NAIROBI, April 12- Dismas Indiza Anyonyi continues to be the highest placed Kenyan in the field after a 70 saw him climb into a share of tenth with the Barclays Kenya Open title seemingly out of reach for a 21st year as Brandon Stone climbed to the overall lead on Saturday.

One South African replaced another at the summit of the European Challenge Tour season’s opener at Karen Country Club when Stone fired a five under par 67 to move to 14 under for the tournament heading to the last day Sunday.

He holds the narrowest advantage over compatriot, and overnight leader, Haydn Porteous, who showed great character in bouncing back from three consecutive bogeys to start his round on Saturday, to eventually sign for a level par 72.

Dutchman Daan Huizing and Sam Walker are in a tie for third, two strokes behind Stone, while the latter’s fellow Englishman, George Woolgar, and first round leader José-Felipe Lima of Portugal are also within striking distance at 11 under.

In his third season as a professional, the 21 year old Stone admits to feeling much more settled into life in the paid ranks, and it showed on day three.

“That is the best round I have played in the last 18 months,” said Stone, who finished in a tie for tenth on his professional debut at the 2013 BMW International Open won by fellow South African Ernie Els. “I got off to a terrible start today, bogeying the first, but thankfully I managed to make a few birdies on the way in.

The former amateur star started the season wanting to build on those results and take every advantage of his Challenge Tour opportunities, and what finer way to start the campaign for Stone than another South African win in Kenya.

“I’m going to work really hard and do what I can to make sure I can get one of those 15 European Tour cards at the end of the year. Now, though, I just want to focus on getting in the right mind set, stay nice and relaxed, and shoot the lowest score possible tomorrow.

With South African’s enjoying the Kenyan sun, local heroes once again flattered to deceive as Indiza, who was 13th overall last year firing one under after two successive days of 3 under 69 in his first 36 holes.

Brian Njoroge who followed him on the domestic front fired a 2 over 74 to drop seven places down the grid on par for the tournament propped by countryman Matthew Omondi, the third Kenyan who made the cut who had a abysmal day at the course when he shot an eight over for the day for six over for the Open on 222 after 54 holes.

 -Material from Europetour.com used for this report

MILAN, April 12- Jose Mauri struck on the hour mark as crisis-hit Parma stunned Juventus 1-0 to hand the champions only their second defeat of the Serie A season, while Cagliari’s relegation woes deepened with a 2-0 defeat at Genoa.

Days before hosting Monaco in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final, Juventus coach Massimiliano Allegri rested a number of regulars for the trip to a packed out Enrico Tardini stadium.

Goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, striker Carlos Tevez and defender Andrea Barzagli were all left on the bench ahead of Tuesday’s last eight clash in Turin, although it was a decision Allegri could go on to regret.

As well as not being paid all season and entering administration last month after being declared bankrupt, Parma had also only taken two points from their last seven league outings against the Turin giants.

But Roberto Donadoni’s men were impervious to their recent setbacks, and historical statistics, as they set about defying the defending champions in a bid to show their relegation fight is far from over.

Juventus spurned several half chances in a balanced opening half and had little response in the second after Ishak Belfodil cut back from the byeline for Mauri to fire past a flailing Marco Storari and into the top of the net.

Juve’s only other defeat was away to Genoa at the start of the season. Although their second reverse is unlikely to stop their charge towards a fourth consecutive scudetto, it could give faint hope to Roma, who sit second at 14 points before their trip to Torino on Sunday.

Former AC Milan midfielder Donadoni has endured an emotional rollercoaster as coach of stricken Parma this season.

And although the ‘Duchy Men’ face a huge battle to beat the drop — Parma are 10 points from safety at the bottom of the table — no one could deny the 51-year-old coach a deserved victory punch at full-time.

“The lads showed great pride tonight,” Donadoni told Mediaset. “We might be last in the table but after everything that’s happened the squad has shown that they can rise above it.”

Allegri admitted to Jtv that Juve had “made too many errors” in the second half and added: “We need points to secure this championship and it’s not been won yet. But we’re calm and now our focus is on Monaco.”

Asked about Tuesday’s fixture, Allegri added: “It’s a quarter-final that will be decided over 180 minutes like all the other last eight ties. No anxiety or euphoria. Everyone says we’re favourites but football games are decided on the pitch.”

At Genoa, M’Baye Niang continued his revival following his January loan move from AC Milan by breaking the deadlock minutes at the Luigi Ferraris stadium, with Iago Falque sealing the points with Genoa’s second goal minutes later.

Niang had headed just over post and bar early on, while Paul-Jose M’Poku came close to a stunning opener for the visitors when he curled a drive over ‘keeper Eugenio Lamanna only to see his effort come off the bar.

Niang broke the deadlock minutes after the restart, doing well to lose his marker in the box before tapping Sebastian Roncaglio’s delivery past Lamanna to claim his fourth goal for his new side.

Elsewhere, Inter Milan returned to winning ways in style, building on Mauro Icardi’s fortuitous opener on 11 minutes to beat hosts Verona 3-0 thanks to a Rodrigo Palacio strike on 48 minutes and an own goal from Vangelis Moras in added-on time after Inter ‘keeper Samir Handanovic saved a Luca Toni spot kick.

Inter had been winless since the end of February and their first win in six league games has given faint hope to their push for a place in the Europa League next season.

Roberto Mancini’s men remain in 10th place, six points behind fifth-placed Sampdoria ahead of their trip to AC Milan on Sunday.

PARIS, April 12- Mark Korir of Kenya won the Paris Marathon on Sunday, his first career victory in a prestigious international race.

Korir, 30, who was second in last month’s Paris Half-Marathon, came home in a time of 2hr 05min 46sec, ahead of another Kenyan, Luka Kanda.

Seboka Tola of Ethiopia was third, with yet another Kenyan, Mike Kigen, fourth.

Kigen made the decisive breakaway 10km from home but he was reeled in by Korir, who set off in pursuit and caught him up 5km out before streaking away to leave Kigen trailing in behind the first three in the Bois de Boulogne.

Korir is the fifth winner to run under 2hr 06min in the French capital.

Ethiopia’s Kenenisa Bekele set the race record of 2:05:04 last year, beating the 2:05:10 run by Kenya’s Stanley Biwott in 2012.

Kenyans Peter (2:05.37 in 2013) and Vincent Kipruto (2:05:47 in 2009), have also broken the 2:06 barrier.

NAIROBI, April 12- Eternal rivals AFC Leopards and away side champions Gor Mahia shared a gripping 1-1 draw in the first Kenyan Premier League (KPL) Mashemeji Derby of the season at a packed Nairobi’s Nyayo Stadium on Sunday.

Gor, who saw their perfect start to the season checked by wounded Leopards will have to wait longer to claim local bragging rights as their former coach, Zradvko Logarusic extended his unbeaten run in the biggest match in Kenyan football.

Logarusic who paraded a strong squad to face his former side rallied from a goal down in the first half netted by Ali Abondo to force a share of the points after Jacob Keli tapped in the equaliser in the second half.

“We had a number of chances on both halves they did likewise but they tried to get us on the breakaway because they have speedy forwards.

“We were denied penalty in the second half when Meddie Kagere was brought down so I felt we could be 2-1 up but I’m proud with the boys.

“It was never going to be easy being a derby, I know many were expecting us to win going by our good start but Leopards are also a good side,” Gor head coach Frank Nuttall who led his side for the first time in the fierce clash declared.

Logarusic on the other hand was content with the point that leaves them trailing Gor by four points with the champions leading the KPL standings on 13, one above Western Stima although they have a game in hand.

“Today’s match showed Kenya doesn’t deserve to lag behind in the Fifa rankings going by the talent we have seen. We should even be in top ten in Africa and that means together with other local coaches we are trying to improve Kenyan football. The game could have gone either way and a draw isn’t bad.

“I made some tactical change in the second half which really improved our play because I realized we must bring in experience in the middle since. We created a lot of space for Gor in the first half especially when Abondo scored. It’s a good result considering Gor are in better shape but we are rising slowly and for me sky is the limit,” the Croat whose rallied the squad to overcome resent unrest over non-payment explained.

-Peace prevails-

In a departure from past encounters marred by hooliganism, the match ended peacefully despited being stopped for less than three minutes in the 66th when a section of Leopards fans from the famous ‘Russia’ stands threw objects to assistant referee Rafael Nduati.

Veteran centre referee Nasur Doka continued play after the situation was contained in a match that had pomp, flair and the usual fervent support from both sides, with socialite Vera Sidika spicing up the action when she was unveiled as an Ingwelet, the diva supporters of Leopards.

The hosts who entered the match from a 1-1 draw with Thika United, reinstated first choice keeper Wycliffe Kasaya in goal while Keli who also missed last weekend clash started up front.

The hosts started strongly with Gor keeper Boniface Oluoch called into action at least thrice by the hard working Burundian Emmanuel Ngama forcing him to his best stop when he got to the end on Fredrick Ndaaka’s low cross.

K’Ogalo gradually took control of the game, as Ingwe skipper Jackson Saleh nearly turned the ball into his own net twice following right-back Abouba Sibomana’s hard shot and Kagere’s effort.

The Green Army was brought to life by Abondo’s 34th opener when the former Tusker FC attacking midfielder picked Khalid Aucho’s pass that Michael Olunga dummied to place it well to the far corner for his fifth goal of the season.

Five minutes after the break, Austin Ikenna beat Sibomana from the right as his low cross was met by unmarked Ngama who saw his shot tipped away by Oluoch, but the custodian could not stop Keli who smashed home to level matters and resurrect Ingwe faithful who were silenced for over 20 minutes.

Ikenna’s plea for a penalty on Shakava’s handball was not granted as Oluoch denied Ngama while on the other end Kasaya contained Kagere, Okoth and Abondo efforts as Leopards managed to hold on to see Gor drop points for the first time in the season.

In other KPL action on Sunday at Nakuru’s Afraha Stadium, veteran forward John Baraza grabbed a brace to help GOtv Shield champions Sofapaka end their four match winless run after thumping Nakuru All Stars 3-1.

Boniface Akenga netted the consolation in the match where Collins Shivachi opened the scoring for Batoto Ba Mungu.

NAIROBI, April 12- Haydn Porteous carded a dramatic eagle two at the first extra hole to edge out compatriot and friend Brandon Stone en route to his first professional title at the Barclays Kenya Open.

It was another underwhelming year for Kenyans with Dismas Indiza summing up the dismal showing by firing a 75 that saw him drop from the top ten at the start of the day to shared 28th with five under 283 for the tournament.

His prize takings were 1,620 euros (Sh 159,620.73) with compatriots Brian Njoroge (2 over 290) and Matthew Omondi (9 over 297) ranked 59th and joint 63rd on the final leader board with only three local golfers qualifying for the final two days of action at Karen.

In the end, the tournament that has provided the launch pad to three past champions to the first Major of the season, The Masters that was being played concurrently at Augusta namely; the late Seve Ballesteros, Trevor Immelman and Ian Woosnam became an internal South African contest as Porteous and Stone outclassed the rest of the field to force extra holes.

The 20 year-old from Johannesburg hit a sublime three wood from the tee to seven feet at the par four 12th in the first hole of sudden death after signing for a closing 68 at Karen Country Club to pull alongside Stone at 17 under par, having trailed by one overnight.

Porteous who took charge of the leader board going into Day 3 before being supplanted by Stone on Saturday took home € 32,000 (Sh 3,153.001.99) for his win as the overnight principal bagged € 22,000 (Sh 2,167,688.87) after losing the shootout.

-Strong start-

Porteous made a strong start with two birdies before further gains followed at the fifth, 12th and 13th to cover dropped shots at the sixth and 14th.

As for Stone, who made six birdies of his own on Sunday to card a 69, the turning point came when he racked up a double bogey at the par four 13th.

That allowed Porteous back into contention, and when the pair both birdied the par five 18th, extra holes were required to decide a victor.

The triumph fulfils the promise Porteous showed as an amateur, while it also earns him a first full season of Challenge Tour action.

“It hasn’t sunk in just yet, but I am sure when I wake up tomorrow morning I will know exactly what I’ve done,” said Porteous, who was ranked the best amateur in South Africa before joining the paid ranks.

“It was nerve-wracking out there today and certainly not boring. Brandon was two shots ahead, then I was two shots ahead, then we were even down the last and ended up both making clutch putts for birdie before the play-off. Then it was a once in a lifetime eagle,” he added.

His next target is to have a season that will land him a European Tour card having aced the first European Challenge Tour event of the campaign.

The South African pair may have taken much of the attention on the final day in Kenya, but there was plenty of exemplary play elsewhere in the closing 18 holes, not least from George Woolgar who signed for a 67 to finish one stroke back in third – the best performance of the Englishman’s career so far.

Another Englishman, Sam Walker, was another shot back in fourth after the three-time Challenge Tour winner posted a 69 to close.

-Material from europetour.com used for this report

MACHAKOS, April 13- The finals of the Milo 2015 Primary School Ball Games and gymnastics kicked off Monday in Machakos.

The three-day event will culminate Wednesday at the Machakos Teacher’s Training College and Machakos Academy venues.

In the opening football boys’ match, defending champions Lake Region (Nyanza) beat from Northern (Garissa) 3-0 with standard seven Nyamerako Primary pupil Clinton Nyakwebe notching his brace as Tobias Ooko of Lianda Primary netted the third.

Nzoia region (Western) beat Aberdare (Central) 3-0 in an enthralling encounter reminiscence of last year’s semi between the two in the boy’s category.

In another Pool B boys match, beaten finalists Metropolitan hammered Highland (Eastern Province) 6-1.

John Chul opened the scoring before Steve Kagai from Moi Avenue Primary sunk a brace for the next couple of goals to give the winners a 3-0 first half lead.

Paul Maina, Erick Sifa and David Jumange got into the goal hunt after the breather to seal the rout with Emmanuel Apem registering the scant consolation for the hapless Highland.

Titleholders Lake Region football girls beat Aberdares by 2-0 to start their defence emphatically with the other match in the category between Mau and Highland ending in a barren stalemate.

In Handball Metropolitan beat Mau 16-14 in the girls as Nzoia handed Aberdares a 24-5 whipping as Mau edged out Coast 24-21 in the corresponding boys’ category.

Defending boys’ volleyball champions, Mau silenced Northern 3-0 with Nzoia handing Metropolitian a similar beating in Pool A of the tournament.

In a repeat of last year’s decider in boys’ Netball, champions Lake outclassed Aberdares 32-5 with Nzoia prevailing over Highland 18-3.

NAIROBI, April 13- Athletics Kenya (AK) suspended Rosa Associati and Volare Sports for six months pending investigations into doping dealing a potential blow to the careers of famous elite athletes under the Italian and Dutch stables on Monday.

The national federation accused the two firms of being responsible for the surge in doping cases in the country that has seen 36 runners test positive, including the high profile bust of star female runner; thrice Boston and twice Chicago marathon champion, Rita Jeptoo of Rosa who was banned for two years in January for EPO use.

“There have been a lot of reports relating to doping in Kenya and a lot of fingers pointed at people, agents, doctors and pharmacists. We know it’s an intricate issue and critical matter and we want to deal with it.

“In the mean time as a federation, we have decided to suspend two agents in the time being so that investigations can be carried out and when the results are out we will decide whether they come back.

“The two we are going to mention manage the highest number of elite athletes. We will therefore, working with the IAAF and meet promoters of the Diamond League and so forth to agree on the modalities of how we will manage these athletes so that they do not miss competition.

“This suspension or the Kenyan way now of stepping aside will be for a period of six months; the two that we have today (Monday) decided that let us put them aside are Rosa and Associates and Gerard van der Veen,” Kiplagat told the press in Nairobi.

He added Dutchman Van der Veen has cases in his camp he could not reveal at since they would compromise the investigations with a committee to investigate them that will involve the newly created Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya and Criminal Investigations Departement that deals with organised crime involved.

The stable handles mainly marathon running studs including record holder, Dennis Kimetto, his predecessor and two-time London champion, Wilson Kipsang as well as two-time Boston and New York winner, Geoffrey Mutai.

Rosa who led by Dr. Gabrielle Rosa and his son Federico; closed their female marathon training camp in Kapsabet recently over doping allegations subjecting all athletes in their camp to dope testing at Eldoret Hospital.

Speaking to Capital Sport, two-time reigning world champion, Asbel Kiprop who is a high profile client of Rosa said the decision to leave them without a manager had the potential of wrecking their season.

“The wind of low athletes that are doping has now affected even those of us at the top that are clean and train hard to win. I have never used drugs and this will affect the sport itself.

“We don’t what to do now since we don’t have a manager. They should punish those involved individually. We need our manager to stay in Europe during Diamond League races in Italy for example, now we don’t know what to do,” Kiprop, who is training for the IAAF Diamond League opener in Doha, said.

The 2011 and 13 world champion over 1500m who is bidding for a third in Beijing later this summer is due to report to camp with the Kenya team for the Bahamas World Relays Tuesday having made the medley squad following Friday’s Trials in Nairobi.

“One thing is the managers will not be affected. Rosa will stay in Italy and Gerard in Netherlands. It is we who will suffer. Our managers give us space to focus on training and looking for another at this stage of the season will not be easy,” he added.

-Mutwiri Mutuota and Alex Isaboke

NAIROBI, April 13 – Long serving Athletics Kenya (AK) president, Isaiah Kiplagat has stepped down for three months to campaign for the IAAF Vice-President post when the world governing body holds its next congress just before the start of the August summer World Championships in Beijing, China.

Kiplagat who has been at the helm of the most successful federation in the country for over two decades announced on Monday he will end his uninterrupted 23-year tenure as the national federation boss if he gets elected to the IAAF post.

Consequently, AK’s Executive Committee appointed Vice-President in charge of Youth Development Lt. Gen (Rtd) Jackson Tuwei as acting president effective May 1 when Kiplagat will leave office.

“You know I’m a candidate for first Vice-President of IAAF and for that matter I need time to reflect on that and to see the way forward. I have to submit for my manifesto which I’m working on and for that I have been allowed by the Executive Committee to take three months leave from 1st May after our AGM on 30th of this month.

“If I succeed; then those acting will be confirmed but even if I don’t I’m sure they will be confirmed because It may not be necessary for me to come back anyway. So in any case I remain a member of the council of IAAF I will still be an Executive Member of AK,” Kiplagat who was elected in the office for the first time in 1992 to succeed Mike Boit declared.

He added, “From now you will not see me here (Riadha House), if you see me I will be transacting business relating to my campaign and or matters concerning IAAF.”

“The Executive Committee endorsed the candidature of Mr. Kiplagat and also made adjustments to the Executive Committee composition owing to the absence of the President Mr. Isaiah Kiplagat. In line with the AK constitution 2013 the following will now hold office in an acting capacity starting 1^st May 2015,” communication from the federation said in a statement.

Paul Mutwii was appointed Senior Deputy President while vice president in charge of administration, David Okeyo and Fatuma Hawale who is the head of corporate affairs and communication retained their roles.

Lawyer Genaro Kibet from South Rift was promoted as an acting vice-president with Dennis Kimetto as a co-opted as a Committee Member.

Kiplagat will face main opposition from United Arab Emirates Athletics president, Ahmad al Kamali among others .

INTERIM AK OFFICE

1.     President – Lt. Gen (Rtd) Jackson Tuwei

2.     Senior Vice President – Paul Mutwii

3.     Vice President – David Okeyo

4.     Vice President – Fatma Awale

5.     Vice President – Jinaro Kibet

6.     Member – Dennis Kimetto

NAIROBI, April 13 – Reputed Kenyan coach, Charles Ng’eno who unearthed among others two-time World Cross and World Junior champion, Faith Chepng’etich has been banned for life by Athletics Kenya (AK) on suspicion of amorous behaviour with his charges.

Announcing the development on Monday, AK President Isaiah Kiplagat also ordered the closure of his Nakuru based Keringet Camp for what he termed ‘manipulating of athletes’ although reports close to investigations cited him on claims of forcing mostly female junior athletes into improper sexual relations.

“It has become very clear that the manager (Ng’eno) has been manipulating the athletes particularly girls, we sent a team there and they came with the report which we are going to table very soon.

“As you know (Mercy) Chebwogen is no longer running we are yet to know what happened. Chepng’etich (Faith) was only discovered she was injured when she reported camp in Embu which we had not been told by the manager,” Kiplagat announced.

However, speaking to Capital Sport, an agitated coach Ng’eno whose latest find is World Youth champion Rosefeline Chepng’etich, blamed his woes on a rival who had fabricated the startling claims including the serious charge of impregnated one of his junior female athletes that is punishable under law to bring him down saying he would come to AK headquarters on Wednesday for clarification.

“This matter is political. The allegations on the specified athlete are not true. I closed the camp in December because the athletes were over 18 and I released them. I’m now managing them from the outside.

“There is someone in the federation who is fighting me. He told the federation about the claims and they visited the camp and found the father (of the said athlete) who told AK he would investigate the matter and give a report later on.

“I’m coming to the federation on Wednesday with the father and the athlete to find out from AK on the said allegations. I need evidence and so far, I have ignored the matter since it has no value. If it goes on, I will go to court,” Nge’no said.

The AK boss further stated the federation was working with Ministry of Education to relocate affected athletes to school as they seek a suitable coach to manage them with immediate effect.

“They live in very pathetic conditions so we have ordered the camp to be closed indefinitely and the coach banned immediately. We have made arrangements for the girls to be moved back to school and appoint another coach for the time being.

“We will appoint an individual who will handle athletes ensuring they don’t miss any competition including the Diamond League and other IAAF competitions,” the AK chief added.

- Changed citizenship-

AK will also form a committee to investigate Nairobi’s Riruta Secondary School coach, Gregory Kilonzo who is accused of aiding the flight of young students to Gulf nations of Bahrain and Qatar.

“It is true one of my athletes changed citizenship to Qatar but I had nothing to do with it. He and his friend met the Qataris and he moved there on his own. He even got one of his friends and AK have been to the school to investigate and we gave them all the information they needed,” Kilonzo who was the national team head coach for the Africa Youth Championships in Mauritius this January told Capital Sport from Nakuru.

With the number of young Kenyan athletes changing their nationality including reigning 3000m steeplechase world junior champion Ruth Jebet who now runs for Bahrain, Kiplagat send a tough warning to managers who practice the change of citizenship illegally.

“There has been a lot of human trafficking with our young athletes moving to countries like Bahrain, Turkey and now Russia. A committee is going to be unveiled to look into the issue because IAAF has instructed us (AK) to profile athletes who purport to be citizens of those countries but still live in Kenya.

“Changing nationality is not an issue our worry is manipulation of young athletes aged below 17, IAAF has taken note and they are very serious on this issue,” Kiplagat underscored.

NAIROBI, April 14- Olympics 2008 Asbel Kiprop is keen on moving a step closer to his idol, retired Moroccan legend, Hicham El Guerrouj by holding on to his world men 1500m title in Beijing this summer to complete his hat-trick.

Kiprop’s preparations for a bid for a third straight Metric Mile crown following his victories at the 2011 and 13 editions of the biennial IAAF track and field signature events in Daegu and Moscow were thrown to a spin on Monday when Athletics Kenya (AK) suspended his Rosa Associati management for six months.

Despite the setback, Kiprop who started training in earnest in December travelled to Nairobi on Tuesday to join his teammates for the IAAF Bahamas World Relays where he will feature in the medley.

Should he hold on to his crown at the iconic Bird’s Nest the lanky 25 year-old will equal retired Algerian great, Noureddine Morceli and move one closer to all time record winner El Guerrouj on four.

The Kenya Police athlete intends to use the second edition of the World Relays as part of his speed work training ahead of the international circuit where he will start at the opening IAAF Diamond League meeting in Doha.

“My first priority is winning the world title for a third time in a row. I will be so proud if I achieve it. Running in Relays is part of training and gauging my speed work and that’s why I prefer to take 800m in the medley relay.

“After Bahamas I will run few Diamond League (DL) races before focusing on National Trials,” Kiprop who ran the second leg of 800m of the men medley final at the AK National Trials held at Kasarani Stadium asserted.

The Beijing National Stadium evokes bitter-sweet memories for Kiprop who was beaten to the finish by convicted drug cheat, Rashid Ramzi at 2008 Olympics final before he was awarded the medal three years later in Nairobi after the Bahraini tested positive for doping.

“I believe this is my time to get honours in Beijing that were taken away at Olympics. The last one month before the event I will train very hard to make sure I’m ready, if I win it for a third time it will take time before another Kenyan repeats my performance,” the only male Kenyan athlete to own the Metric Mile world title stated.

Rosa Associati and Volare Sports were banned for six months by the national federation to facilitate investigations on doping violations in what Kiprop said would only serve to punish majority of elite athletes who run clean for the mistakes of a few.

Kiprop and the rest of Rosa camp are waiting for the federation to provide them with a new manager in the interim to ensure their season is not disrupted besides carrying the doping stigma in a country reeling from a spike in drug cheating.

-Kwemoi threat-

World junior 1500m record holder, Ronald Kwemoi however, is ready to give his more illustrious compatriot a run for his money as he seeks to mark his graduation to senior ranks emphatically.

“I’m preparing for World Championships where I intend to carry on my junior good performance if I make to the team because I have grown enough to compete in seniors.

“I will run in two DL races so that I can give myself ample time to prepare for Beijing,” Japan based Kwemoi who will team up with Kiprop in Bahamas relays declared.

Kiprop who anchored Kenya’s quartet team of Daegu World Championships silver medallist, Silas Kiplagat, Commonwealth title holder, James Magut and Collins Cheboi to the 4x1500m world record returns to Bahamas to compete in the newly introduced medley.

The medley relay that replaced 4x1500m for both men and women, is made up of a 1200m leg (three laps); 400m (one lap); 800m (two laps) and a 1600 m (four laps) in that order.

Abednego Chesebe and Nicholas Bett will team up with Kiprop and Kwemoi as Kenya seeks to win first gold in the newly introduced category.

The team 30 athletes who will represent the country in the biannual event reported to residential training camp at Kasarani Stadium on Monday under the tutelage of seasoned coach Sammy Rono.

NAIROBI, April 14 – Champions Gor Mahia head coach Frank Nuttall is confident his charges will remain unbeaten against struggling City Stars at Nairobi City Stadium when the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) resumes on Wednesday with seven matches on the card.

K’Ogalo who dropped their first points of the season after bitter rivals, AFC Leopards frustrated them to a 1-1 draw in Sunday’s Mashemeji Derby, will be looking to stretching their lead at the summit to four points should closest challengers, Western Stima lose at Sony Sugar.

“It’s a good start of the season; our focus is on City Stars as we try to continue with our impressive form. The boys gave their best against hard fighting Leopards and we were unlucky not to come out with maximum points,” Nuttall noted.

Gor enter the match as favourites against a City side yet to beat the champions in four years and Nuttall, who has a full house except Liberian center back, Dikir Glay whose work permit issue is yet to be addressed, likely to field a robust starting line-up.

However, their opponents who were recalled to the top tier league following the Football Kenyan Federation and KPL standoff over promotion might find a turning point against the giants and for a stunning first win of the season.

Playing away yet at home, K’Ogalo will bank on their speedy and creative front line led by Rwandan Meddie Kagere and Michael Olunga with the able support club’s top scorer Ali Abondo, Khalid Aucho and Collins Okoth in mid field.

“We cannot change the results of previous games and we cannot let it affect our psyche for the next. We wanted to win the derby but it was not to be, now we must work towards winning against City Stars and maintain our lead,” Abondo who scored against Leopards declared.

Despite having a match in hand, Gor cannot afford to drop more points since Western Stima are breathing hard on their necks.

-Leopards hunt-

After ending Gor’s perfect run, Leopards will be out to hunt  maximum points for their first win in three matches when they face unpredictable KCB in the second match of the double header at Nairobi’s Nyayo National Stadium.

Ingwe head coach Zdravko Logarusic declared the stalemate against his former side as a route back to the top after stuttering start to the season that has seen them seventh on nine points, four behind Gor.

But with Leopards club assistant secretary general, Professor Asava Kadima confirming to Capital Sport management has paid the technical bench and playing unit January and February salaries, this might motivate the players further to raid KCB’s vault for maximum points.

“The players are pumped up since we have paid them some of the balances and we only remain with partly February and March. We could not clear all the debt because the Sh3.6m collected from the derby cannot settle over Sh2.4m wage bill,” Kadima told.

Logarusic who is yet to find his winning team might retain the squad that did duty against Gor although unused substitutes skipper Martin Imbalambala, and towering defender Joseph Shikokoti might return to solidify the back line and stop the Bankers lethal forwards, Benjamin Chaka, Raymond Murugi and Crispinus Onyango.

Leopards who failed to beat the bankers last season have a slim head to head record advantage after winning four and drawing five in their 12 meetings.

In Machakos, Sofapaka will seek a back to back win when they entertain tricky Chemelil Sugar at their backyard for the first time this season while ten-time champions Tusker FC will out to end their four match winless run as they host Bandari and Nairobi’s Ruaraka Grounds.

Fixtures; Wednesday

14:00             Ushuru vs Mathare United – Nyayo Stadium

16:00             Thika United vs Nakuru All Stars – Thika Stadium

16:00             Tusker vs Bandari   – Ruaraka Ground

16:00             SonySugar vs Western Stima – Awendo Green Stadium

16:00             City Stars vs Gor Mahia – City Stadium

16:00             Sofapaka vs Chemelil Sugar – Machakos Stadium

16:15             KCB vs AFC Leopards – Nyayo Stadium

16:00             Ulinzi Stars vs Muhoroni Youth – Afraha Stadium

NAIROBI, April 14 – Pioneering Olympics female boxing heroine, Elizabeth Andiego is in dire need of financial help for scheduled surgery on her legs following a hit and run accident involving a motorbike commonly known as Boda Boda on her way from the gym.

Andiego who is the first and only female Kenyan pugilist to trade blows at the greatest sporting carnival on earth is however, finacially handicapped and does not have enough to cater for the operation to restore one of her legs and mend the fracture on the other.

She is admitted at Nairobi’s Kenyatta National Hospital where she was rushed after suffering horrific injuries when their bike was hit along Mombasa Road on Monday night.

According to her close friend, Laventer Oguta, the mother of one finished her gym session in Nairobi’s CBD when another friend offered her a ride home on his motor bike to Syokimau, at the outskirts of the capital.

“On their way, a cab, from Kenatco I believe hit them. The impact was so hard that the rider’s helmet shattered and he has a fracture in the skull. One of her legs was shattered and the other broken as the taxi took off.

“At the moment, I have left her waiting for an operation since she does not have the finances. All she is talking about is about what will happen to her child because her house is due for rent today (Tuesday). She’s not worried about her legs or the injuries,” Oguta told Capital Sport.

“She represented this country at the Olympics and it’s time for Kenyans to show their appreciation. As you know, boxing does not pay and she has been scrapping for a living, depending on her legs to assist her child,” the distraught friend added.

Andiego competed in the Women’s middleweight competition, but was defeated in the first round.

She grew up in Nairobi’s notorious Eastlands and when she turned up at a boxing training session in the Kenyan capital in 2007, the coach thought she would bail out of a sport still widely seen in the east African country as for men only.

Five years later Andiego got a wild card for the Olympic Games to cap a meteoric rise.

ELDORET, April 14-  Top runners from Rosa Associati and Gerrard van der Veen’s Volare Sports stables reacted furiously to Athletics Kenya’s move to suspend their managers from undertaking any activities in the country for six months to pave way for investigations into doping allegations in their respective camps.

Addressing a joint press conference in Eldoret on Tuesday the athletes who read like royalty in the list of decorated distance running stars read malice and impunity in the national federation’s move.

Led by former world record holder, twice London and New York marathon champion Wilson Kipsang, who is represented by Dutch firm Volare Sports, the aggrieved runners suspect political machinations in the suspension that places a dark cloud over their careers at a time when Kenya is under the spotlight for a spike in doping cases.

“The suspension of Rosa and Volare Sports, accusing them for doping has caused unrest both locally and internationally. The act is unprofessional and it has to be proved the mentioned firms are truly involved. AK has not tabled any facts and evidence to prove they were involved, which is unprofessional,” Kipsang the Olympics bronze medallist who is also the chairman of Professional Athletics Association of Kenya (PAAK) read in a statement.

He added the suspensions has distracted training ahead of competitions starting with this weekend’s Boston Marathon and London that follows a week later where athletes from both camps feature prominently in the elite men and women fields.

“It has also put the image of Kenya in a bad situation ahead of major global events starting from IAAF World Relays, IAAF Diamond League series, IAAF World Championships and major marathons in the world,” the London course record holder stated.

World marathon record holder Dennis Kimetto, former world marathon majors winner Geoffrey Mutai, 2013 Paris Marathon champion Peter Kimeli Some and decorated female distance runners Winnie Chepkorir and Vivian Chepchumba from Volare were also present in the afternoon press call.

Rosa camp had double world champion Asbel Kiprop, Commonwealth Games 1,500m champion James Magut, 2009 Rotterdam marathon winner Duncan Kibet and Andrew Rotich among others.

Asbel said: “Doping is an individual case and we never wanted all of us to be sucked into it.”

Kipsang faulted AK’s decision they would take over the management of affected athletes pending conclusion of the investigations where the firms will either be reinstated or banned for life.

They invoked Rule 7 Article 1 of IAAF Competition rule 2014/2015, which states: “Athletes may use the services of an Athletes’ Representative to assist them in the negotiation of their athletics programme and in such other matters as they may agree. Alternatively, athletes may negotiate their own Athletics Programmes.”

The rule, Kipsang said, gives athletes the right to choose their managers and does not give AK (IAAF member) powers to manage and negotiate for the athletes.

-Deceiving public-

“Deceiving the public that it can manage athletes in union with IAAF with the right sense that athletes are the employers and they are the employees is an unfortunate statement,” red Kipsang.

He added: “In our situation where the reputation of AK is not trustworthy of handling finances, failure to remit some team allowance and prizes predicts a disaster. They cannot manage well the over 250 athletes in the two camps.”

The athletes said there was no official communication as their agents received the ban only learning news from the media.

Whilst Rosa have been entangled in the doping web, the latest in January when client and star female marathoner, Rita Jeptoo, the thrice winner and twice champion of Boston and Chicago marathons was banned for two years for EPO use, AK boss Isaiah Kiplagat who is stepping down from May 1 for a three month sabbatical did not specify allegations against Volare runners.

Kenya captain for Punta Umbria World Cross, Matthew Kisorio, who served a two-year ban for steroid use in 2012 was in Rosa’s books before being fired after he tested positive with the Italian firm also distancing themselves from Jeptoo after her bust.

At the time, Rosa boss, Federico Rosa appeared before an AK hearing to present their case with her Italian coach, Claudio Berardelli stating she acted alone.

-Emmanuel Sabuni

NAIROBI, April 14- Former world champion and retired distance running legend Moses Tanui has read mischief in the change of guard at Athletics Kenya (AK) that coincided with the federation suspending two top management firms that handle the biggest chunk of the country’s star athletes.

Speaking in Eldoret on Tuesday, Tanui a two-time winner of Boston Marathon faulted federation president, Isaiah Kiplagat for appointing retired Lieutenant General Jackson Tuwei as the interim leader when he takes a three-month sabbatical leave for contravening the AK constitution.

“Kiplagat made a big mistake to appoint Tuwei in acting capacity. The bona fide person to take over was David Okeyo, who is second in command and not Tuwei,” Tanui said.

Okeyo polled the most votes in the elections for vice-president ahead of Paul Mutwii who was named the senior deputy leader in the reconstituted Executive Committee with Tuwei third.

“Many managers and coaches are preparing their teams for IAAF World Championships; therefore, the move to suspend them was in bad faith.

“Though I don’t support doping and manipulation of athletes as claimed by Kiplagat, the suspects should have been given a chance to defend themselves in the interests of fairness and justice.

“Suspending them now will only interfere with programmes that could destabilise the athletes,” the 1991 world champion in 10,000m added.

He was reacting to the six-month suspension slapped on Rosa Associati and Volare Sports by the federation on Monday to give room for investigations into doping allegations surrounding the camp where Kiplagat announced he would step down to vie for the IAAF vice-presidency at the same time.

Tanui, now a keen handicap golfer and entrepreneur said the top athletes managed by the firms entered for spring World Marathon Major races and the IAAF Diamond League series will suffer.

“It was the worst mistake our federation did by suspending the mangers without giving them audience,” he decried.

“Definitely it will affect selection since most of the potential athletes might not compete in such races because it will be hard for AK to enter them in the races,” the 10,000m Olympics silver medallist of 1992 offered on selection of marathoners for the World Championships in Beijing.

AK often uses top performances at Boston, London majors or IAAF gold label races of Amsterdam and Paris to decide their squads for Worlds and Olympics competitions in the absence of trial races for the marathon.

Tanui has been a vocal critic of Kiplagat and AK in their management of the sport and handling the doping scourge as Kenya reels from a sharp spike in positive cases with 36 athletes among them star female marathoner, Rita Jeptoo banned.

At the height of his prowess on the track, he once struck Ethiopian legend, Haile Gebrsellasie with a running shoe at the Barcelona Olympics 10,000m when he felt the champion impeded him unfairly on the homestretch in one of the most iconic images of the Games.

-By Emmanuel Sabuni

NAIROBI, April 16 – After extending his winless run to three successive matches, ten-time Tusker FC head coach Francis Kimanzi says they are paying the price of starting  2015 season on a low.

Out of possible 15 points, the Brewers have only managed two, thanks to their back-to-back 2-2 draw against Chemelil Sugar and Muhoroni Youth but the latest 1-0 defeat at home to Bandari frustrated the former Harambee Stars tactician who suffered his second his second loss of the season.

“It’s a very slow start and frustrating; it pulls down the confidence of all whole unit. We still have that tense of poor start, you can either have a very concrete start or  slow and i think we are really paying the price of a slow start and I hope we can get the confidence back,” Kimazi who saw the title slip away last season when they finished third behind champions Gor Mahia declared.

Despite having depth in his squad, Kimanzi is yet to find his form after recording two wins, three draws and two losses in seven matches to languish 10th on nine points.

The coach recruited heavily with intents of reclaiming the title that Tusker last lifted in 2012 under the tutelage of Robert Matano, bringing on experienced speedy winger Patrick Oboya from Gor, defender James Situma and midfielder Humphrey Mieno from AFC Leopards as well as centre-back, Donald Mosoti from Tanzania’s Simba SC among others.

However, pundits have criticised Kimanzi’s swop of playing position amongst his charges, but the former Mathare United and Sofapaka head coach defended the claims saying he is trying to find his winning team.

“We have a lot of players like any other club but we have to build the team first before bringing others on board. You cannot keep on changing players otherwise who will never get anywhere.

“We have to build the frame work that others can step on because even if we use the depth toady and there is no confidence in the unit then I don’t think it will work perfectly. We can only explore what we have if we get back to winning ways but it’s just a matter of time,” Kimanzi underscored.

Tusker has tough fixtures awaiting them where after Sunday’s trip to second placed Western Stima, the Brewers play AFC Leopards and Mathare United, something that worries Kimanzi.

“We have another tough away match to Western Stima so we just hope we can recollect ourselves and build the confidence because we have some few days to work on our mistakes. It’s tough mentally for the players since its almost seven games without getting a reward so it’s not easy getting them back on track but we will fight and control the situation.”

NAIROBI, April 16 – Kenya’s pioneering Olympics female boxer, Elizabeth Andiego is hopeful she will get back on her feet and compete at 2016 Summer Games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Adiego is admitted at Nairobi’s Kenyatta National Hospital after undergoing successful surgery on her left leg following Monday night’s accident involving a motorbike and hit and run cab on her way from the gym along Kangundo Road.

At the same time, Cabinet Secretary for Sports, Arts and Culture, Dr. Hassan Wario, said the ministry was aware of her plight and, “We will see what we shall do about her.”

The mother of a 10-year old son told Capital Sport from her hospital bed, the accident was a double tragedy since they were preparing for his brother’s funeral after he passed away last week in Nairobi.

Andiego who represented the country at 2012 London Olympics and at last year’s Glasgow Commonwealth Games in the middleweight division, called on the Ministry, Boxing Association of Kenya and well wishers to come to her aid financially since she cannot afford to cater for her boy’s need as well as hospital bills.

-Dragged back-

“This accident has dragged me behind because I can’t do anything. I pray to God by 2016 I will be back on my feet because I had started my preparation for the Olympics. I feel very bad to be in this state but I’m confident God will give me strength to go back to the ring. I tell my fans not to lose hope on me because where I’ve come from is far so I will recover slowly.

“So far it has cost me a lot because I’m a single parent and the young boy depends on me and now that I’m here (hospital) it’s very hard for him. My friend, Laventer Oguta is running up and down to ensure we get the pay bill number by Friday so that I can see if I will get assistance,” Andiego who was in considerable pain lamented.

“The operation went well though it took long but the doctors told me I will be okay, the major injury was on my left leg that broke, in two days time I will be back to theatre for assessment then I will know how long it will take for me to heal,” she added.

Andiego’s sad case comes three years after former world middleweight champion and Kenya’s most eminent female boxer, Conjestina Achieng suffered mental illness and the Olympian made an impassionate plea to raise the standards of the sport to ensure it pays well.

“I call upon the ministry to take care of boxers because they never follow up on us when we finish competition, they forget about us completely at least if there is a follow up and something like this has come up then one can know he or she is in safe hands.

“I’ve not seen anyone from the ministry yet or heard about them but from the boxing federation of Kenya, the president, John Kameta called me and said he will follow up on the matter,” Andiego who grew up from a humble background in Nairobi’s Eastlands urged.

“Women have not been given equal rights in boxing because there is a men’s league that is going on but there is no women’s league and when it comes to employment many women are not considered and that what pulls many ladies away from the game,” she explained.

She was set to contest for a slot that would lead to the Olympics, All Africa Games in Brazzaville in September and the Senior Africa Boxing Championship during the Boxing Association of Kenya national selection event in Nairobi on April 22-26.

At the London Olympics, Andiego was defeated in the first round while at Club Games she bowed out at the round of 16.

Speaking on Friday, CS Wario who had been contacted earlier by Capital Sport offered the bureaucratic response of “looking into the matter” as the bills continue to escalate.

Andiego lay on a stretcher hours after being wheeled into KNH until she was eventually assisted to the theatre past midnight Wednesday.

NAIROBI, April 17- Government will work towards reducing bureaucratic bottlenecks to ensure smooth preparations of the 2017 IAAF World Youth Championships in Nairobi, Cabinet Secretary for Sports, Arts and Culture, Dr. Hassan Wario has pledged.

Speaking this morning when he formally launched the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for the event, Dr. Wario said the procurement officer in the ministry was included and a steering committee is in place to safeguard public investment in the biennial competition.

“We are going to do our level best. We will very much go out of our way to ensure Government bureaucracy is reduced. We will have an open book that is why we have our finance person.

“Money gets lost in procurement areas. We have to put a procurement process there so that we can conduct the business themselves. This is a serious venture and we have to be accountable. We will set up parameters to ensure we are transparent,” the minister said when officially starting off preparations of the biennial IAAF event.

Kenya won the hosting rights last November at the sidelines of the IAAF World Gala in Monaco after Argentina and USA withdrew their candidature and their bid was accepted by the IAAF Governing Council.

Athletics Kenya (AK) vice-president, retired Lieutenant Jackson Tuwei, will head the 18-man LOC that pools together federation, ministry and Nairobi City County (NCC) officials, national broadcaster KBC management, anti-doping experts, hoteliers, Information Technology practitioners and marketers.

Principle Secretary in the Sports Ministry, Japhter Rugut and Jonathan Mueke of NCC will deputise Tuwei with AK chief executive officer, Isaac Mwangi appointed secretary of the LOC.

Other members of the organising body will be in charge of transport, accommodation, security, marketing, information technology and media in their areas of expertise.

Lt. Gen (Rtd) Tuwei who will take over as interim president of AK from May 1 when Isaiah Kiplagat proceeds on a three-month sabbatical; announced the tentative dates of the biennial track and field global age showpiece open to competitors of 16 and 17 years will run from July 11 to 16, 2017 at Nairobi’s Nyayo National Stadium.

“We look forward to having between 1,500 and 1,600 athletes plus officials with some of the athletes accompanied by their parents. Between November and now, the constitution of the country allows for consultations and this is what has been happening since,” the former Army Commandant added in explaining why it took almost five months to name the LOC.

“In this particular organisation, we are working as partners between Government through the Ministry of Sports, Culture and Arts and Nairobi County Government. It is going to be quite expensive but it is going to happen because the Government has announced it will do this,” Tuwei added as he called for promotion of the event.

Bureaucratic red tape was blamed for delays in organising the 2007 IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Mombasa and the 2010 CAA Africa Athletics Senior Championships that were deferred thrice before they finally ran in

-Budget pending-

According to Wario, the LOC will sit and draw up the total cost of hosting the event with the Nyayo venue not cast in stone owing concerns about its location close to Nairobi’s Central Business District and logistics.

“We want to do a lot of fund raising. We need big corporate support in areas to be defined by the LOC. The lottery is almost there and it will help us. We need a lot of money and that needs to be identified quickly.

“We are looking at ripping off the track, getting new facilities as per requirements of the IAAF. We need facilities for 2000 athletes and we really have to upgrade. There are many ideas; we could use City Stadium for training and shuttling them to Nyayo.

“That’s the work of the LOC to sit down and look at the logistics to see whether Nyayo works first of all. People are divided, there are people who feel Kasarani is the place because it has all the facilities and others feel we need to be in the middle of the city. LOC should sit down and quickly give us the update,” the CS explained.

Wario said the doping issue that gripped the country saw planning for the 2017 World Youth shelved to tackle the scourge that threatened to bring the entire sports down following the spike of cases in recent years as he lauded AK for taking stern action against two foreign agents earlier this week to pave way for investigations.

LOC: Lt. Gen (Rtd) Jackson Tuwei (chairman), Japhter Rugut, Jonathan Mueke (vice-chairpersons), Isaac Kamande (secretary), Kiget Kipsang, Chris Mutungi, Nchum Okuya, John Oling’s Longole, David Okeyo, Ibrahim Hussein, Joseph Lagat, Sally Sia, Joash Irima, Mohammed Abdullahi, Titus Kongengi, Dr. Jared Okoyo Nyakiti, Dr. Victor Bargoria, Fatuma Awale

NAIROBI, April 19- Two-time world champion, Abel Kirui and former world record holder, Patrick Makau are seeking a resounding comeback on Monday when they vie for their maiden Boston Marathon title.

The Kenyan luminaries face former champions of the hilly course in titleholder and American idol, Meb Keflezighi and 2013 winner, Ethiopia’s Lelisa Desisa in their bid to bounce back to the high table of ultimate distance running after recent lean seasons.

Kirui, 32, who warmed for Boston with a sixth finish (61:22) at the Barcelona Half Marathon on February 15, is still seeking a first World Marathon Majors (WMM) victory outside the IAAF World Championships having won the Berlin 2009 and Daegu 2011 editions.

The Olympics silver medallist will be making his first appearance in Boston having finished 10th (2:09:04) and sixth (2:09:45) in Tokyo and Amsterdam last year as he seeks to re-establish himself as a force in marathon running following injury-blighted seasons after being led by Uganda’s Stephen Kiprotich to the line at London 2012.

Makau, 30, has seen a promising career blighted by injury having established himself as an elite circuit racer with two victories in Berlin in 2010 (2:05:08) and 2011 when he ran the 2:03:38 world record that has since been dropped twice on the same course by Wilson Kipsang (2:03:24/2013) and Dennis Kimetto (2:02:58) last year.

He announced his return to the middle step of the podium by taking last year’s Fukuoka race in 2:08:22 on December 7 and he is also making his first appearance in the oldest city marathon that runs across seven towns with four hills to tackle, including the notorious that runs through Newton famously known as ‘heartbreak hill’.

Wilson Chebet, 29, who finished second last year in 2:08:48 is hoping its third time lucky for him in Boston tasted victory in Honolulu last fall in 2:15:35 on December 14 and has unfinished business in the race he finished fifth (2:14:56) in 2012 on his debut.

The three-time Amsterdam winner’s mastery of the course and his promise not to sit back places him at an advantage over his compatriots as they run through the towns of Hopkinton, Ashland, Framingham, Natick, Wellesley, Newton and Brookline.

Geoffrey Mutai ran the astonishing 2:03:02 course record in 2011 that shaded Makau’s world record since the elevation drop of the Boston course is not permissible for consideration as an official standard.

Ethiopia’s Yemane Tsegaye and Tadese Tola make five men in the field with sub-2:05 PBs, with those two at 2:04:48 and 2:04:49 from Rotterdam 2012 and Dubai 2013 respectively.

-Cherop, Kilel duel-

Kenyan aspirations for the title in the women’s field rests on two former champions Sharon Cherop (2013) and Caroline Kilel (2011).

Cherop is the fastest from code 254 in the field with a 2:22:28 PB, but both she and Kilel know the feeling of coming down the last straight on Boyleston Street with the race still undecided.

Buzunesh Deba was runner-up in 2014 and has the fastest Boston time of any of the women entered: her PB of 2:19:59 was set here last year.

The Ethiopian is based in New York City and is a familiar face there, placing second in that race twice.

All 15 of her career marathons to date have been in the US and she has finished in the top two in 12 of those, winning eight of them. But her last victory was in 2011.

Local hopes are headlined by Shalane Flanagan who has a faster lifetime best to Kilel and Sherop having ran 2:21:14 in Berlin last year and Desiree Linden nee Davila who nearly stole victory from the former in 2011 in an epic close finish.

-Additional material from IAAF

ANAIROBI, April 19 – Champions Gor Mahia maintained their unbeaten run despite being held a home to a goalless draw with GOtv Shield holders Sofapaka in a tense Kenyan Premier League (KPL) match at Nairobi City Stadium on Sunday.

In Kisumu, Francis Kimanzi breathed a sigh of relief after snapping a three-match winless run as Tusker blanked hosts Western Stima.

At Nakuru’s Afraha Stadium, Ulinzi Stars beat basement side Nakuru All Stars 3-1 to climb up to second on 16 points, one off Gor who have a match in hand.

The stalemate at City Stadium saw last season runners-up Sofapaka cut Gor’s lead to four points in an ill-tempered encounter that was halted for seven minutes by centre referee Rafael Nduati after Burundian Fiston Abdul Razak was hit by an object from the crowd.

His decision to book K’Ogalo center-back Dikir Glay and Razak who were involved in a scuffle in 74th minute inflamed the situation but the situation was contained as play resumed.

Both coaches condemned the incident and urged fans to exercise peace and decorum in all their matches.

“The game was okay players responded well except some decisions were not correctly made. Probably if they could have been made early the game, it could have been much smoother.

“The officials should have asked for security which I didn’t see and when one of the linesmen is being stoned then his decisions is questionable. I’m very disappointed with the fans because whenever we play Gor, there has to be chaos and instead of us learning football we are going back with tears,” Sofapaka head coach Sam Timbe decried after the match.

“On the balance of chances we deserved to win but we drew we can’t complain. It’s a marathon we will work harder in the coming games. The fans need to control themselves better, what happened in the field stays in the field and the boys settled it on the pitch.

“I will concentrate on the positives because we kept a clean sheet and all other 15 teams would want to be in our place so we can’t complain,” Gor assistant coach Frank Ouna declared after head coach Frank Nuttall declined to address the press after the match.

The first-half belonged to K’Ogalo who created numerous chances that could have seen them lead by three goals at the breather with the combination of Rwandan Meddie Kagere and Michael Olunga tormenting Batoto Ba Mungu’s defence.

Olunga threatened in the second minute with his left foot shot that rattled the cross bar before squandering a glorious chance from Ali Abondo through pass to allow Sofapaka keeper, David Okello easily pick the ball.

Kagere then missed the target after Olunga put him through while on the other end Sofapaka’s only chance came at the half hour mark when former Gor creative midfielder, Kevin Omondi fed Enock Agwanda but Glay rescued the host with a cleaver tackle on the latter.

On the stroke of half-time, Okello made a brilliant dive save to deny Innocent Wafula’s right shot in a one-on-one situation.

The last half was more tensed with both sides resulting to play hard but still neither Olunga nor Kagere’s effort could change the difference for the champions not even Sofapaka’s Ekaliani Ndolo cracker that was stopped by K’Ogalo keeper, Boniface Oluoch.

In other results, Jackson Macharia was on target as Thika United edged out Chemelil Sugar 1-0 while Mathare United and Sony Sugar settled for a 1-1 draw.

NAIROBI, April 20 – Despite trailing leaders and arch rivals Gor Mahia by five points, AFC Leopards head coach Zradvko Logarusic believes he will steer the 13-time champions to their first Kenyan Premier League (KPL) title in 17 years.

Leopards who have played a game more than champions Gor dropped to seventh on 12 points after suffering their second loss courtesy of a 1-0 defeat to Ushuru FC, but the Croat was upbeat they will bounce back.

Logarusic was forced to change his game plan against a resilient Ushuru side after three dependable charges; goalkeeper, Wycliffe Kasaya, midfielder Bernard Mang’oli and defender Martin Kiiza limped off with knocks.

The replacements, Ezekiel Seda, Joel Bataro and winger Noah Wafula could do nothing to inspire a Leopards side that created more chances in the first half against the taxmen who had custodian, Samuel Odhiambo to thank after making a series of saves to keep them in the game.

With right back Edwin Wafula missing the game through suspension following a red card picked against KCB as well as unused substitute Joseph Shikokoti, the Leopards defence was put to test by hard pressing Ushuru who finally managed to break through in the second-half from unmarked Allan Kateregga’s brilliant goal.

“This was our third game in seven days we know we are not fit. We were limited with substitutions because we were forced to do two in the first-half. It was unfortunate the players whom we brought on could not change the game.

“The last 20 minutes we were unfit but game by game we will be alright; this is our seventh game and we have two loses so let’s go five games without defeat,” Logarusic who lost after frustrating Gor in a 1-1 stalemate last weekend declared.

Ingwe face Tusker on Saturday in a fixture where both sides need maximum points to keep their hopes of reclaiming the title alive.

- Unbeaten start -

At the City Stadium, K’Ogalo for once this season failed to find the back of the net after last season runner-up, Sofapaka forced them drop two points for the second successive game in a goalless draw.

Going by Gor’s good start, things did not turn their way against a Sofapaka side that begun the season on a low by losing 2-1 to the champions in the DStv Super Cup.

Despite the outcome K’Ogalo maintained their unbeaten start to the campaign in the ill-tempered clash that had few chances.

The attacking combination of Rwandan import, Meddie Kagere, Michael Olunga and in-form Ali Abondo could not bear any fruits even after splitting Sofapaka’s defence on several occasions as keeper David Okello stood tall in between the sticks.

Batoto Ba Mungu were more confident in the second half but despite Gor keeper Boniface Oluoch doing his best to stop the likes of Ekaliana Ndolo and Fiston Abdul Razak, a section of the Green Army ran out of patience forcing a seven-minute stoppage in the 74th minute when they threw objects on the pitch that struck the latter.

The ugly scenes were an echo to the skirmishes that marred their previous league encounter in Machakos when Sofapaka prevailed 3-2 over the champions at the back end of last season.

Trouble started when referee Rafael Ndwati booked both Razak and Gor’s centre-half Dikir Glay after they were involved in a scuffle as Sofapaka moved to within four points of the champions at the top.

K’Ogalo play Ushuru next while Sofapaka take on KCB on Sunday.

The biggest beneficiaries of the weekend were Ulinzi Stars who picked their second successive win in their 3-1 victory over Nakuru All Stars to move up to second on 16, one shy of Gor.

Ten-time champions Tusker rallied from a goal down to stymie their three-match winless run in their 3-1 triumph over Western Stima who dropped to fourth.