, Sep 9 – Harambee Stars will play at least one friendly match before the back to back 2021 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) qualifier against Comoros in November, Football Kenya Federation (FKF) boss Nick Mwendwa has stated.
Stars are scheduled to play Comoros in Nairobi on November 9 before clashing with the islanders in Moroni four days later.
Mwendwa says they have placed a request to play Sudan in Nairobi and are waiting on a response.
“We have spoken to Sudan and are waiting for them to respond but we have also spoken to several other guys and we are waiting for them to get back in case Sudan do not give a positive response,” Mwendwa told Capital Sport.
Stars have two points so far in Group G after back to back draws against Egypt and Togo and are looking to pick maximum points against Comoros who sit at the apex of the group with four points.
“We want to see if we can pick three points at home and three away against Comoros because that will put is in a good path of qualification. After that we will have Egypt coming to Nairobi and then away to Togo and if we can manage to get good points there, we will be well on course to be at the AFCON again,” stated the Federation boss.
Coach Francis Kimanzi will meanwhile have a headache to select the best team for the Comoros matches especially with the stoppages caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Local based players have not been in action since March and the Federation is looking to ease them back into training by September 15 to help them pick fitness.
A few foreign based players have however been in action.
Michael Olunga has missed the last two of Kashiwa Reysol matches in Japan but has been in good scoring form and scored 14 goals for his club since the J1 League was restarted.
Skipper Victor Wanyama has settled down well at his MLS Club Montreal Impact and has been giving assured performances while Eric Johannah, Johannah Omollo and Joseph Çrouch’ Okumu have also been doing well for their clubs in Sweden and Belgium respectively.
There is concern over left back Erick ‘Marcelo’ Ouma who is just returning from a three-month injury lay-off but Kimanzi might consider a first ever call up to England based Clarke Oduor who plays for second tier side Barnsley.
Defensively, Joash Onyango has a new team in Tanzania with Simba and with the league on, he is set to gather some yards of fitness as well as midfielder Francis Kahata.
NAIROBI, Kenya, Sep 8 – Innocent Simiyu has made a return to the national rugby sevens team after being named the Shujaa head coach ahead of the upcoming season, replacing New Zealander Paul Feeney who left early this year.
Kenya Rugby Union boss Oduor Gangla says Simiyu will take over the job on a two-year contract, having topped the final shortlist of four that also had former coach Paul Murunga, KCB Sevens coach Dennis Mwanja and Briton Nick Wakley.
Simiyu’s appointment brings to an end a week of speculation, push and pull over who will take over the Shujaa hot seat.
“I am happy to return to the team and obviously I know there is a lot of work to be done. Hopefully we can work together to see how we can take the team to the next level,” Simiyu said after his appointment.
Simiyu was fired from the role in 2018, becoming a casualty of the infamous ‘Paris Fiasco’ where players blocked the Brand Kenya sponsor image at the front of the jersey protesting non-payment of bonuses.
“He did a very good job in the two years that he was here and the most important thing for us was to ensure that the process was followed through to the end. He (SImiyu) was top of the panels’ recommendation and it was unanimously agreed that he was the best candidate for the job,” Gangla said as he announced the coach’s appointment in an online press conference on Tuesday.
Simiyu was one among 14 individuals who had expressed interest in the job. He comes back to the team after two yeas, having helped them to breach the 100 point mark in his first season in charge in 2017.
“We are confident that he will do the jersey and the country proud,” Gangla further noted.
The interviewing panel was composed of former coach Feeney, KRU’s Director of Rugby Thomas Odundo and Peter Harding who was recommended by World Rugby.
According to Union boss Gangla, Namcos will have a free hand to select his backroom staff, provided they meet basic coaching criteria. Simiyu said he had already settled on who will work with him but declined to name them.
KCB RFC Sevens Coach Dennis Mwanja had been tipped to take over the job after a majority of the board members gave him the nod, but a last minute change of heart saw Namcos picked.
NAIROBI, Kenya, Sep 9 – The National Authority for the Campaign Against Alcohol and Drug Abuse (NACADA) has plugged in to assist in the rehabilitation process of former boxing champion Conjestina Achieng who was admitted to the Mediva Wellness Centre in Thika last month.
As response to social media posts regarding her health status, NACADA dispatched a team of its personnel who, after consulting with her family, picked her up from her home in Yala and drove her to Thika to star her rehabilitation programme.
She was accompanied by her sister and son Charltone Otieno.
Although the Authority does not have a budget line for treatment of persons with drug use disorders, it was obliged to join the rest of Kenyans who were responding to the call to the plight of the former boxing Champion.
Accordingly, NACADA has committed to settle the cost of one month’s rehabilitation for the boxer.
NACADA Chief Executive Officer Victor Okioma has underscored the need to ensure that Conjestina was taken through the rehabilitation process in good time to avoid further deterioration of the athlete’s health.
Okioma noted that Conjestina had previously been admitted to another rehabilitation facility with the support of the Governor of Nairobi County and her current condition was due to a relapse.
The CEO has meanwhile called on County Governments to invest on public rehabilitation facilities to enhance access to affordable rehabilitation services as most of the existing rehabilitation centres are private and commercial and therefore inaccessible to majority of needy Kenyans.
“We call on other Kenyans of goodwill and partners to support this initiative so that this icon of female boxing in Kenya receives the much-needed treatment and support so that she can get back on her feet. As a role model to many and upcoming boxers Conjestina’s good health is important so that she can continue mentoring young boxers,” added Okioma.
NACADA acknowledges that relapse is part of recovery and the Authority will continue supporting Conjestina and her family throughout this process.
OSTRAVA, Czech Republic, Sep 8 – Olympic 1500m champion Faith Kipyegon continued to show her superb mettle, cruising to her third victory since the re-start of the athletics calendar with a win at the Ostrava leg of the World Athletics Continental Gold Tour.
Kipyegon clocked a season’s best tome of 3:59.05 which also counted as the Ostrava Golden Spike meeting record. She came home first ahead of Briton Laura Weightman.
It was the first race for Kipyegon in her speciality, having run the 1000m race at the season opener in Monaco and last weekend in Brussels, Belgium. In both instances, she came close to breaking the world record over the distance.
Kipyegon was peerless in the race and had a split of 2:11.84 at the 800m mark and timed 3:15.39 after 1200m.
Meanwhile in the women’s 5,000m, Sheila Chelagat finished second in a race won by Netherland’s Sifan Hassan. Chelagat clocked a personal best time of 14:40:51, three seconds behind the Dutch who ran a season’s best time of 14:37:85.
In the men’s 1500m Norwegian Jakob Ingebrigtsen took full advantage of Timothy Cheruiyot’s absence to win the race in 3:33:92 ahead of Kenyan youngster Kumari Taki who clocked a personal best time of 3:34:14 to come in second.
In the 800m, Kenya’s Commonwealth Games champion Wycliffe Kinyama could only finish seventh in a time of 1:45:53 in his first race of the season. Britain’s Jake Wightman won the race in 1:44:18.
NAIROBI, Kenya, Sep 8 – Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) boss Oduor Gangla says the issue surrounding the Kenya Sevens team at the Paris leg of the World Sevens Series in 2018 is water under the bridge and it will not dent the relationship between them and head coach Innocent ‘Namcos’ Simiyu who was re-appointed to the post on Tuesday.
Simiyu was the man in charge of the national team then and the aftermath of the fallout over the stunt engineered his exit.
Shujaa players covered the Brand Kenya logos on the front of their jerseys as they protested non-payment of allowances, drawing the ire of not only fans but the government, including Tourism Cabinet Secretary Najib Balala who immediately cancelled the sponsorship.
Simiyu, then the Shujaa boss took full responsibility of the fiasco and was subsequently relieved of his duties in the wake of the earth shattering effects, though the ministry would later rescind the decision.
“It is public knowledge that the past engagement didn’t end well but everyone looks back and we too have looked back at the whole incident and how it was a managed. There has been a lot of lessons taken on both sides to ensure we are able to manage well such challenges in future,” Gangla said on Tuesday as he announced Simiyu’s return to Shujaa.
The Kenya Sevens players concealed the Brand Kenya sponsor’s logo from their jerseys at the 2018 Paris Sevens.
The tactician too has for the first time spoken publicly about the issue that brought an end to his otherwise successful stint at the helm of the national team.
Simiyu has tendered his apology and is optimistic such will not recur in future.
“Paris was a very big scar but of course we had to apologise for what happened. It was not the best way to air our grievances and I took responsibility about it as the head coach. I believe the only way to make sure it doesn’t happen again is proper communication and from my end moving forward, how we communicate is very important,” the tactician stated.
The same had risen up during the interview process and it was the reason that at first, majority of the board went with Dennis Mwanja for the top spot, before an eventual turnaround saw the former coach walk back.
Simiyu takes over the job after the exit of New Zealander Paul Feeney who left the job barely a year in at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.
He has his work cut out especially with the Olympics beckoning and most tournaments having been cancelled due to the pandemic.
“I know it is a big task and the challenges are there. There are not enough tournaments leading to the Olympics but the key thing now is how do we get the players ready. If we get them to at least 80pc by January, then we will be good for the Olympics,” stated the tactician.
He now hopes that the Kenya Rugby Union can organize for a few tournaments locally and probably internationally to help the players pick fitness after five months of inactivity due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Union boss Gangla says they have already submitted their return-to-play protocols to the Ministry of Sports and are waiting for the final go ahead to resume work on the pitch. Gangla also added that the immediate priority for a return to training program will be for the national teams.
BERLIN, Germany, Sep 13 – Former world champion Hyvin Kiyeng upset reigning world champion and world record holder Beatrice Chepkoech in the 3000m steeplechase, clinching victory at the Berlin leg of the World Athletics Continental Gold Tour on Sunday.
Kiyeng clocked 9:06.14 to snatch victory ahead of the world record holder who was contesting her second race since the restart to the athletics calendar.
The Beijing 2015 World Champion entered the homestretch side by side with Chepkoech, hurdling over the last water barrier together before Kiyeng upped the ante to cross the finish line first.
Chepkoech was second in 9:10.07.
“Due to the corona virus I was stuck in Kenya but kept training. This was my first competition this year and I am grateful for this. If there are opportunities for other races I will compete,” Kiyeng stated after clinching victory.
Chepkoech led for most of the race, passing the 1,000m mark in 2:59.00 and then crossed the 2000m mark in 6:03:44. However, she didn’t have the finishing kick to kill off the race.
NAIROBI, Kenya, Sep 14 – Harambee Stars forward Michael Olunga continued in his rich vein of scoring form, scoring his 16th goal of the season, but couldn’t do much as his Japanese J1 League side Kashiwa Reysol lost 2-1 on the road to Sagan Tosu.
Fresh from being named August’s J1 League player of the month, Olunga broke the deadlock in the 24th minute, firing home from the back post for his 16th goal of the season in 16 matches, stretching away in the golden boot hunt.
However, Reysol who had won three matches on the trot could not hold on to the lead as they conceded a 45th minute penalty slotted home by Daichi Hayashi before Riki Harakawa gave the home side a 2-1 advantage three minutes after the break.
Another game, another goal! @OgadaOlunga with his 1⃣6⃣th goal of the MEIJI YASUDA J1 LEAGUE campaign!
The loss saw Reysol drop to seventh in the league standings with 26 points from 16 matches, a whooping 18 behind league leaders Kawasaki Frontale.
Meanwhile in Canada, national team captain Victor Wanyama clocked the whole game as Montreal Impact beat Vancouver White Caps 4-2 to move fifth in the Major League Soccer Eastern Conference.
Algerian forward Saphir Taider was the star of the show scoring once and assisting twice.
Impact went down early with Thelonius Bair scoring the opener for Vancouver in the seventh minute, but Nigerian Orji Okoronkwo restored parity eight minutes later, finishing off a Taider assist.
The Algerian then doubled Montreal’s advantage at the stroke of halftime from the penalty spot and then turned provider six minutes after the break, laying the ball for Samuel Piette to make it 3-1.
Harambee Stars skipper Victor Wanyama in action for his Canadian club Impact Montreal
Piette then turned provider to lay up Romell Quioto for the fourth and despite Rudy Camacho turning the ball into his own net in the 66th minute, Impact had done just enough to bag the three points.
In Sweden, both Joseph ‘Crouch’ Okumu (IF Elfsborg) and Erick ‘Marcelo’ Ouma (AIK) were absent as their sides picked up draws against Djugardens and Malmo. Okumu was suspended for the game after accumulating four yellow cards while Ouma is just resuming full training after recovering from a fracture.
Elfsborg remain third in the standings with 33 points while AIK are struggling at 13th.
In the second tier, Eric Johannah was on the pitch for 77 minutes as his club Jonkopings Sodra lost 4-2 away to league leaders Dergerfors. Sodra who saw their two-match winning streak end remained third in the standings with 29 points, eight off the leaders.
In Belgium, Johannah Omollo started and played for an hour as Cercle Brugge lost 2-0 to Vincent Kompany’s Anderlecht.
Harambee Stars midfielder Johannah Omollo in action for Cercle Brugge against Anderlecht
Lukas Nmecha’s first half penalty and Michael Murillo’s second half strike handed Anderlecht the victory with Brugge dropping to 10th in the standings with six points off the first five matches of the season.
In Finland, goalkeeper Arnold Origi was in goal as HIFK Fotboll came off the positive end of a seven-goal thriller, winning 4-3 away to HIFK in the Helsinki Derby. HIFK came from two goals down after Origi conceded within a space of five minutes early in the game.
Fellow Kenyan, striker Sydney Lokale is still missing from the squad as he is nursing an injury.
In Egypt, former Mathare United midfielder Cliff Nyakeya scored his first goal for FC Masr, notching the opener in their 2-2 draw with Al Ittihad. Nyakeya played 64 minutes of the match.
In neighboring Tanzania, Francis Kahata came off the bench as Simba drew 1-1 with Mtibwa Sugar while Faruk Shikhalo was out for Yanga as they clawed a 1-0 victory over Mbeya City in Dar es Salaam.
Shikhalo missed out with injury despite finally getting the starting role in Yanga’s opening game of the season.
NAIROBI, Kenya, Sep 14 – Former Kenyan Premier League (KPL) champions Sofapaka have signed Mungai Kiongera as a free agent after the striker left Wazito FC barely six months after signing for them.
Kiongera has already put pen to paper on his contract at Batoto ba Mungu and head coach John Baraza believes he will be a worthy addition to the squad.
“He is very experienced and still has a lot of goals in his legs. I know his abilities having also played against him in the league and he brings in a lot of positive attributes to the team. Striking was one of the areas we needed to strengthen and I am pleased we have him,” Baraza told Capital Sport.
Baraza has also confirmed they have already finalized on a deal for Rwandese centreback Isaac Mitima who has been signed from Rayon Sport and his presence will be a welcome addition after the departure of long serving captain George Maelo.
The 2009 champions had already signed Michael Bodo from Kariobangi Sharks, keeper Kevin ‘Saha’ Omondi from Wazito and midfielder Roy Okal from Mathare United.
Roy Okal. PHOTO/Sofapaka/Twitter
Kevin ‘Saha’ Omondi. PHOTO/Sofapaka/Twitter
“I think we have added some very good players to the squad. As always, we are a team eager to vie for the league title and that is no different heading into the new campaign. We have brought in players who will add quality to the squad and help us achieve our targets,” stated the tactician.
The club is also closing in on a Nigerian striker while defender Michael Kibwage is continuously on their radar.
“Kibwage is one of the boys I really wanted and the office is currently working on it because he is on contract with KCB. But we hope for the best because he is a very good defender and will add strength to our squad,” Baraza noted.
Sofapaka didn’t have a good campaign last season and by the time the league was halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they were placed 10th in the standings with 31 points, 23 off leaders Gor Mahia.
“We have learnt from our mistakes last season and those are some of the things that inspire us heading into the new campaign. We want to do better and try to win the title,” the tactician further offered.
NAIROBI, Kenya, Sep 14 – The statue of former Trade Unionist and vocal politician Tom Mboya situated close to the Kenya National Archives in the Nairobi City Centre has been removed for renovations.
The statue had become a revered meeting point for Gor Mahia fans since it was put up nine years ago and the fans always visited and danced around the statute before and after all their matches.
This, they said was for ‘good luck’.
K’Ogalo fans decried the removal of the statue on social media, especially at a time when the return of the Kenyan Premier League is nigh.
The statue of Mboya, one of the founding fathers of Gor Mahia was erected close to where he was assassinated on Moi Avenue, then known as Government Road.
Politicians, including Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua had promised to help renovate the statue that had been constantly vandalised and is surrounding turned into litter bins, but those promises were never fulfilled.
National Museums Director General Mzalendo Kibunjia told Nation Sport that the renovations will cost Sh4mn and it will be ready after four months.
“We received Sh4mn from the Sports Fund for renovation of the statue which was in bad shape. The pavement had been littered and the hand stolen. It has generally been vandalized by Gor Mahia fans and we had to rectify that,” said the DG, in an interview with Nation Digital.
He went on to beg Gor fans who had ‘stolen’ one of the arms of the bronze statue of the revered figure to return it.
NAIROBI, Kenya, Sep 15 – Algerian top tier side JS Kabylie are looking to offload Harambee Stars forward Masud Juma, with head coach Yamen Zelfani keen to land another striker.
The former Kariobangi Sharks man moved to Kabilye in 2019 after a short stint in South Africa with Cape Town City, but injury coupled with lack of goals have seen him fall down the pecking order at the club.
According to Algerian news outlet competition.dz, the club is looking to sell the player to another club preferably in the United Arab Emirates where he had a short stint in 2018 to fund the purchase of a new striker.
The website further discloses that JSK are looking to avoid a situation where they will have to release the forward as it will mean they will negotiate for a settlement as he still has two years left on his contract.
Further, the language barrier with Algerians being French speakers seems to be a problem for the forward who had to sit out for almost three months after signing due to injury.
“Coach Zelfani told (the club’s) leaders of his desire to strengthen his workforce with a real goal hunter who, preferably, should be a French speaker. Even the leaders realized that it is difficult for an English speaker to succeed in the championship, because former Nigerian international Uche and Kenyan international Juma have enormous qualities, unfortunately the language problem has was a real handicap for them,” the website also states.
Juma who has also featured for Sony Sugar and Bandari made his mark at Sharks where he finished as the golden boot winner in 2017 before attracting the interest of several big clubs.
NAIROBI, Kenya, Sep 15 – Former AFC Leopards skipper Duncan Otieno might not be returning to his Zambian employers Nkana FC, and it is on this uncertainty that Ingwe are looking to lure the midfielder back to the den.
Sources intimate that the club is set to make a formal approach for the midfield dynamo who left for Nkana in October 2018. His two-year contract is set to expire next month and the former Kenyan Premier League champions will land him as a free agent.
The financial situation at Nkana has not been promising and that led to the exit of Musa Mohammed at the expiration of his contract in June.
Leopards have also roped in Congolese midfielder Fabrice Mugheni from Rwandese side Rayon Sport. The club has also signed striker Elvis Rupia after the expiration of his loan from Wazito FC but are keen on adding another striker.
Ingwe chairman Dan Shikanda says new players will be unveiled soon.
“Well we are in talks with some players though I cannot name them, but definitely we are looking to add some more quality into our team. We are looking at maybe five new players in midfield and attacking because those are the areas we felt we needed to have depth on,” Shikanda told Capital Sport.
His sentiments were shared by coach Anthony Kimani who says they are pleased with the quality they have in the team, but only wanted to have more options.
“We maintained most of the players we had which I think is a huge plus for us. Now we just need to add a few individuals. There will be continuity heading into the new season,” Kimani stated.
Meanwhile, Shikanda has promised that Leopards will be a stronger outfit heading into the new season, stating their ambition to win the league is stronger than ever. Also, the fact that a new sponsor has come on board will ensure stability with players now assured of their salaries.
“We are also looking for more sponsors to supplement what we already have. We will also make some administrative changes to the team just to ensure we strengthen all our departments,” Shikanda noted.
NAIROBI, Kenya, Sep 15 – Gor Mahia will retain their crown as the 2019-20 Kenyan Premier League champions after the Sports Disputes Tribunal (SDT) threw out the league managers’ appeal over Football Kenya Federation’s (FKF) decision to cancel the season due to COVID-19.
FKF made the decision to cancel the season citing the Force Majeure clause in its football rules due to the stoppages occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic.
However, KPL went to the Tribunal seeking to overturn the decision, saying FKF acted out of their jurisdiction in making the decision as the mandate to run the league squarely lay on them.
In his ruling on Tuesday, Tribunal chair John Ohaga ruled that the petition had not been constituted properly as it did not receive necessary approvals from the Governing Council.
“The upshot of the fore-going is that in any event the lack of authority is one that puts spirit to the petition and for that reason the petition is one for dismissing and it is so dismissed,” Ohaga said as he delivered the ruling via Zoom on Tuesday afternoon.
The fact that eight KPL clubs were enjoined in the case as interested candidates and supported the Federation’s decision to end the season looked like the final rope that pulled KPL’s appeal down.
The clubs argued that Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Jack Oguda did not have the requisite authority to file a petition on behalf of the league without approval from the Governing Council, which is the body mandated to make decisions on behalf of the league.
“No valid resolution had been made by the Governing Council for the filing of this petition. We have then examined that application and come to the conclusion that the petitioner had an opportunity to rebut the assertion, but the petitioner has not risen up to that and has not sought to rebut the argument that was made. We have therefore come to the conclusion that the petition was filed without proper authority,” Ohaga said in his ruling.
Sports Disputes Tribunal chair John Ohaga during a previous hearing. PHOTO/Raymond Makhaya
At the same time, Ohaga in his ruling has faulted Oguda and Chemelil Sugar who were petitioners in the case for failing to exhaust all internal dispute resolution mechanisms, despite the existence of the same at the Federation.
“We have recognized the two letters written by the petitioner disputing the announcement by the FKF president and we have come to the conclusion that the petitioner did not properly activate such internal dispute resolution mechanisms which was available for them to do,”
“The Tribunal has previously upheld that the judicial bodies of the FKF are still valid and properly constituted and therefore the internal dispute resolution mechanisms were not exhausted,” Ohaga’s ruling stated.
Further, the tribunal ruled that there was no breach of contract on the side of the Federation as the relationship between the two was a ‘Principal and agent’ relationship hence there was no breach.
“The relationship between FKF and KPL is one of principal and agent and to that extent therefore, we cannot see how the agreement was breached by reason of the president announcing the conclusion of the league,” the ruling further states.
KPL CEO Jack Oguda with FKF president Nick mwendwa during a past function. PHOTO/Courtesy/Goal
Also, the Tribunal has maintained that Federation boss Nick Mwendwa cannot arbitrarily make decisions that require Executive Committee approval, citing a ruling he made earlier in the year that the NEC ceased to be in office after cancelling the elections for the second time in March.
Ohaga says that the decision to throw out the petition also hinged on their own due diligence in combing through the Federation rule book.
“We have recognized that COVID-19 is a case of Force Majeure and we have looked al all provisions of the rules and the agreement,”
“We have averted to what we said before that the FKF president is not synonymous with FKF and it is our view that the president had no authority to make the determination that he did and that the league was at an end,” Ohaga noted.
NAIROBI, Kenya, Sep 16 – Betway Kenya concluded the first session of its Sport Development Webinar on Tuesday, having featured key speakers such as Chris Barnes, a Sport Scientist at UEFA, Ashley Kotzin, CEO of Forwardzone, Supersport United Academy goalkeeping coach Nico Labohm as well as Grant Johnson, the Technical Director and assistant coach at the South African club.
The conclusion of the webinar saw the Sports Development pioneer guest team, Dago Stormers, receive training equipment including soccer balls, agility ladders, mannequins, slalom balls, coaching boards and more, courtesy of Betway.
“We thoroughly enjoyed the training webinar and look forward to implementing the knowledge and skills we have acquired in our games. The training equipment will also go a long way in assisting as we didn’t have it before and were struggling in our training sessions,” said Dago Stormers’ coach, Biko Babu.
The webinar took place in two sessions highlighting sports science and a mentorship opportunity for the participating team.
“We are happy that the first session of the Betway Sports Webinar was successful. Above all, we are glad that the Dago Stormers team was able to benefit from the expertise that the speakers presented. We hope that this will positively impact their games in the future, and that they can rise and play in the national league,” said Karen Njerenga Betway Public Relations Executive.
Betway is set to announce the commencement of the second session of the Sports Development Webinar, and the associated guest speakers, in the coming weeks.
NAIROBI, Kenya, Sep 16 – Vihiga United and Kisumu All Stars have barely three weeks to prepare before they face off in the first leg of the Kenyan Premier League promotion and relegation play-off scheduled for October 7 and 11.
The Football Kenya Federation (FKF) announced on Wednesday that the play-off to determine the final slot in next season’s top-flight will be the first match in the post-COVID-19 football return formula.
“The first leg has been slated for Wednesday, October 7, 2020, while the second leg will be played on Sunday, October 11, 2020. The winner on aggregate is entitled to a place in the 2020/21 FKF Premier League.”
“A draw is set to be held, in accordance with Art. 2.9.2 of the FKF Rules and Regulations Governing Kenyan Football, to determine which team kicks off the tie at home,” a statement from the Federation on Wednesday evening stated.
Vihiga United are seeking a return to the top flight after one season in the cold and will have to contest the play-off having failed to clinch one of the two automatic slots after finishing third in the National Super League standings.
Kisumu All Stars meanwhile hope to secure another season in the top flight having struggled in their maiden campaign to finish 16th in the Kenyan Premier League, pushing them to drop into the play-off.
NAIROBI, Kenya, Sep 17 – When Celestine Masinde boarded the plane back home from the Rio Olympics in 2016, she not only carried home with her the magnificent piece of history of becoming the first Kenyan lady to score an Olympic try, but also brought with her a massive business idea that has come into fruition four years later.
While making rounds at the athletes’ village, the Kenya Lionesses star stumbled upon a drink that would change her business sense and engage her mind into a ‘what if I do this’ situation.
Four years after she picked up the Hibiscus Ginger juice to taste, Masinde has partnered fellow rugby player, Samson Onsomu, the Kenya Simbas skipper, in starting their own in Nairobi.
Kenya Lionesses star Celestine Masinde in action during the Rio Olympics in 2016
“There was a West African stand in the athletes’ village and one day we just decided we were tired of the pizzas and what nots and wanted to taste something different. I decided to go to the healthy section and came across the hibiscus juice and I asked what it was exactly. It tasted really nice,” Masinde recalls, speaking to Capital Sport.
The taste and the thought of bringing the drink closer home lingered on her mind since then, but it had to take the hand of a pandemic to squeeze the idea into actualization.
She discussed the idea that was brewing in her mind for a while with Onsomu and just like that, the business was born.
“I kept thinking of the idea of having something good and flavoury, which we could still enjoy yet it’s a healthier alternative. As sportsmen we struggle with the love for fizzy drinks and bad sugars. I decided that if I can venture to help other sports people why not? I approached Onsomu and he was on the same wavelength. We have played together and we are friends so it was easier to agree,” Masinde recalls.
Kenya Lionesses star Celestine Masinde (left) with Kenya Simbas skipper Sam Onsomu during their interview with Capital FM. PHOTO/Timothy Olobulu
And, with the sound of a business and the uncertainty of a pandemic, Onsomu was game.
With the financial side of the sport hugely hit, the Kenya Simbas and Impala Saracens scrum half had to think on his feet to ensure he was not badly affected financially with no sporting action and reduced chances of earning a living.
“When COVID started, sports was stopped and for most people, myself included, I was three and a half into sports. My whole life was entirely dependent on sports and with the effects of the pandemic, I decided to venture into business. We talked with Celestine about the idea of producing and selling the drink and we started,” Onsomu recalls.
Just like he pulls the strings and dictates the tempo of the game from his scrum half position in the field, it was Onsomu who jolted Celestine into action once the pandemic started and shutdowns were swung all round.
“We were still trying to get things in order but immediately the pandemic started, he told me this is the opportunity. We need to seize the moment and we can’t to be statistics and say COVID has crippled businesses and sports. Now that we have time, we decided to immerse ourselves fully,” says Masinde.
Kenya Lionesses star Celestine Masinde during the interview with Capital FM. PHOTO/Timothy Olobulu
They decided to partner with one of Masinde’s friends who owns a processing company, but had to go through all the processes to have their drinks okayed by the government authorities before they could get them into the market.
“We didn’t want to do a jua kali thing,” Onsomu says, further underlying his attention for quality.
They got their Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS) verification sticker after all health safety standards were met and began rolling out the tasty drink into the market. Within the first month, the duo had already registered close to 1,000 bottles in sales.
Not only is the drink a healthy alternative to soft drinks, but also has immense health positives. That is what proved to be the masterstroke that lifted their sales up so quick.
“This is an organic drink. We have used hibiscus flower and ginger and we have used stevia as a sweetener because we wanted to avoid sugar. Stevia is good for Blood Pressure and also regulating blood sugar and fat levels,”
“Hibiscus helps improve liver digestion and it is also a fully loaded immune booster with Vitamin C, D and iron,” explains Masinde.
Kenya Simbas skipper Sam Onsomu during the interview with Capital FM. PHOTO/Timothy Olobulu
With the idea off its feet and into the market already, the Kenya rugby duo are not sleeping on their laurels. They aim to make the drink bigger and better with an eye of supplying it into supermarket chains and hotels.
Both agree that the COVID-19 situation has been an eye opener for the sports fraternity especially in terms of income and life after sports.
“COVID caught everyone unaware. Not only has this been an eye opener but it has given us a rude shock. This is what our lives would be when we retire. This is our lives when rugby is taken away from us. It is a blessing in disguise and made everyone know they can’t put all their eggs in one basket,” Masinde, also a Credit Control Team leader at Swipe Recoveries Experts adds.
Kenya Simbas skipper Samson Onsomu during a training session. PHOTO/Raymond Makhaya
Onsomu echoes the sentiments saying; “COVID has been an eye opener to sportsmen that you can actually do anything online and still make a living out of it. For sports people, we had put all our minds in sports… it is just training and playing, forgetting that we also need to build a life outside sports. It’s good it happened so that people can think outside the box.”
NAIROBI, Kenya, Sep 21 – Dennis Gakunga, a former footballer turned musician based in Kawangware has had his career given a massive jolt by betting firm Odibets who have offered to finance five of his next projects after composing a song about the company.
The Kawangware renowned artist nicknamed Machete Boloman recorded the song on his phone and handed it to one of the Odibets ambassadors who in turn notified the firm’s bosses and that caught their attention and reached out to him.
He wrote the song to appreciate the good work Odibets has been doing in supporting upcoming football talent. A month later, he received a call and the result of that call was an offer from Odibets to pay for five of his projects, both audio and visual.
In the deal, his song Odibets would be the first project to be worked on. He has worked with producer Magix Enga in producing the first song.
“I have four other projects which are fully paid for and I’m grateful to Odibets, they are doing a lot for me as a youth,” the musician stated.
The betting firm which sponsors the Football Kenya Federation grassroot leagues has been going round the whole country donating football equipment to teams who are in desperate need of an upgrade.
