The Lionesses, under the tutelage of Dennis Mwanja will hope to secure Africa’s sole ticket to the event that is scheduled for South Africa in September.

South Africa, who are drawn in Pool A with Zimbabwe and Senegal have already qualified for the tournament by virtue of being hosts while Pool C will have Tunisia, Ghana and Madagascar.

The tournament will also be a qualifier for the Commonwealth Games to be staged in Birmingham, United Kingdom, in July.

Mwanja will be taking charge of the team for the first time after the departure of Felxi Oluoch, and he hopes to have a strong and positive start.

He has named a strong team for the tournament being staged in Tunisia, and will be led by Japan-based Janet ‘Shebesh’ Okello.

Lionesses Africa Women 7s squad

Janet Okello (MIE Pearls, Japan, Captain), Christabel Lindo (Impala Saracens), Grace Okulu (Nakuru), Linet Moraa (RuckIt), Stella Wafula (Impala Saracens), Leah Wambui (Impala Saracens), Judith Auma (Impala Saracens), Dorcas Sinaida (Northern Suburbs), Sophie Ayieta (Impala Saracens), Terry Ayesa (Mwamba), Naomi Amuguni (Mwamba), Jean Bisela (Impala Saracens)

NAIROBI, Kenya, Apr 27 – The men’s national basketball league final was played on Sunday at the Nyayo National Stadium gymnasium and as always fans turned out in their best colors, witnessing KPA reclaim the title with an 80-61 victory over Ulinzi Warriors.

Here are some images from the epic duel.

NAIROBI, Kenya, Apr 28 – Having clinched the World Under-20 Championship gold medal in Nairobi last year, Jackline Chepkoech is itching to have the same success as she prepares to battle with the seniors for the first time outside the country, having qualified for the Africa Athletics Championship scheduled for Mauritius in June.

Chepkoech ran a spirited race to win the finals at the Moi Sports Centre Kasarani on Thursday, as the three-day National Championships came to an end.

She times 9:26.12, finishing ahead of former World Under-18 and Under-20 champion Celiphine Chespol who timed 9:31.11 and Caren Chebet who was third in 9:31.69.

Chepkoech ran alongside the leading pack that had the front three finishers for most of the race, but threw down the gauntlet at the bell.

She surged forward leaving Chespol and Chebet trailing by a few metres, and pressed further on the gas pedal at the home stretch to earn the convincing victory.

“It was a really tough race but for me, I was determined to try and earn a ticket to the Africa Championship. I am excited to have made the team and now, I want to try and improve because I want to go and win gold,” the soft spoken Chepkoech said.

She added; “I want to improve a bit on speed because that is what I noticed was a weak point for me today and then work better on endurance.”

Chepkoech and Chespol will earn a ticket to represent Team Kenya.

Meanwhile, Beatrice Chebet who also won an Under-20 title in 2018 is also looking towards achieving a continental title after affirming her place in the 5,000m team following another splendid performance.

Chebet, 22, put daylight between herself and the chasing pack to win the race in a time of 15:30.01, with Carolyne Nyaga, the National Police Service Cross Country Champion coming in second in a time of 15:31.8.

Chebet had run a patient race all through, but pressed on the gas pedals with two laps to go to command a good wining time. She qualified for the African Championship alongside Nyaga.

“It was very tough today especially with the weather but the most important thing is that I have qualified. Now we have to work well as a team to deliver good results for Kenya in Mauritius,” she stated.

Meanwhile Daniel Simiu clinched the men’s title and has said he will race at the African Championship.

Simiu clocked 13mins, 23.17secs to win the race ahead of Ismael 13mins, 26.98secs, with both of them earning a place in the Kenyan team to Mauritius.

“I really feel good and that my body is in good shape. Now the target is to keep improving. If I am selected for the African team I will surely go and represent my country. My target is to qualify for the World Championships and Commonwealth Games and the African championship will give me a good opportunity to prepare well,” said Simiu.

He had run a calculated race all through, and exchanged leads for most of the parts of the race with National Police Service teammate Michael Kibet.

At the bell, he went all out and took a commanding lead with more than 300m to go.

Team Kenya for Mauritius

100m women; Maximilla Imali, Monica Safania

100m men; Ferdinand Omanyala, Hesbon Ochieng

100m hurdles women; Priscilla Tabunda, Rukia Nusra

110m hurdles men; Wiseman Were, Michael Musyoki

200m men; Ferdinand Omanyala, Dan Kiviasi

200m women; Maximilla Imali, Millicent Ndoro

400m women; Veronica Mutua, Jacinta Shikanda

400m men; Collins Omae, William Rayian

400m hurdles women; Jane Chege, Diana Chebet

400m hurdles men; Wiseman Were, William Mbevi

800m women; Jarinter Mawia, Naomi Korir

800m men; Noah Kibet, Nicholas Kebenei

1500m women; Purity Chepkirui, Winnie Chebet

1500m men; Abel Kipsang, Kumari Taki

3000m SC women; Jackline Chepkoech,  Cellphine Chespol

3000m SC men; Abraham Kibiwott, Geofrey Kirwa

5000m women; Beatrice Chebet, Caroline Nyaga

5000m men; Daniel Simiu, Ismael Kirui

10,000m women; Alice Aprot, Judy Komen

10,000m men; Kenneth Kiprop, Julius Chepkwony

20km Walk race men; Samuel Gathimba, Heristone Wanyonyi

20km Walk race women; Sylvia kemboi, Emily Ngii

NAIROBI, Kenya, Apr 29 – African 100m record holder Ferdinand Omanyala has declared an audacious ambition to go for a triple assault of gold medals in the 100m, 200m and the 4x100m relay at the African Athletics Championships scheduled for Mauritius in June.

Omanyala clinched the national titles in all three races at the Athletics Kenya Championships that concluded at the Kasarani Stadium on Thursday, and he now says he wants to do a three-peat at the African champs.

WATCH THE VIDEO HERE

“Yeah I am going for all three at the African championships. I feel great and I feel in good shape and I believe it is possible. The national champions were really great especially competing after two years since we were last here in 2019. I really enjoyed myself out here,” said Omanyala.

The African record holder clocked 10.03secs to win the 100m final, despite a stuttered thrust off the blocks.

Omanyala laid down his traditional devastating kick in the second half of the race, to wade off Uganda’s Benson Okoth who timed 10.52secs while Danish athlete Tazana Kamanga, who resides in Kenya, finished third in 10.62.

He later on doubled with his second gold of the day, winning the 200m in a time of 20.43secs, coming short of his targeted national record due to the wet conditions on the track.

Mid-morning showers made it impossible to show off explosive paces, but still Omanyala was in inch perfect form to win the race and confirm his place for the African championship, finishing within the qualification time.

“It was a bit hard for the 200m because when we went to the blocks it was very wet. Managing such a race is difficult but all in all I believe those were good times we posted.

Dan Kaviasi was second in 20.90secs, while Kenya Defense Forces’ Mike Mokamba was third in 21.01secs. Omanyala and Kaviasi will fly the Kenyan flag in the 200m race in Mauritius.

Earlier on on Wednesday, Omanyala and his Kenya Police team had dazzled the crowd with an emphatic performance to win the men’s 4x100m relay. Omanyala had picked up the baton fourth in the final changeover, but showed his prowess with a peerless run to clinch victory.

And now, he will certainly lead Athletics Kenya’s relay team which will be named next week.

Meanwhile, Maximila Imali, the women’s national record holder, will also double in Mauritius after winning both the 100m and 200m races.

Race Director Barnaba Korir has confirmed that Jacobs will be in Nairobi for the Continental Gold Touur meet, adding on to a field that already had Fred Kerley who finished second behind the Italian in Tokyo as well as Kenny Bednarek who finished second in Tokyo in the 200m.

Omanyala raced Kerley in the semis in Tokyo where he finished third in a then national record of 10.00secs, but it was not enough to send him to the final.

The two had also raced in the heats, Omanyala finishing third again, Kerley second and Canada;s Andre de Grasse winning.

In the Olympic final, Jacobs, a relatively unknown figure then, blasted into victory, clocking a fast 9.80 timing, Kerley second and de Grasse third.

NAIROBI, Kenya, May 01 – Referee Anthony Juma Ogwayo was on the spot once again for a contested penalty, as AFC Leopards bounced back to winning ways with a hard fought 2-1 win over KCB at the Moi Sports Centre Kasarani on Labour Day.

Leopards led 2-0 at halftime, but it was their second goal, coming three minutes to the break, that bore all the controversy. Ingwe were handed a penalty after referee Ogwayo had adjudged Victor Omune to have been fouled inside the box, a decision that surprised even Leopards themselves.

Omune already had his hands on his head regretting a missed chance after completely miscuing his attempted tap from a Makwatta cross, but behind him, the referee had pointed to the spot.

KCB players remonstrated with the FIFA referee as they protested the decision, but Ingwe were counting their lucky stars with Makwatta collecting the ball and standing on the penalty spot.

Ogwayo stood firm with his decision and Makwatta stepped up to score his fourth goal in five matches for Leopards.

It is the second time in almost a month that controversy trailed Ogwayo after he awarded, then disallowed a goal against Tusker FC in their 0-0 draw with Gor Mahia.

KCB though had a chance to draw level in the second half after the were also awarded a penalty, but Sidney Lokale, who had halved the deficit just two minutes earlier, missed a penalty.

Leopards had taken the lead early in the 19^th minute, Omune scoring against his former employers after a brilliant low finish, running on to an Ojo Olaniyi through ball.

The two almost combined for the second goal three minutes later, the Nigerian with some good hold up play before slicing out Omune on the right. However, his cross was too close to the keeper with Olaniyi screaming for the ball at the edge of the six yard area.

JCB had not panicked despite conceding early and they came inches close to drawing level on the half hour mark, but Peter Thiong’o cleared the ball off the line.

Derrick Otanga picked up a looped ball from Baraka Badi before rifling a volley at goal past the keeper, but Thiong’o was well placed to clear.

Leopards had to make a change after Olaniyi came off injured, a clash with Nashon Alembi aggravating an earlier hamstring strain and was replaced by Makwatta.

Cliff Nyakeya should have taken Leopards 2-0 up in the 37^th minute when a long ball evaded a poorly timed header from Dennis Odhiambo. But the former Mathare United man sliced his low shot inches wide.

In the second half, Leopards started strong and had a chance in the 56^th minute when Omune played Makwatta through, but he was denied by the trailing feet of keeper David Okello.

Two minutes later, Omune saw his header from a corner come off the upright and when the ball was recycled into the box, Brian Wanyama missed the target from point blank range.

KCB head coach Zedekiah Otieno then made four changes at a go. Lokale, John Mwangi, Michael Mutinda and Victor Omondi were brought in for Robinson Kamura, Mohamed Kilume, Otanga and Reagan Otieno.

The changes proved an instant hit with KCB playing better and they halved the deficit in the 71^st minute when Lokale slapped home from inside the box off a Henry Onyango cross.

Two minutes later they had a perfect chance to draw level. A quickly taken throw by Dennis Odhiambo found Omondi inside the box, the winger’s quick feet seeing him fouled by Josephat Lopaga.

Lokale stepped forward, but his penalty was well saved by Levis Opiyo in the AFC goal. From the resultant corner, Onyango floated in a cross but Lokale once again missed with a diving header.

KCB threw everything into the final minutes of the game, but couldn’t scrape in the least a point from the tie.

NAIROBI, Kenya, May 02 – “Why is he doing that?” KCB head coach Zedekiah Otieno wondered as he shook his head, trying to replay the decision to give AFC Leopards what he termed as a ‘dubious’ penalty in their 2-1 defeat at the hands of Ingwe on Sunday.

Leopards were leading 1-0 when a surprise call by referee Anthony Juma Ogwayo saw them handed a spotkick in the 43^rd minute after keeper David Okello was adjudged to have fouled Victor Omune, a decision that even caught the striker by surprise.

“What is bad is that this same referee had a controversy in the match between Tusker and Gor. Why is he doing that? There is absolutely no contact in the box but anyway at the end of the day it is his decision but I don’t know why he is doing that and yet he is a FIFA referee. Sometimes you fail to understand,” a dejected Otieno said.

He added; “That decision changed the momentum of the game because when a team is leading 1-0, you are still fighting because you know it is something you can get. But then he gives a dubious penalty to make it 2-0 and from there it is an uphill task.”

But, he said, the loss was all on his players as they failed to take their chances, including a second half penalty taken by Sidney Lokale and saved by Levis Opiyo.

He says the team’s biggest undoing has been their failure to take their chances, and this has come down to haunt them badly.

“We are playing well and getting opportunities at crucial moments but we fail to convert. It is like that in football, when you don’t take your chances, you are punished. At this moment it is all about the individuals and not the coach,” Otieno added.

Meanwhile, the coach has admitted they find themselves at a difficult place with six rounds of matches left and their hopes of a top three finish just like season seemingly difficult.

They have won only once in the last 13 matches and dropped to eighth in the standings with a third consecutive defeat.

“It is really difficult. We find ourselves ina  tough situation because we didn’t expect this when we started the season. We are however working to try and make sure we improve in our matches,” he stated.

NAIROBI, Kenya, May 2 – After almost a month’s lull since the conclusion of the ARC Equator Rally,  the FIA Rally Star quartet of Maxine Wahome, Jeremy Wahome, McRae Kimathi and Hamza Anwar are excited ahead of their debut in the continent’s biggest racing crowd-puller, the Pearl of Africa Uganda Rally.

The Kampala-based event will be a journey into the unknown for the four youngters who really don’t know what to expect apart from the big crowds that are traditionally associated with the FMU (Federation of Motorsport Clubs of Uganda) organized event.

McRae, who is Kenya’s contender for the FIA Junior WRC and FIA WRC3, will pilot the M-Sport Poland Ford Fiesta Rally3 car which is three steps below the World Rally hybrid car (Rally 1).

Jeremy will also drive the other Rally3 Fiesta hoping to replicate his ARC Equator Rally form where he finished fourth.  During Equator, Jeremy checked out early out of Naivasha’s Service In and the mistake cost him a career best second position.

Maxine, who is the leading lady driver in Kenya at the moment, will make her first appearance in the Premier Uganda fixture behind the wheel of a Subaru Impreza while Hamza will drive a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X.

Hamza is anticipated to return to the bucket seat of his Rally 3 Ford Fiesta just before WRC Safari Rally Kenya if all goes well. He rolled his Rally 3 machine on ARC Rally of Tanzania 2021 during Qualifying and the car has had to undergo a strip rebuild in Nairobi to repair the damage.

McRae said: “I don’t know so much about the stages in Uganda – I have no clue what they will look like because it will be my first time there, but I will surely strategise accordingly with my navigator (Mwangi Kioni) after recce and, of course, try not to disappoint my huge fan base there. We just hope we can go there and try to give the local boys a run for their money.”

Jeremy, a product of the Kenya National Karting Championship as well as Formula 4 and 3 in Europe and Asia, said on his part: “The essence is to carry on the momentum from Equator Rally and perform well. Whenever a rally is new, it’s always a tricky affair. I’m sure it’s going to be a challenge, because of the huge turnout of fans on the roads but it’s one event I’m looking forward to.”

Hamza was all smiles and here’s what he had to say: “I know the Pearl is a great platform for any aspiring young driver, so I’m looking forward to seeing it. The FIA Rally Star program definitely  given us the opportunity to experience diverse conditions across Africa and improve on our driving capability. Uganda has always been my favorite.”

“I attended the event in 2007 when I was a kid to cheer on my dad (Asad Anwar). Dad still speaks highly of the event and the crazy fans. So we are looking forward to the craziness,” said Hamza who re-joined this year’s Equator Rally on the Super Rally rule and won the penultimate stage at Kedong last month.

He has since done a strip rebuild on his Evo X and pronounced himself ready for action this week.

The FIA Rally Star program aims to find the next FIA World Rally champion by making the sport more accessible than ever before to budding drivers between the ages of 17 and 26.

The Pearl of Africa Uganda Rally will count towards the third round of the FIA African Rally Championship (ARC) from May 6-8 in the districts of Mukono and Bukwe.

A total of 49 drivers will partake the event which has attracted 10 foreigners including Kenya’s leader Karan Patel, physically challenged driver Nikhil Sachania, ARC leader Leroy Gomes of Zambia and Rwandese speedster Giancarlo Davite.

The 39 local drivers include three times Uganda Champion Ronald Ssebuguzi aka Seb, former Pearl winners Hassan Alwi and Ponsiano Lwakataka aka Mafu Mafu, Dr Ahmed Ashraf and Yasin Nasser of MOIL Rally Team.

The Pearl is the third event this year in the continental series after Rallye Bandama of Ivory Coast and Kenya’s Equator Rally.

Shakedown and Qualifying will kick-start the event program on Friday in Namataba followed by action proper on Saturday and Sunday.

FIA AFRICAN RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS AFTER EQUATOR RALLY

1. Leroy Gomes (Zambia)54 pts
2. Karan Patel (Kenya) 30 pts
3. Jasmeet Chana (Kenya) 21
4. Jeremy Wahome (Kenya) 19
5. Gaincarlo Davite (Rwanda) 17

NAIROBI, Kenya, May 3 – Commonwealth Games 800m reigning champion Wycliffe Kinyamal is looking towards going for a double title assault, defending his title in Birmingham as well as battling for a World Championship title in Oregon.

The Commonwealth Games are scheduled for between July 28-August 8 while the World Championships will gun off a few weeks earlier, between July 15-24.

“My target is definitely to defend my Commonwealth Games title and I believe I can do it. I am also targeting to run well at the national trials and earn a place in the team for the World Championships. These are my two targets this season,” Kinyamal told Capital Sport.

He added; “I have trained really well and my build up has been solid. I feel that my body is in good shape and for the next two months, I will only work to build on my speed and endurance.”

The 24-year old competed at the National Championships last week and despite showing strong strides in the opening lap, couldn’t keep up with the pace in a race won by youngster Noah Kibet as he struggled with injury.

“I picked up a small injury during training just before the nationals. I fell on the tartan on my knees and I have bruises which are making it a bit uncomfortable to run. However, it is not that serious and in a few days it will clear out and I will be back in full training,” he added.

Since surprisingly clinching the 800m title in Australia in 2018 where he ran 1:45.11, Kinyamal struggled to maintain his form.

He did not compete at the World Championships in 2019, and subsequently couldn’t sustain the momentum in the subsequent Diamond League races.

But now, the man who comes from the same county with World Record holder David Rudisha says he is now ready to get back to the top.

“It has not been easy definitely but I have been working very hard to get in shape. This season I want to try and get myself back to the top. I want t run a few Diamond League races before the World Championships to try and prepare myself well. I know I can get back on top,” he added.

NAIROBI, Kenya, May 3 – On-form John Mark Makwatta was a surprise omission in AFC Leopards head coach Patrick Aussems’ starting XI in their weekend 2-1 win over KCB at the Moi Sports Centre Kasarani.

Since playing his first match of the season against Kenya Police, Makwatta has been a consistent starter for Ingwe, but was dropped to the bench against the bankers, though he came on a few minutes to the break to score the second goal and what would be a winner for the side.

And now, Aussems has disclosed that Makwatta was benched for ‘breaking some rules’.

“You know, in a group you have some rules to respect and if you don’t respect the rules then you have to be punished by the coach. Makwatta sat on the bench and I told him during the week why. But, that is between us. What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. But he came in and made a good performance to score and that is the most important,” the tactician stated.

The forward has been part of a prolific front three that includes Victor Omune and Cliff Nyakeya who have been a core for Ingwe in the last few matches and the tactician hopes they can step up even more towards the final six games of the season.

Looking back to the slim win over KCB last weekend, Aussems said he was happy with the three points, but somewhat disappointed in the performance in the second half.

“In football,  leading 2-0 at halftime is the most dangerous result because when you come back to have to kill the game by scoring a third but it can turn if the opponent scores one. We had the opportunities to score and unfortunately we did not take our chances. Levis (Opiyo) saved us with the penalty and personally I didn’t like the final 20 minutes. We were defending too deep in our box but it is good we showed a good fighting spirit to keep the three points,” stated the coach.

Leopards now hope the win can propel them to a win over Gor Mahia when the two sides meet in the Mashemeji Derby this weekend.

NAIROBI, Kenya, May 3 – African record holder Ferdinand Omanyala has predicted a 9.6 of a 9.7secs finish in the 100m at Saturday’s Kip Keino Classic with the Olympic gold and silver medalists confirmed for the race.

Olympic champion Marcell Jacobs was the latest entrant into the race after silver medalist Fred Kerley also confirmed participation, in what is expected to be a blockbuster showdown with home boy Omanyala.

“I ran with him (Jacobs) at the Lievin World Indoor Tour where he clocked 6.51 and I clocked 6.57 so it’s not that far off. I believe he is beatable especially at home. There is no fear whatsoever,” Omanyala told Capital Sports.

He added; “It is going to be a tough race and for me, I perform well under pressure. Having both Kerley and Jacobs in is good for the race and good for me.”

“This will be a very fast race and it will be won by 9.6 or 9.7secs. Such a good competitive field is always recipe for fast times. Personally, I want to run equivalent or lower than my PB 9.77secs,” a confident Omanyala further stated.

The 26-year old set his PB, national and African record at last year’s Kip Keino Classic, finishing second in the World Athletics Continental Gold Tour meet behind Trayvon Brommel of the USA who clocked a world lead of 9.76secs, the fastest time ever recorded in Kenya and Africa.

And now, Omanyala is confident that this year’s race will once again provide another spectacle, more so if the weather permits. Last week at the national championships where Omanyala doubled in both the 100m and 200m, he could not post a fast time in the 200m due to the wet track.

While he yearns for a sub-10 performance at the Classic, Omanyala’s three big targets are on the African Championships, World Championships and the Commonwealth Games.

He starts off with the African Championship where he will be going for a triple assault on the 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay.

“My biggest target is the Worlds and Commonwealth Games. These others, including the Diamond League races, will help me prepare well. I want to get to the final and of course when I am there, I can always challenge for a medal. This is my ultimate dream,” he added.

Meanwhile, Omanyala has scoffed off assertions that he might burn out before the Worlds and Commonwealth Games because of competing in too many races. But for him, he says he is quite okay with that.

“The best training is competition and for me, I feel better competing more. When you are competing, you tend to push yourself more than when you do in training and that only makes you better as an athlete. So for me, I feel strong enough to sustain the pressure with all the races that are coming in,” he said.

Omanyala started off his season with the World Indoor Tour before competing at the World Indoor Championship where he finished third in his semi-final heat.

He went on to compete in three races in South Africa before competing at last week’s National Championships.

NAIROBI, Kenya, May 4 – Olympic silver medallist believes that ‘he got a little bit more power’ after competing at the Kip Keino Classic for the first time last year, and he is looking forward to another successful outing in the Kenyan capital at this years event set for Saturday.

Kerley is itching for the blockbuster showdown with the man who denied him gold at the Tokyo Olympic Games, Marcell Jacobs, as well as Kenyan homeboy and African record holder Ferdinand Omanyala.

“I am born ready for competition. I love to compete and that is why I am here to compete with the best. I expect this to be a fast race, and a fun race at the same time,” said the 26-year old, who won silver behind Jacobs in Tokyo.

Kerley made his Kip Keino Classic last year, running a Personal Best time of 19.76secs as he won the 200m. This year, he has stepped down a distance lower and will compete in what is expected to be a thrilling 100m race.

“Last year I came here and ran a Personal Best time and it feels good to be back. It was a wonderful experience. It is a nice stadium and coming back to a place where I set a PB is always welcome for me,” Kerley, who arrived at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on Tuesday night said.

He added; “It is always very special coming back to our roots. Last year after I came back here I felt that I got a little bit more power in me. I believe that we will have more meets in Africa. For me Kenya is the best choice and it is a nice country.”

Meanwhile, apart from Jacobs, he is looking forward to battle with local hero Omanyala, who also set a PB at last year’s Classic, finishing second in the 100m.

“He is a cool kid and running good times. He ran 9.77secs last year so definitely I am looking forward to competing with him,” said Kerley.

The two competed together at the Olympic Games, where Omanyala finished behind him both in the heats and the semi-final.

Meanwhile, Kerley’s big target is the World Championships which will be hosted in his home country and he looks forward to make the most of the home advantage and step up his silvers to gold.

“It would mean a lot to win the Worlds at home. I am damn sure I will turn the silver to gold. I expect a wonderful season but for me is going step by step,” he said.

NAIROBI, Kenya, May 4 – Melissa Akinyi had never been skipper at any level of her basketball career until last year, when she was voted to lead out the Kenyan national women’s football team, Kenya Lionesses, at the Zone Five FIBA Afrobasket qualifiers in Kigali, Rwanda.

“I had never been the captain of anything from primary school, High School, University and even club level. So it was basically a new experience for me. I had never had a role in my life to lead people. I enjoyed it though. We had a good group of ladies and they were good to deal with,” Akinyi said, speaking to Capital Sports.

She picks this as the most memorable moment of her career to date, not because of the weight of the armband, but the results the team posted in Kigali.

The Lionesses qualified for the FIBA Afrobasket, not as the losing finalists as they had always done, but as winners of the Zone Five qualifiers, having beaten Egypt, a team that had been a thorn in their flesh for years.

The Lionesses lost to Egypt when they met in the first round of matches by half a basket, but corrected their mistakes in the deciding duel of the five-nation tournament, winning 99-83.

“At some point in the preliminaries, we led Egypt by more than 25 points but we ended up losing by a point. But it is after this game that we had the belief that we could actually beat them. We went back, watched the videos and corrected our mistakes. In the final, we made things right and lifted the trophy. I was happy to do this as captain,” Akinyi explained.

She added; “I remember I was even joking with one of my teammates that they had really made my CV. I would be saying that we won the Zone Five title with me as captain. It was a good feeling and whenever someone called me captain I would feel nice,” adds Melissa with a cheeky smile on her face.

It was the highlight of her career thus far, especially putting in mind she had been dropped from the team twice before; in 2017 and 2019. In both occasions, she had been part of the qualifiers, but never made it into the final travelling team for the Afrobasket.

While many know her as Melissa, the Equity Hawks shooting guard and the Kenya Lionesses skipper, most are not aware of where her sporting genes emanate.

She is the daughter of former Harambee Stars captain and coach, legendary footballer John Bobby Ogolla, aka The Six Million Dollar Man.

But did her father ever influence her choice of sport?

“There is a time he jokingly asked me, ‘Kiki, why have you never tried football?’. But for me, I was never interested in football. I never liked it. You know I have never seen him play. I was born in 1992 and that is around the time he had stopped playing. I have known him more as a coach and not a player,” Melissa says.

She adds; “I only hear stories about his playing days, read articles and see photos. I hear people calling him names like six million dollar man, Simba, etc,” she further explains.

“He was always there encouraging me in sports and I think it is from him that I got the genes. But honestly it is my mother who has been my biggest supporter all this time,” she explains.

Ogolla, who is now a member of the FKF Caretaker Committee and until recently the head coach of top tier side Kenya Police FC, remembers her daughter’s childhood as a person who had the love for sports from a young age.

“She was a good girl and really loved sports. But I let her choose whatever sport she liked. I look at her decisions and how she turned out, going on to the level of being the national team captain and it makes me proud as a dad. Like father like daughter,” Bobby Ogolla told Capital Sport, accompanied with his signature love.

While she has excelled in basketball, being part of the Equity Hawks team that has won the national title twice, Akinyi says the game was never even her first love and she got into the game ‘by accident.

“My first love was actually athletics. I started running from when I was in primary school. In High School. I just went to try out basketball and to my surprise, I liked it. So that is how I started playing basketball,” says the 28 year old who also played for Strathmore University.

She went on to start featuring for the national team with the Under-18s and has gone on to grow into the seniors, though with a lot of speed bumps and challenges on the way.

With no national team assignments this year, Akinyi has now set her eyes on earning a place in the Kenyan 3by3 basketball team that heads out for the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.

She has already made the preliminary list and she now hopes to work harder and get into the final team.

K’Ogalo had been banned from Sports Kenya-owned facilities since March after their chaos-ridden match against Vihiga Bullets at Kasarani which ended in destruction of property.

But, the club has now secured the venue for Sunday’s match after a series of talks with the government owners of the facility.

“Gor Mahia FC appeals to fans around the country to come out in large numbers and support our team on this particular match,” a statement from Secretary General Sam Ocholla said.

The idea of using the Jomo Kenyatta Stadium was abandoned as the stadium was earlier booked for a different function.

NAIROBI, Kenya, May 5 – Widely regarded as one of the greatest female sprinters of all time, four-time Olympic champion Shelly Anne Fraser-Pryce jetted in to Nairobi on Wednesday night ahead of Saturday’s Kip Keino Classic, visibly excited and delighted on her first ever trip to Kenya.

Fraser-Pryce, who has also won nine World Championship titles could not hide her admiration for Kenya on track as well as off it, and looks forward to rewarding her fans with an amazing performance at the World Athletics Continental Gold Tour meet.

“It feels good to be in Kenya. Last year the Jamaican team was here for the World U20 Championships and it was fantastic. So I am also looking forward to a fantastic race and of course enjoy the Kenyan experience,” an excited and delighted Fraser-Pryce said as she landed at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.

She added; “Well, I know about the Maasai tribe. I heard you guys have 42 different tribes… But so far I am having a fantastic time and the greeting was wonderful. I am looking forward to the Kenyan hospitality.”

“Why not come to Kenya? You guys talk about Kenya as the home of athletics and I wanted to come here and open my season in the 100 and hopefully I will put together a solid race to start off my season.”

“It definitely means a lot coming here especially because I have a lot of Kenyan fans on my facebook page and they are always telling me to come here. As a Jamaican, we are known for sprinting and we definitely want to be in a country that embraces and supports us as athletes.”

Apart from her admiration of the world famous Maasai tribe, Fraser-Pryce says she also admires Kenyan athletes including former multiple Olympic and World steeplechase champion Ezekiel Kemboi.

“I like Kiprop, I also like the steeplechaser (Ezekiel Kemboi). He is my fabourite athlete because of his excitement when he competes in a race. I love the fact that he is always dancing, he is always happy and I think for us athletes it is super tensed every time we step on the track to race so when we are able to cross the line and enjoy the moment it is definitely fulfilling,” says the 35-year old mother of one.

Fraser-Pryce won silver at the Olympic Games in Tokyo in the 100m, and she hopes starting off the season in Kenya will be a perfect bounce as she builds up towards the World Championships where she will be out to add on to her medal count.

The ‘Pocket Rocket’ as most of her adoring fans call her, says she wants to run a fast time and would be delighted if she set a new personal best time in Nairobi, her target being a 10.5secs.

“I am just looking forward to executing a good race and hopefully have some fast times. Well I cant say the exact time but I do know it is going to be a good race and I am really looking forward to it especially since last year a lot of guys came down here at the end of the season and had some fantastic times,”

“So I am hoping to get that Kenyan time where the breeze cooperates and the atmosphere is right and the energy is good so I am looking forward to an amazing race in that 100.”

A showdown is expected with American Sha’Carri Richardson also confirmed for the race as well as the Namibian sprint duo of Beatrice Masilingi and Christine Mboma.

Mboma won silver in the 200m at the Olympic Games before coming to Nairobi where she won the World Junior 200m title.

As much as she expects a tough outing in Nairobi, the 35-year old is choosing to only focus on herself.

“The focus is just on Shelly right now. It is about starting my season well and making sure that I have the right foundation for the World Championship in July.”

“For me being able to race athletes who will bring your A game is very crucial because the only way you can practice what you have been doing in training is when you have good competition. I am just looking forward to having good competition and focusing on just me as an athlete and what I want to accomplish for this season,” she said.

NAIROBI, Kenya, May 5 – He has only competed against him once, but Olympic champion Marcell Jacobs says he can’t wait to run side by side with African record holder and Kenya’s sprint darling Ferdinand Omanyala, when the duo size up at Saturday’s Kip Keino Classic at the Moi Sports Centre Kasarani.

Jacobs competed with Omanyala at the World Indoor Tour meet in Lievin, France, where he beat the Kenyan, but knows it will not be easy especially racing ahainst him in his backyard.

“He is a really good runner and I hope to compete with hm well. We competed against each other during the Indoor Tour and I won but I know he prefers the 100m. I can’t wait to compete with him,” the Italian said.

He added; “He is good and I like that we have this competition. I am looking forward to the race.”

Jacobs who surprised everyone to clinch the Olympic gold in Tokyo will be competing in Africa for the first time, and after arriving in Nairobi on Wednesday night, is already looking to run his fastest time ever.

Apart from the duel with Omanyala, he is expected to face off with the man he edged out for the Olympic gold, American Fred Kerley.

“Of course it will be another re match but we will have several this season. After this, we also have two more races together and I know it is going to be tough. But it is important for me to win this race,” said Jacobs.

Adding; “I am really excited to be here because it is my first time in Africa and I am really excited to compete on the track because I heard it is really good and fast. I am also excited with the athletes competing.”

Meanwhile, the Italian has disclosed that he only switched to the 100m three years ago having been a long jumper.

“I picked up an injury to my knee in 2019 at the European Championships and after that I couldn’t continue with jumps. I had to shift to sprints. Now I am happy with the success I have had,” he explains.

This season, Jacobs wants to win it all, having already started off by winning the World Indoor title.

“After the Olympics and Indoor titles, I also want to win the Outdoor Championships. This season I want to win it all. I am feeling ready and feeling amazing. Now this is a build up to Oregon and I hope to run faster and better,” he added.

He becomes the third high profile international athlete to land for the Classic after Kerley and ‘pocket rocket’ Shelly Anne Fraser-Pryce.

NAIROBI, Kenya, May 6 – AFC Leopards head coach Patrick Aussems believes it is about time they get a win over arch-rivals Gor Mahia as they prepare to face off in the Mashemeji Derby on Sunday.

Ingwe has not beaten K’Ogalo across all competitions since their 1-0 victory in March 2016 and with his side playing well, Aussems remains optimistic they can get a win.

“It is always a good time to win a game whether Gor Mahia or any other team I do not care but I know this is a special match for most people. I hope the stadium is full but I think it is the right moment for us to have a good game against Gor Mahia,” the tactician stated.

The last Derby between these two sides ended in a 1-0 victory for Gor in October last year, while the three previous meetings ended in 0-0 draws.

Aussems is confident his team has been playing well, having lost only once in their last 13 matches and he says they have the ability to finally break the jinx against K’Ogalo, who have been blowing hot and cold this season.

“A derby is always a big game and we will be ready psychologically and physically,” said Aussems, who has previously been in charge of a hot East African derby between Simba and Yanga, when he coached Wekundu wa Msimbazi.

Meanwhile, the tactician says he will have to do without defender Kaycie Odhiambo who has been ruled out for a maximum seven months with a serious knee injury.

Odhiambo, who had been a backbone of Ingwe’s backline all season picked up the injury in the victory over Wazito FC and is most likely to be out for the rest of the year.

“Kaycie needs to undergo surgery in the next six to seven weeks on his knee and after that he will be out for up to seven months. It is such a shame because he was playing very well,” said the tactician.

But despite the budding defender’s absence, he is still sure he has a good squad to take the team through a Derby Day victory.

The coach was also full of praise for Peter Thiong’o who has been playing as a right back for most of the second leg. Thiong’o arrived at AFC from Kakamega Homeboyz as a hotshot winger who could also play as a number 10, but has slowly found a new niche as a defender.

“Thiong’o is not a winger. Thiong’o is not a striker. The defense is his position. When he has space ahead of him he makes a good performance. Defensively he has been superb and offensively he is always giving trouble,” said the coach.

He added; “Sometimes a player can make a new career even if they started as strikers. They can become defenders and make something good,” said the tactician.

NAIROBI, Kenya, May 5 – Conseslus Kipruto sat back at his home in the Kenyan Rift Valley and painfully watched as Moroccan Soufiane El Bakkali won the Olympic Gold medal in Tokyo, dethroning him from the title he had won five years back in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Conseslus was not in Tokyo to defend his throne, but was at home, battling the physical and mental battle of returning from injury.

Just a few weeks back at the Kenyan trials for the Olympic Games, Conseslus had hobbled off after just four laps, clearly struggling to sustain the tempo and return to action after an injury that plagued him ever since he won the world title in Doha in 2019.

“That was the most painful and difficult thing for me watching at home. I was the defending champion and that made it even more painful because I was not there to defend my title and fight for my country,” Conseslus says, reminiscing his emotion from that painful race where Kenya lost the steeplechase Olympic title for the first time in slightly over four decades.

Adds the steeplechase king; “This event is ours as a country and watching us lose it in Tokyo was not easy. This is something that motivates me to come back and in my mind, I want to make sure that I defend my title in Oregon and we bring the glory back. I still have hope we can do it.”

Conseslus has struggled with injury and even before the 2019 World Athletics Championship in Doha, he had to put up a home-built swimming pool to aid his recovery from injury.

He went on to clinch the title in one of the most sensational finishes in a steeplechase race, but since, then he has struggled to remain on top with injury.

Speaking to Capital Sports, Kipruto says it has been a tough mental and physical journey.

“It has been very difficult. As an athlete, to try and compete again after training is so hard. The mentality to race after a long time is not easy to achieve. I have been struggling from training and I push myself so much,”

“Sometimes I get lost in my mind during training and when it comes to racing I start well but drop off after two or three laps. It has been difficult to break that barrier mentally,” he added.

The 27-year old has however said he has battled the journey of recovery and is now ready to bounce back to the top. He says he has received a lot of support during his time of struggling and now wants to repay the faith shown in him by his coaches, training partners and friends, with winning titles.

“My training partner Abraham Kibiwott, my coach, my manager, Athletics Kenya and so many other people have tried to push me to come back stronger and I want to thank them. They are always there to encourage me and tell me to push even when I don’t have the mentality to train. They are always encouraging me to keep working,” said Conseslus.

He completed his first race in almost three years when he competed at the National Championships last week, where he requested to run in the final to gauge his recovery. He finished in fifth spot, in a race won by his training partner Kibiwott, but the most important thing for him was that he finished.

“I just wanted to finish the race and show my mind that I can do it. I also wanted to show Kenya and the world that I am back and it was really good for me to finish the race. I know I am not in good shape, but by July when I go to the World Championships to defend my title, I know my body will be okay,” he added.

He is also planning on running a good race at Saturday’s Kip Keino Classic, a leg of the World Athletics Continental Gold Tour. After the Classic, he will head out to Doha for the season-opening Diamond League where he also hopes to run a good race.

“The Kip Keino Classic will be a good opportunity for me to race. The more races I get the more motivation I get to continue in my comeback. For me it doesn’t matter how I will race or what position I finish. I just want to get that mentality back and keep improving,”

“After this I want to go to Doha where my target is to run under eight minutes,” further says Conseslus.

The Slum Boys had indicated they would not be honoring the match after initially missing out the games against Bandari FC and Ulinzi Stars last weekend due to tough financial times.

According to the Football Kenya Federation rule book, a team is relegated if they fail to honour three matches in a single season. They are the second team in the new Kenyan Premier League era to suffer this predicament after Chemelil was also relegated for the same reasons in the 2019-20 season.

-More to follow

NAIROBI, Kenya, May 7 – A star studded field is expected in the third edition of the Kip Keino Classic at the Moi Sports Centre Kasarani on Saturday, a leg of the World Athletics Continental Gold Tour meets.

On Friday, organizers announced that entrance to the one-day event will be free of charge, scrapping the earlier Sh200 entrance fee.

“We expect very good numbers on Saturday because Kenyans love athletics and they will be at Kasarani. Those who had earlier bought tickets will be refunded and we urge people to come out in large numbers and cheer our stars,” said Meet Director, Barnaba Korir.

Capita Sports gives you a low down on what you need to know about the Kip Keino Classic.

What time does it start?

The event starts at 12:35pm with the men’s Javelin throw and will end at 6pm, with the men’s 100m.

How many events are there?

There are three categories of events; the core, national and discretionary events. The core events will count towards the Continental Gold Tour points.

The Core events are; men and women’s hammer throw, women’s high jump, men and women’s 100m, men and women’s 3,000m steeplechase, men and women’s 200m.

The national events are; men’s 10,000m, men and women’s 400m hurdles and men’s 400m

The discretionary events are; men’s javelin throw, men and women’s 5,000m, women’s 400m, men and women’s 800m, men and women’s 1500m.

What is the prize money?

According to World Athletics regulations, there is a total prize purse of 25,000USD.

All the top eight finishers have an assured prize purse. Winners get 5,000 USD, 3,000 USD for the second placed team, 2,000 USD for third, 1400 USD for fourth, 1200 USD for fifth, 1,000 USD for sixth, 800 USD for seventh and 600 USD for eighth.

Sponsors Absa have added 500USD for each winner.

Athletics Kenya will then choose six events where the top eight will also be awarded, but on a lower scale. Winners of these events get 3,500 USD, second 2,000 USD, third 1400 USD, fourth 1,000 USD, fifth 800 USD, sixth 600 USD, seventh 400 USD and eighth 300 USD.

Who are the stars of the event?

All eyes will definitely be on the 100m which has star studded fields in both the men’s and women’s races.

In the men’s race, there will be three Olympic medallists; Olympic champion marcel Jacobs of Italy, silver medallist Fred Kerley of the USA and 200m silver medallist Kenny Bednarek of the USA.

They will come up against Kenyan homeboy and crowd favourite Ferdinand Omanyala.

The women’s race will have the pocket rocket, three time Olympic champion Shelly Anne Fraser-Pryce, 200m Olympic silver medallist and World U-20 champion Christine Mboma of Namibia and Kenyan record holder Maximilla Imali.

In the men and women’s Hammer Throw, the field is loaded with Olympic medalists.

Olympic champion Anita Wlodarczyk will be the girl to watch in the women’s event while American Kassanavoid Janee will also be one to watch, having thrown a season’s best of 73.76, which is further than Anita’s Olympic winning distance.

In the men’s Hammer throw, Olympic champion Wojciech Nowicki is the man to watch, returning to Nairobi after also winning last year’s event. Pawel Fajdek, bronze medal winner from the Olympic Games also returns to Nairobi.

Ukranian Mykhaylo Kokhan who was fourth at the Olympic Games also makes the line up for Nairobi’s event.

Other stars who will be at the event include 2016 Olympic champion and reigning world champion in the steeplechase Conseslus Kipruto as well as Tokyo bronze medalist Benjamin Kigen, Kenyan-turned American Paul Chelimo who will compete in the 800m, Ugandan Olympic champion Peruth Chemutai who competes in the women’s steeplechase, world champion Halima Nakaayi who will compete in the women’s 800m among others.