NAIROBI, May 12 – After winning his first marathon at Hamburg a fortnight ago, former World Youth silver and World Cross junior bronze winner, Lucas Rotich is now eying fall World Marathon Majors races of Chicago and New York.

Rotich who returned to competition last year after a two-year knee injury told Capital Sport he would like to make his Majors debut as he seeks to stamp his name as one of the great marathoners in the world.

The Kenya Police runner said winning Hamburg on only his third career marathon under difficult rainy conditions in 2:07:17 was a big motivation after improving on his ninth finish at the same course last year.

“I was struggling in track where I could only manage to win one or two races but winning marathon for the first time was great for me. It was a good start that has really encouraged me and given me the morale to keep on going.

“Every athlete admires to run in London because it’s a major event, I’m now aiming high and winning London, New York, Chicago or Tokyo will be great,” Rotich, a junior bronze medallist at 2008 World Cross in Edinburgh declared.

The 25-year-old who shifted from track to road racing in 2011 will compete at the annual Athletics Kenya National Police Service Athletics Championships on June 4 and 5, his only planned track running then prepare for the marathon programme.

“I have abandoned track but I’m training for Police Championships where I will run in 10,000m then we will see the way forward.

“My progression is going on well despite disappointment in 2012-13 where I missed competition to recover from a knee surgery. I didn’t know I would come back to running, I thought my career was over but fortunately I came back in 2014 and finished ninth at Hamburg,” the former 3,000m World Youth Silver medallist narrated.

Rotich is coached by retired two-time 3000m steeplechase Worlds silver medallist, Patrick Sang and is a training partner to freshly minted London champion, Eliud Kipchoge.

“For someone to win London, Hamburg, Madrid and Tokyo marathons it’s not a joke and this is all because of our coach Sang who deserves great respect because he does a good job and our win is his win.”

Rotich made his classic distance racing debut at Hamburg last year where he clocked 2:09:22 before underlining his immense potential in his next marathon in Hamburg where he ran his career best 2:07:18 in finishing second behind countryman Bernard Kipyego (2:06:22).

He won the second medal at the Ostrava World Youth in 2007 in the boys’ 3000m where another Kenyan Daniel Sitonik (7:57.18 against 7:59.67) led him to the altar.

Jacob Keli

NAIROBI, May 12 – AFC Leopards leapt back to fourth on the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) tree after Jacob Keli emerged the hero with the winner in a 2-1 win at Bandari as Ulinzi Stars and Chemelil Sugar played out a barren draw on Tuesday.

Uganda Cranes midfielder, Musa Mudde gave Leopards the lead just after restart from a long range thunderbolt in Mombasa but David King’atua pegged them back in the 56th through a powerful header for the equaliser.

Ingwe went on the prowl and nailed their prey when Keli sealed their fifth win of the campaign 13 minutes later for his seventh goal of the season to join leading scorers, Gor Mahia’s Ali Abondo and Ulinzi Stars’ John Makwata.

The win was Leopard’s second on the bounce as their claws landed on 18 points, one behind placed Thika United who have a game in hand.

Leopards head coach Zdravko Logarusic made a single change from the side that mauled Sony Sugar 5-1 with Duncan Otieno replacing Joseph Shikokoti in midfield.

In a balanced goalless opening half, Ingwe squandered three opportunities, the first falling to Noah Wafula who wasted a Mudde pin point pass with a feeble strike that did not raise even a speck of sand in Bandari custodian, Wilson Obungu’s eyes.

Wafula spurned another chance after shooting direct to Obungu when the Ugandan midfield dynamo once again put him through on goal before Abdallah Juma’s long range shot extended the dock men’s keeper who kept it out.

The visitor’s keeper, Wycliffe Kasaya was troubled twice by the hosts, rescuing King’atua’s free-kick a minute after denying George Abege who was set through by David Gateri.

The Dockers were forced to do an early substitution, withdrawing injured Andrew Waiswa for Mohammed Shariff.

It took only a minute after a deadlocked break for Mudde to take responsibility and open the scoring with an 18-yard cracker that beat Obungu for his first goal of the season.

King’atua threatened an equaliser with a scorching effort that was thwarted by Kasaya who saved the 40 yards bullet as Logarusic introduced Nigerian Import Austin Ikenna for the ineffectual Michael Khamati.

Twahir Muhiddin  pulled out John Ndirangu for Shaban Kenga in the 51st, and from the restart former City Stars attacking midfielder, King’atua restored parity when he headed past Kasaya for his third goal since joining the coastal side.

Logarusic fortified his midfield when he substituted Wafula for Ezekiel Seda in the 61st and the changes paid after Leopards piled on the pressure on Bandari and Keli duly crowned the siege with the winner.

The Dockers suffered a second successive loss to remain 11th on 13 points.

The league continues Wednesday with Tusker FC hosting Mathare United at Ruaraka Ground as GOtv Shield champions Sofapaka travel to second placed Thika United.

In Nakuru, Robert Matano’s soldiers missed the chance to claim third out right when they failed to subdue the obdurate Chemelil in a result that left the hosts fifth.

NAIROBI, May 12 – The Kenyan Premier League (KPL) has moved to stamp its authority on Harambee Stars by adopting a raft of resolutions regarding releasing their players for national duty, direct involvement in management of the team itself and a share of revenues.

The declarations could ignite a new battlefront between KPL and Football Kenya Federation (FKF) barely two months after the resolution of a feud that almost paralysed club football in the country.

In what will certainly raise temperatures, the top flight league management further seeks to scrutinise audited books of accounts belonging to the national side that is a preserve of FKF.

The sweeping recommendations announced on Tuesday evening via a post on their official website kpl.co.ke pertain to a KPL Governing Council Meeting held last Thursday.

“The federation will also be required to provide unrestricted access by a certified Public auditor appointed by KPL to oversee income, expenditure statements and related accounting records for all national teams involving players from the league,” part of their resolutions read in what will conflict with FKF who maintain full control of Stars.

“In full compliance with Annex 1 on the “Release of Players to Association Teams” in the FIFA Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players, KPL clubs shall release their players for matches on dates in the FIFA Coordinated International Match Calendar,” KPL stated in another dig at the federation.

FKF has habitually organised friendlies outside the Fifa calendar where the national head coach has called on KPL players to be bulk of the squad.

After written notice from the federation to the club and players 10 prior, KPL sides will release players 48 hours before a friendly, four days before a qualifier inside Africa and a day more for games outside the continent under the Fifa calendar.

“However, KPL clubs may agree to release their players for longer periods than for other international tournaments and friendly matches on dates not in the FIFA Calendar on condition that FKF agrees to allocate KPL a reasonable share of all revenue for all national teams involving players from the domestic top flight,” the resolutions read further.

In what is due to evoke more strong reaction from FKF, KPL are demanding to have one of its representative designated by them in management of national football teams including the recruitment, selection and termination of national team coaches and technical bench members.

FKF will be mandated to confirm in writing on the qualification and experience of the Team Doctor certified by the Kenya Medical Association who will be on the technical bench at all international matches.

The federation will be required to confirm in writing that all players involved have been paid their full allowances and expenses to date in what is meant to curb complaints by players of non-remittance of their dues on national duty.

Apart from submitting a detailed national teams training and international competitions plan for a year for review and approval by the KPL Governing Council, FKF will also have to confirm in writing that the national team players will have proper accommodation, food, medical care and training facilities.

“If the deadlines are not respected, then the next period of release shall be shortened by 24 hours for friendly matches, three days for qualifying matches and 10 days for the final competition of an international tournament.

“If the national association repeatedly breaches the provisions, clubs are at liberty to appeal to the FIFA Players Status Committee which may impose sanctions, including but not limited to fines, a reduction of the period of release or a ban on calling up players for subsequent matches,” the league management body asserted.

A bitter standoff that sparked by the federation at the end of last season in wanting an 18-team competition for 2015 led to the establishment of parallel leagues when FKF and KPL differed on the constitution of the top flight that saw the former obtain a High Court injunction against the latter stopping their competition for two weeks.

Fifa mediated talks allowed both leagues to run with the KPL recognised formally as the top flight and FKF-PL acting as a feeder to the former but under the federation as supreme body in local football.

The parties are due to return to the negotiating table in November upon the lapse of the current season to thrash out agreement on the number of teams in next year’s top flight, commercial rights including broadcast sponsorship and other sticking issues therein.

FKF was also mandated to have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with KPL to manage the league by June and it remains to be seen whether the fractious truce will be upheld by the guidelines of the latter’s Governing Council that seem like an incursion into the federation’s territory.

Victor Ali Abondo (L) receives the SJAK-Sport Pesa Monthly Player of March from Kester Muhanji, Marketing Manager, Sports Pesa at City Stadium on Wednesday.

NAIROBI, May 13 – Gor Mahia midfielder Ali Abondo is fired up to celebrate a maiden Kenyan Premier League title with the champions after becoming the first ever recipient of the Sports Journalist Association of Kenya-Sports Pesa Player of the Month award.

Abondo was presented with the inaugural gong for March on Wednesday ahead of joint league top scorers; Jacob Keli of arch rivals AFC Leopards and Jesse Were of Tusker FC, to take home Sh50,000 (USD 518.1), a 42-inch Smart television set and a trophy engraved with his name.

A panel of seven sports journalists picked the winner from a shortlist of four selected by members of their association that also included Gor keeper, Boniface Oluoch.

Speaking moments after receiving the award at the team’s home ground, Nairobi’s City Stadium, Abondo said the accolade will inspire him to not only chase the Golden Boot but help his team emulate the class of 1988 who sealed a third national title in a row.

“It’s a great feeling because every player wants to win something in life. It didn’t come as a surprise since I have been working hard. I want to become the best footballer in the world.

“I want to work hard each day for better performances at the end of the year and help my team win the league for a third successive year because we want to make history too and that’s my dream,” the elated Abondo enthused.

Having left Gor for Tusker mid season in June 2013, Abondo missed the title party under Harambee Stars head coach Bobby Williamson before the champions repeated last season as his side finished third.

Abondo, nicknamed tear gas by the Gor faithful, has been instrumental since returning to the club at the beginning of the season extending his scoring streak to their short lived CAF Champions League campaign where they bowed out in the first round.

“Nuttall has been like a father figure to all of us; he gives everyone confidence and treats us equal and that even makes us work harder. I believe that’s why we are doing great at the moment.

“The last time I was at Gor, it was my first time (at the giant side) but coming back, I have gained experience and I knew my way around so, I had no option but to raise my game as well us improve on what I didn’t do well when I was here,” the midfielder who won the KPL Top 8 knock-out tournament with Tusker last season having lifted it with Gor a year earlier.

Even in training it’s very competitive, everyone is a professional and we are praying God we make history so that’s why we want to finish first leg well so that the second can be easier. I thank my teams-mates and the fans for making this happen,” he added.

In hailing his excellent contributions as an individual, Nutall attributed his prominence to all round teamwork by the champions who lead the log on 27 points after going unbeaten for 11 games thus far.

“Abondo has performed very well so far both in training and matches in the past two months and this award is recognition of his hard work and focus. But it’s also the effort of the team because he can’t play alone,” Nuttall elaborated.

The award for April will take place on Tuesday.

NAIROBI, May 13- Football Kenya Federation (FKF) have scoffed at the Kenyan Premier League attempts to have bigger say in matters relating to national team Harambee Stars by insisting policy issues pertaining to football remain solely in their domain.

On Wednesday, FKF moved with speed to assert their authority following a raft of resolutions adopted at a KPL Governing Council last week that demand among other things, involvement in selection of Stars technical bench, a share of revenue from international friendlies outside the Fifa calendar and directives on release of players to the national side.

The latest development sparks off another frontier in their long running feud that has enjoyed a ceasefire of less than two months since world body Fifa mediation deflated their row over this season’s top flight.

“Whereas this support is highly welcome and valuable, we remind our member clubs that playing for the national team is a call to national duty, a service to our nation, a sacrosanct assignment and an epitome of our national pride and collective aspirations of our nation and any attempts to deviate from this cause is self-defeating and unacceptable,” part of a statement signed by FKF Secretary General, Michael Esakwa read.

“The benefits derived by a player for playing in the national team cannot be over emphasized, the empirical value of players is pegged on international caps a player has attained and denying them this opportunity is unjust and unfair,” he added.

It comes a day after the KPL Governing Council published resolutions governing release of players to the national teams requiring 48 hours before a friendly, four days before a qualifier inside Africa and a day more for games outside the continent under the Fifa calendar from affiliated clubs.

“The federation will be required to provide unrestricted access by a certified Public auditor appointed by KPL to oversee income, expenditure statements and related accounting records for all national teams involving players from the league,” a section for their directives read in direct in what reads as an incursion into FKF territory.

“In full compliance with Annex 1 on the “Release of Players to Association Teams” in the FIFA Regulations on the Status and Transfer of Players, KPL clubs shall release their players for matches on dates in the FIFA Coordinated International Match Calendar,” KPL stated in another dig at the federation.

In the past, FKF has organised friendlies outside the Fifa calendar where the national head coach has called on KPL players to be bulk of the squad.

“However, KPL clubs may agree to release their players for longer periods than for other international tournaments and friendly matches on dates not in the FIFA Calendar on condition that FKF agrees to allocate KPL a reasonable share of all revenue for all national teams involving players from the domestic top flight,” the resolutions read further.

The league management body also gave guidelines on safeguarding allowances, accommodation, medical and related issues of their players on national duty saying they would hold back their players from Stars if FKF refused to abide by them.

“FIFA regulations touching on release of players is confined to an Association and a club and Football Kenya Federation will directly engage our member clubs for the local based players and or Association (s) and their members club (s) for the professional players.

“As we focus on the AFCON qualifiers starting in June 2015, the CHAN qualifiers in July the 2018 World Cup preliminary matches, international friendly matches and CECAFA Championships, we call for channeling of positive energy towards the national team,” the federation fired back.

With both FKF and KPL staring at another push and pull, Harambee Stars are yet to report to camp or outline a programme, despite the looming opening leg of their 2017 AFCON qualifiers away to Congo Brazzaville.

Kenya who bowed out at the preliminary round of the 2015 qualifiers will also take on 2012 winners Zambia and Guinea Bissau for the Gabon final continental showpiece.

The national team is also set to face Ethiopia in the CHAN qualifiers which features only locally based players, something that could complicate the issue if FKF fail to adhere to KPL’s new rules.

Sofapaka’s Abdul Razak Fiston in a past match.

NAIROBI, May 13 –Thika United failed to trim the gap at the top with champions Gor Mahia after falling 3-2 at home to GOtv Shield champions Sofapaka in a fast-paced Kenyan Premier League encounter on Wednesday.

At Nairobi’s Ruaraka Ground, a late own goal by defender George Owino rescued title-chasing Tusker FC in their 1-1 draw with former champions Mathare United who were sent ahead by Erick Johana.

With no win in two, Sofapaka who have had a slow start to the season found their range at the Thika Sub-County Stadium, were lifted by Burundian Fistol Abdul Razak’s brace to add on Ekaliana Ndolo’s opener in the first-half for what looked to be a comfortable 3-0 lead.

However, Thika who have surprised in becoming the closest challengers to runaway leaders and champions Gor staged an almost improbable comeback from the dead that just fell short.

Kevin Opiyo and Sammy Meja stunned Batoto ba Mungu in the last 10 minutesto leave last season’s runners-up barely hanging on and mightily relieved at the final whistle.

Sofapaka dislodged Ulinzi Stars from sixth on 18 points, one behind Thika who dropped to third to share points with Tusker who climbed to second after rescuing their own pride at the last at their Ruaraka home ground.

The 2009 champions enjoyed the better part of the first-half with Razak tormenting Thika on several occasions before feeding Ndolo for the first goal before scoring himself for a 2-0 lead at the breather.

-Razak double-

The Burundi star threatened 11 minutes into the second half when he picked the ball against the run of play but directed his shot to Thika keeper, Levis Omondi’s hands.

Three minutes later he made amends when he swung in a free-kick that was pounced on by Ndolo on the rebound who then slammed the ball past Omondi for his second goal of the season.

The host’s only chance came in the 16th through skipper Dennis Odhiambo’s header but Batoto ba Mungu custodian Evarise Mutuyimana was alert to the danger.

Approaching the half-hour mark, Razak almost doubled the lead when he went one-on-one with Omondi but failed to beat the keeper who came out of his line to deflect the ball out.

Three minutes to the break, Razak’s hard work finally paid off when he tapped in a Mutuyimana long cross for his fourth goal of the campaign.

Thika returned a rejuvinated side with Jackson Macharia dominating the midfield as they launched what was to be a spirited comeback.

Two minute after restart, Macharia set up Kennedy Otieno through on goal with Mutuyimana to beat but the keeper stood tall.

Kepha Aswani wasted two rapid fire chances after Macharia exchanged passes with Otieno to set him up but his last touch was too weak for the first before heading wide from Wycliffe Opondo’s cross.

At the other end, Razak punished the hosts to complete his brace after smashing home Collins Shivachi’s cross from close range.

Opiyo netted what as first appeared to be the consolation when he bullet strike from 30 yards brought the match to 1-3 and with Sofapaka still reeling Meja added the second from a free kick moments later and the fightback was on.

World 1500m champion Asbel Kiprop in a previous IAAF Diamond League meeting. He will launch his 2015 campaign in Doha on Friday

DOHA, May 14- Asbel Kiprop and Ethiopia’s Mohammed Aman, the men’s current 1500m and 800m world champions, race each other in Doha Friday as a stellar field gathers for the 2015 Diamond League opener.

The pair’s race is among a number of highlights in a meet which has attracted some of the sport’s biggest names, including controversial US sprinter Justin Gatlin, Britain’s double Olympian Mo Farah and America’s 200m Olympic champion Allyson Felix, who will be seeking an 11th victory in Qatar.

Even the late withdrawal through injury this week of French pole vault world record holder Renaud Lavillenie has failed to dampen expectations over the athletics season’s curtain-raiser.

Ethiopia’s Aman and Kenya’s Kiprop clash in the 800m, the distance which the former is currently the world champion, both indoors and outdoors.

But it is the 21-year-old’s first race of the season and although he won at the same meet in Qatar last year, he is likely to come under pressure from Kiprop, the current 1500m world champion who won over 800m in Doha in 2011.

Local interest in this race will come in the shape of Qatar’s Musaeb Abdulrahman Balla, who won the Arab Championships title in April.

Another middle-distance highlight is the Doha debut of Farah.

The Briton, the current world, Olympic and European champion at 5,000m and 10,000m said on Twitter that he was “good to go” on Friday and has been pictured enjoying himself on a Doha beach.

But he has been warned he will be challenged by Kenya’s Isaiah Kiplangat, who was reported as saying earlier this week: “I will see where I belong at the Doha meeting.

“The season is starting and every athlete wants to win. But I have to see how I fare on with the best and that is why it is important to put in my best against Farah.”

In the men’s 100m, Gatlin will try to continue the exceptional form he showed last season.

The resurgent American won all of his fifteen 100m races last year and set the world’s fastest time over the distance in 2014, clocking 9.77 seconds.

The 33-year-old, who has seen out a four-year doping ban, looks already to be in good form in 2015, having been part of a victorious US team at the World Relays earlier this month.

Among those he will be up against is a teammate from the relays, Michael Rodgers, Britain’s European champion James Dasaolu and the veteran sprinter from St Kitts & Nevis, Kim Collins.

- “I love diamonds!” -

In the women’s events, Felix will be seeking a third 200m Doha victory to go with her three over 100m and five at 400m in Qatar.

“It’s no secret I love competing in Doha,” she said on Twitter earlier on Wednesday.

Another athlete making a Doha debut is the 400m Olympic champion Sanya Richards-Ross, who unlike many of the athletes who are just starting out their 2015 season, has already shown she is in top form.

Last weekend, at the Jamaica Invitational, she ran 49.95 at 400m, the best time so far this year.

“I’d really like to win the Diamond League trophy this season,” she said earlier this week. “Everyone that follows me knows I love diamonds so it’s only right!”

2015 IAAF Diamond League calendar

May 15 – Doha; May 17 – Shanghai; May 30 – Eugene, United States; June 4 – Rome; June 7 – Birmingham, England; June 11 – Oslo; June 13 – New York; July 4 – Paris; July 9 – Lausanne; July 17 – Monaco; july 24 (two days) – London; July 30 – Stockholm; Sept 3 – Zurich; Sept 11 – Brussels.

NAIROBI, May 13 – Despite dropping points for the third time this season at Western Stima last weekend, head coach Frank Nuttall is hopeful champions Gor Mahia will finish the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) first leg unbeaten.

With only four matches to the end of the opening half of the campaign, Gor have won eight and drawn three to comfortably lead the log on 27 points, eight ahead of closest challengers Tusker FC and Thika United in their race to complete a treble of successive league crowns.

The record 14-time champions welcome basement side Nakuru All Stars on Sunday at their Nairobi City Stadium fortress, a side that ended their unbeaten run last season with a shock 2-0 first-leg defeat.

However, Nuttall who had not joined K’Ogalo by then, is not worried by past records, saying a lot has changed in both teams, choosing to remain upbeat his charges will pick maximum points against a woeful team who have lost nine and picked only a single victory thus far.

“I’m proud of my tenure, I wasn’t part of the team that lost the unbeaten run and this current squad wasn’t part of it either. All Stars have changed as well so the names are the same but details are different.

“We had a very tough outing last weekend in travelling and playing so, I’m satisfied to come out with four points from western Kenya. Going to this weekend’s game, we are busy preparing to ensure everybody is ready and focused,” said Nuttall who has lost just once with K’Ogalo since succeeding Scottish countryman and Harambee Stars head coach Bobby Williamson last September.

His performance has set a local league record for the former fallen Scottish giants Glasgow Rangers trainer where an unbeaten run to mid season would leave him unmatched since the advent of the KPL era in 2007.

In spite of Gor firmly remaining on course of emulating the class of 1988 who are the only K’Ogalo squad to have completed the national title hat-trick in a row, Nuttall conceded the 2015 season has not been a stroll in the park for the champions.

“The league is very competitive especially for Gor because every team that plays against us raises their game. When they play other teams they don’t play with the same level and intensity but when they play Gor, they treat it as a cup final so we have the hardest task.

“I’m not interested on records but in winning games. It’s nice to be top of the league at the moment and going to the next game, we have the possibility of getting three points,” the Scotsman emphasized.

Nuttall virtually brought in new blood for his starting XI this term, retaining defenders Musa Mohammed and Harun Shakava as well as midfielders Collins Okoth and Godfrey Walusimbi from last season’s title winning squad.

“It’s healthy to have competition for various positions throughout the squad, that’s how I want it. If it makes my life difficult in terms of decision making then I’m happy to do that,” the coach who relegated captain and keeper, Jerim Onyango as well as midfielder Eric Ochieng to the bench risking the wrath of the passionate Green Army had results gone the other way explained.

Gor who have already bagged one title this season, the DStv Super Cup are in the contention for the GOtv Shield and Cecafa Club Championships besides the league in what would set new local standards with the quadruple.

NAIROBI, May 14 – Ugandan international striker, Dan Sserunkuma is set for a prodigal return to Kenyan Premier League (KPL) champions Gor Mahia after spurning advances from bitter rivals AFC Leopards in the race for his signature.

Sserunkuma placed KPL on red alert when he severed his contract with Tanzanian giants; Simba SC with Leopards and an unnamed Zambian club joining Gor in scrambling to sign him in a tussle K’Ogalo have apparently won according to reports on Thursday.

Club secretary, Ronald Ngala told Capital Sport they have agreed on a memorandum of understanding for the striker to rejoin the side he top scored for last season with 17 goals when the June KPL transfer window opens.

“Sserunkuma is yet to make up his mind on which team he will join. He just became a free agent the other day so we will only be involved if he shows interest.

“It will depend on the technical bench if they are interested in his services but if you ask me I will welcome him back,” Ngala told in stating the prodigal return was not a done deal yet.

Dreadlocked Uganda Cranes forward inspired K’Ogalo to back to back national titles has reportedly agreed to an initial six month deal with the champions.

It remains to be seen how head coach Frank Nuttall will reintegrate Sserunkuma to his squad that remains unbeaten 11 games to the season with an eight point cushion at the top having managed to wean the team out of dependency on his impressive strike rate.

Lanky student Michael Olunga has blossomed with seven goals so far in a forward partnership with Rwandan Meddie Kagere with Ali Abondo also weighing in with the goals from midfield to fill in the void.

Sserunkuma departed Gor to join Simba for a one-year deal, but the deal went sour after failing to establish himself at the club, making just 17 appearances and notching five goals in all competition.

On Monday the former Express FC, Victors FC and Nairobi City Stars forward said, “I will now sit with my agent and decide on the best options available for my career development.”

Arch rivals AFC Leopards management made a spirited attempt to woo Sserunkuma to the Den to reunite him with the man who brought him to the KPL, Zradvko Logarusic.

Under Logarusic, Sserunkuma was declared the 2012 KPL Footballer of the Year in a campaign where Gor were beaten to the crown by a whisker by Tusker FC on the final day.

NAIROBI, May 14 – Media rights partners, MP & Silva will  make no further payments to Football Kenya Federation (FKF) to honour their Sh2.3b ($2.5 million) annual five-year sponsorship deal of the FKF-Premier League.

In a letter obtained by Capital Sport sent to FKF president, Sam Nyamweya and NEC Members signed by Chief Operations Officer Roberto Dalmiglio, the agency states it will not add to the USD833,000 (Sh80, 120,436, 020.54) they have paid out thus far to honour the contract.

“Therefore as mentioned above we consider remaining Minimum Guarantee for the Season 2015 equal to Zero. Any additional revenue exceeding the already paid USD 833,000 will be split 60% to MPS and 40% to FKF, in order to recover also the costs that MPS has sustained till now,” read the letter dated May 13.

Speaking to Capital Sport in response, FKF president Sam Nyamweya said the letter had not reached them expressing doubt about its authenticity.

“We do not have the letter, it has not come to us. We shall deal with this matter tomorrow (Friday) but what I can tell you is we have met our part of the contract.

“Everybody in the world knows which is the top flight competition in Kenya. We gave them a list of all the teams playing and how can anyone claim to sponsor a league he does not know?” the football chief told.

MP & Silva give a raft of damning reasons to pull the plug on financing the deal including; poor quality of the FKF-PL that is essentially second tier, lack of interest from the country’s free to air television stations, ambiguity of their broadcast arrangement for Harambee Stars and claims of forgery in their contract with the federation.

“The League that Azam is currently broadcasting is second tier in terms of quality. None of the Clubs that signed the attachment to the main contract are playing in FKF-PL, let alone one of the two big Clubs who’s participation had been promised,” Dalmiglio wrote.

“Due to the quality of the League no FTA operator and no Telco operator has considered to enter into any sort of agreement. No draft of an MOU between FKF-PL and KPL has still been provided to us.

“No official agreement related to the now called GoTv Cup has been extended to us, therefore we are not being able, at this moment in time, to provide FKF with an evaluation of the property, once expiring,” the firm further outlined.

The letter validated reports the copies of the contract the federation presented to the firm were dubious with the COO citing it a main reason to withhold further monies.

“There is a clear discrepancy between the attachment to the contract between us that had been sent via e-mail and the original hard copy received by courier; the press has been talking about a “forgery”; we just are aware that a discrepancy needs to be explained,” he stated.

On Harambee Stars, MP & Silva uphold; “There is no clear evidence from your end, although many times requested, that the Qualifiers to CAF competitions and to the World Cup are at your full disposal as, declared under your own liability in the contract.”

The letter however, maintains the firm is not severing its ties giving room for the federation to iron out the issues before their agreement can be sustained or any other action, legal or otherwise, taken in default.

“Should the situation be normalized starting next season we will consider returning to the original terms of our agreement. We remain at your disposal to discuss this in more detail,” Dalmiglio concludes.

“We have been renegotiating the agreement, that is true but that does not mean we have failed anyway to honour our end. There is no indication our five-year partnership will be terminated,” Nyamweya outlined.

In March, FKF signed reported Sh202m (USD2m) shillings three-year broadcast deal with Tanzania based Azam TV to beam FKF-PL’s games live and produce magazine programmes, a competition the marketing firm now terms unsellable.

Harambee Stars are due to set off their 2017 Afcon qualification campaign next month against Congo Brazzaville with previous games under the CAF banner televised via their media partners Sport 5.

NAIROBI, May 15- Football Kenya Federation (FKF) has conceded all is not well in their marriage with media rights company MP&Silva by confirming they are renegotiating terms of their Sh2.3b ($2.5 million) annual five-year sponsorship on Friday.

In a statement seeking to ‘clarify’ reports the firm had stopped further payouts to the federation to sponsor their FKF-Premier League having paid out an initial USD 833,000 (Sh80.3m), FKF said the transitional 2015 season had made it difficult for them to execute their end of the contract.

Further, the unsigned announcement posted on their website struck a conciliatory tone with FKF inviting stakeholders to the negotiating table in a departure from their hard stance earlier in the year when they tried to bulldoze through a new 18-team Premier League format and broadcast rights by shoehorning MP&Silva into the existing agreement.

“However, the unique situation that the country has got to bear for the remainder of the 2015 season, which is a transitional period for Kenyan football, forms the basis to respectfully engage with all stakeholders with a view of creating the right understanding so that the posterity and development of the Kenyan game is the winner in the long run,” the statement read.

“That underscores our willingness to indulge with all stakeholders with a view of managing the pertinent issues so that the transition is properly managed for the good of our game.

“As proposed by its partners by MP&Silva, FKF is willing to renegotiate, a process which will be guided by contractual obligations and/or rights, which are enforced from the date of signing the deal yet the process remains tenaciously within the framework of the confidentiality clause which we are bound as the parties to the contract,” the federation who were stunned when the letter addressed to them by MP&Silva found its way to local newsrooms stated.

They appealed for calm among FKF-PL affiliated clubs promising to “expeditiously move to iron out the pertinent issues” in frank admission the funds had stopped flowing from MP&Silva as the contents of their letter addressed to FKF president, Sam Nyamweya and NEC Members outlined.

Not done, FKF told parties outside the contract, particularly the media to keep their noses out of the ongoing discussions by citing, “Once again, a reminder that, issues of contract are guided by law and strictly remain relevant and confidential only to the parties involved.”

On Thursday it emerged MP & Silva will make no further payments to honour their annual five-year sponsorship deal of the FKF-Premier League but Nyamweya scoffed the letter off saying they had not received it when reached for comment only for them to issue a statement 24 hours later clarifying the situation.

“We have been renegotiating the agreement, that is true but that does not mean we have failed anyway to honour our end. There is no indication our five-year partnership will be terminated,” the president said yesterday when reached.

Chief Operations Officer Roberto Dalmiglio, stated it will not add a dime to the USD833,000 (Sh80, 120,436, 020.54) they have paid out thus far to honour the contract.

“Therefore as mentioned above we consider remaining Minimum Guarantee for the Season 2015 equal to Zero. Any additional revenue exceeding the already paid USD 833,000 will be split 60% to MPS and 40% to FKF, in order to recover also the costs that MPS has sustained till now,” read the letter dated May 13,” the letter to FKF read.

Part of six reasons they gave was the poor quality of the FKF-PL, lack of interest from the country’s free to air television stations, ambiguity of their broadcast arrangements for Harambee Stars and misrepresentation claims in the contracts they signed with the federation.

According to some of the guidelines of a Fifa brokered truce between FKF and top-flight management body Kenyan Premier League (KPL), all parties involved will meet in November to thrash out the composition of next season’s top flight and media rights for television and radio broadcasts.

KPL have a deal in place with South Africa’s SuperSport who beam their games and produce magazine shows across Africa on the DStv and GOtv platforms and share selected matches with national broadcaster, KBC whilst FKF-PL unveiled a similar deal with Tanzania’s Azam who have been shopping for a local free to air partner to beam the games across the country without success so far.

“The League that Azam is currently broadcasting is second tier in terms of quality. None of the Clubs that signed the attachment to the main contract are playing in FKF-PL, let alone one of the two big Clubs who’s participation had been promised,” Dalmiglio wrote.

NAIROBI, May 15 – After a disappointing run in the last eight tournaments, the national rugby sevens team are out to finish on a high as curtain comes down on the 2014–15 HSBC Sevens World Series this weekend in London.

Shujaa who are drawn in a relatively manageable Pool C with hosts England, Scotland and Brazil, will be looking to collect more than 10 points to surpass their best outing thus far in Wellington, New Zealand to redeem some pride.

Kenya are vying to win two of their group matches to increase their chances of reaching the Main Cup quarter-final in four outings for what would only be their second last eight showing this term.

On the other end of the spectrum. a titanic contest to win the overall title is on with leaders Fiji, South Africa and defending champions New Zealand chasing the coveted crown in a competition that has come down to the wire,

Felix Ochieng charges return to Twickenham, a stadium they reached the Plate final last season to battle for their reputation with their hardest test coming in their first game against hosts, England at 1:34pm local time (+3GMT).

Having failed to breakthrough England for the past two seasons, Shujaa will be seeking to end a seven matches losing streak against a side that has shattered their Cup quarters dreams four-times this season.

A rejuvenated England is taking nothing to chance since they only need to reach the Bowl final to automatically qualify for 2016 Rio Olympics Games to join Fiji, South Africa and New Zealand who sealed the first three slots at last weekend’s Glasgow 7s.

Both sides have retained line-ups that did duty in Scotland but group favourites England have the home advantage in a clash that will see the winner have one foot in the Cup last eight.

“This is the first time this season I have been able to pick the same 12 players for two back-to-back tournaments so it is a bit of a luxury for us. They are all fit, fresh and ready to go and that will give us a good level of consistency.

“Everyone is excited to play in front of their friends and family. To play the Marriott London Sevens in front of what will be no doubt a world-record crowd in the climax of the season is an incredibly exciting opportunity. They all can’t wait to get out there and do their very best in an England shirt,” England head Coach Simon declared.

At 4:18pm, Kenya will lock horns with Scotland, a side that is five places above them and despite being inconsistent they will be out to prove a point on enemy territory.

Shujaa will be buoyed by their good run against the Scots, having won 19-14 in their last meeting at Wellington 7s.

Scotland head coach Calum MacRae has made three changes handing forward Hugh Blake, winger Jamie Farndale and full-back Glenn Bryce their debut which he believes will give the Kenyan robust defence a hard time.

“The new caps will bring an attacking edge to the group as it is something that comes naturally to all three of them. Kenya are a physical and free running team, they have strong runners when given space to open up.”

Ochieng is expected to field an experienced starting line-up of, skipper Andrew Amonde, Humphrey Kayange, Dennis Ombachi, Collins Injera, Biko Adema, Billy Odhiambo and Michael Wanjala to punish the Scots on the breakdown with their speedy wide play.

At the same, Kenya has a task of tightening its defence, improving in the line-out and scrum that has cost them dearly in some of the matches they lost this season.

Shujaa will end the day against non-core invitee Brazil at 7:24pm in an encounter Ochieng boys enter as favourites.

Returning for its third tournament this year, Brazil is the only team this season to have been invited multiple times due to their automatic qualification for the Olympic Games as the host nation.

To date, not a single non-core team has won a match this season, though Brazil might notch a victory more likely on Day 2 than in pool play.

Despite a bumpy season of mixed results, Kenya is still in a class above Brazil.

At the top, three nations still hold a chance to claim the series title with Series leaders Fiji who last lifted the trophy in 2006 on course to end New Zealand’s four year dominance.

New Zealand Cup victory and a Fiji loss in the Cup quarter-finals, may see All Blacks claim a staggering 13th series championship–out of 16 seasons–and fifth consecutive.

Kenya local timings (+3 GMT)

England vs Kenya  1:34PM

Scotland vs Kenya 4:18pm

Kenya vs Brazil 7:24pm

Virginia Nyambura (left) and Ethiopia’s Hiwot Ayalew in the women 3000m steeplechase race at IAAF Diamond League meeting in Doha on Friday.

NAIROBI, May 16- Pacesetter Virginia Nyambura caused possibly the biggest upset of the night as she started the women’s 3000m steeplechase as a rabbit but, after leading the field through to the agreed 2000m point, carried on going to win in 9:21.51 as the IAAF Diamond League got off to an explosive start in Doha on Friday.

The protégé of world champion, Milcah Chemos was the only Kenyan winner in the star-studded sixth edition of the Qatar marquee track and field race that served up great shocks, with double Olympics and World champion, Britain’s Mo Farah taken down the altar by Ethiopia’s Hagos Gebrehiwot in the men 3000m closing race much to the delight of the strong contingent of East Africans in the stadium.

“I’m delighted my girl went out there and won the race. She’s an exciting talent to watch for this season,” ecstatic Chemos who won Commonwealth silver in an injury plagued last season said on phone.

Nyambura who helped her country to Distance Medley silver at the IAAF Bahamas World Relays less than a fortnight ago in Nassau where Kenya clocked 10:43.35 behind the USA announced her arrival to the big stage when she cobbled together a world leading victory to salvage pride for her nation.

The 21 year-old who launched her season with successive victories over 1500m at the third Safaricom Relay Series meeting on March 14 (4:11.8) and during the Trials for Bahamas (4:10.0) in Nairobi led the field through 1000m in 3:05.35 before crossing 2000m in 6:19.59.

Instead of leaving the competition to the top bills led by 2014 Diamond Race winner, Ethiopia’s Hiwot Ayalew, the African champion and Continental Cup silver winner, Nyambura motored on to the consternation of the favourites for her most famous victory yet.

Ayalew tried to eat up the ground over the homestretch but ended up second in 9:21.54 as another Kenyan Hyvin Kiyeng closed the podium in 9:22.11 in a race Worlds silver medallist, Lydia Chekurui finished fifth in 9:27.52.

Gebrhiwet showed Farah a clean air of heels over the last lap of the 3000m to win in 7:38.08. The Ethiopian held off a late surge from Britain’s double world, Olympic and European champion, as Farah failed to cover his rival’s move just before the bell and he had to come from a long way back but just came up short when finishing second in 7:38.22.

Djibouti’s Ayanleh Souleiman was a delighted winner of the men’s 800m in 1:43.78, confounding most pundits who had generally been predicting the race was going to be decided between Ethiopia’s world indoor and outdoor champion Mohammed Aman and Kenya’s world 1500m champion Asbel Kiprop.

In the end, neither man had any real impact on the race after Souleiman hit the front just before the final bend and held off all challengers.

Kiprop, who withdrew from Bahamas with a hamstring strain later saying that he still needed to do some speed work but was generally happy with the outcome, finished fifth in 1:45.11.

NAIROBI, May 16 – British forces, England and Scotland combined to dump listless Kenya 7s to the Bowl competition of London 7s after handing Shujaa back to back defeats on Saturday, obliterating their hopes of a flying finish to a woeful 2014-15 HSBC World Series.

The home team opened the floodgates on Felix ‘Toti’ Ochieng’s side in the opener, running in 40 unanswered points in the opening Pool C match before the Scots snuffed out any hopes they had of qualifying for their second Main Cup quarters of the campaign by beating them 12-26 in the second tie.

In their final pool game, Kenya’s shame was almost complete when they escaped with a heart-stopping 19-14 victory against the invited outsiders Brazil as the country’s adherent rugby supporters took to social media to slam the limp display.

Shujaa were left with the thankless task of playing for consolation later Saturday against non-core invitees Brazil, the hosts of Rio Olympics who suffered a 56-7 loss in their second match against England.

Ochieng who will now play for eight series points, made a single change in his starting line-up relegating Biko Adema to the bench for Oscar Ayodi.

Scotland’s earlier test by Brazil sparked them into life against Kenya, with Damian Hoyland opening the scoring before Dennis Ombachi found his feet to cut the Scottish lead when he handed off James Johnstone from a Humphrey Kayange pass.

Vice-captain and the country’s leading try scorer, Collins Injera gifted the Scots a second try when Mark Robertson reclaimed the lead with a solo break for a 21-5 lead at the break.

Shujaa returned energetic putting their pace and physical strength into great use and it didn’t take long before Billy Odihambo levelled the score from a Michael Wanjala pass for his 14th try of the season.

Lack of concentration in the breakdown saw Kenya pay the price from tries scored by debutants Hugh Blake and Jamie Farndale as Scotland pushed themselves forward to head to the Main Cup-quarters.

Against England, Ochieng who fielded a strong line-up was outclassed by the home team who grounded three converted tries in the opening half where poor Shujaa was dispossessed.

The hosts strategy of pulling the Kenyans inside before punishing them on the breakdown paid off with Dan Bibby opening the scoring when he dashed between skipper Andrew Amonde and Ombachi as Wanjala missed the tackle to go over from individual effort.

James Rodwell doubled the score two minutes later after maximizing Odhiambo’s knock on before Macus Watson once again made Shujaa pay from Kayange’s poor handing of the ball from the restart for a 21-0 half-time lead.

Ochieng introduced Ayodi, Tonny Opondo, Daniel Sikuta, Agustine Lugonzo and Bush Mwale on resumption but not of them could change the game nor find the try-line.

Watson added his second try after Ombachi missed the tackle before Alex Gray and Tom Bowen completed the rout and extend dominance over Kenya to nine matches and the biggest win since 2012.

Against Brazil, Odhiambo grounded twice with Ombachi adding a third to edge out Brazil who led 14-12 moments before the grace saving try.

NAIROBI, May 16 – The Kenyan Premier League (KPL) table has a traditional look after AFC Leopards moved up to second behind archrivals Gor Mahia after putting their Mombasa woes aside to brush off Muhoroni Youth 2-0 on Saturday.

In the first of the televised double header at Nairobi’s Nyayo National Stadium, Nairobi City Stars held Ushuru to a 1-1 draw while in Chemelil, Bandari forced the hosts to a similar result.

Jacob Keli fired Ingwe to the lead after only two minutes with a superb half-volley before skipper Jackson Saleh doubled the lead on the stroke of half-time to lead Leopards who were bailed out by former Prime Minister, Raila Odinga and Mombasa Governor Ali Hassan Joho after being stuck at their hotel down at the coast in commanding the right headlines.

This was Ingwe’s third successive win that lifted them to within six points behind champions Gor who are leading the log on 27 points ahead of Sunday’s clash against struggling Nakuru All Stars.

“It feels good to get three points although it was tough since fatigue came in the first half but I appreciate the boy’s worked very hard. Our strategy was to attack and that’s why we had may forwards.

“There are problems outside the pitch and inside, we are managing them and that’s why we are here but it’s another ball game. Our long-term goal is to finish in a respectable position,” Leopards assistant coach, Yusuf Chippo said after the win.

His opposite number, Francis Baraza who suffered his third successive defeat said lack of experience cost them.

“Conceding the early goal saw us change formation which ended up costing us but the boys tried.

“The bad outing so far puts me in pressure but I have a young team, we lost good players last season so we will struggle in the first-leg before we sign two or three seasoned players for us to finish top 10.”

Leopards welcomed back youngster Timonah Wanyonyi who missed their 2-1 win at Bandari on Tuesday due to illness to bench Fredrick Ndaaka.

Keli gave Ingwe a perfect start when he shielded Musa Mudde’s long ball to turn and with a brilliant half-volley that beat keeper Allan Owiny for his eighth goal of the season and lead the top scorer chart.

Keli then set up Noah Wafula who squandered the chance with his feeble shot that was easily picked by Owiny whilst at the other end; Wycliffe Kasaya made two back-to-back saves denying skipper Abbas Akinyemi and Wellington Ochieng.

Saleh capitalized on the visitor’s poor defending in the 43rd minute when he headed home Abdallah Juma’s corner to leave Baraza charges chase the second-half.

Despite bringing on Benjamin Mosha and Masita Masuta for Ebrahim Ateng and Jeremiah Wanjala Muhoroni could not come back in the game that saw Leopards head coach Zdravko Logarusic solidify his midfield.

Emmanuel Ngama, Michael Khamati and Wanyonyi were withdrawn for Noah Wafula, Clement Kabemba and Lamine Dialo to maintain the dominance in the midfield.

The last chance for Leopards came in the dying minutes but his header from Ngama cross couldn’t hit the target.

In the early kick-off, Bruno Sserunkuma scored in the second-half to rescue a point for City Stars who missed a penalty through Luis Masika who could have cancelled Muhammad Hassan’s opener.

In Chemelil, Anthony Kimani scored for the Dockers while Alloys Mangi netted for the host.

NAIROBI, May 17- Kenyans turned on the style at the second IAAF Diamond League meeting in Shanghai on Sunday to a lay a marker for the forthcoming World Championships that will be held at the Chinese capital on August.

World champion Eunice Sum, Worlds silver winner, Silas Kiplagat and Diamond League winner, Jairus Kipchoge launched their international track season with victories whilst former World Junior champion, Viola Kibiwott was only beaten to second by a stunning solo effort from Ethiopia’s sensation Almaz Ayana.

Kiplagat, who did not defend his Commonwealth title last year in Scotland after an injury plagued season started the Kenyan charge for honours when he led a podium sweep in the men 1500m race.

A controlled kick over the last lap gave Kiplagat victory in a world leading time of 3:35.29 as eight men fought for the line down the home straight.

The Kenyan kicked off his Diamond Race defence by coming from behind to defeat compatriot Hilary Ngetich whose ran a PB of 3:35.40 in second with Collins Cheboi third.

“I’m very happy to win here. To compete in China is amazing. The crowds here are very good. I did not expect to win here because I have a small injury on my Achilles three weeks ago.

“It is my fastest race of the season. My main goal is Beijing. I’m looking forward to compete in China. I gave my best and it goes very well,” Kiplagat said after the race.

A late run from US newcomer Ben Blankenship was enough for fourth in 3:35.48, a PB by more than a second, as the first eight finishers moved to the top of this year’s world list.

-Birech warns Kemboi- 

Birech, who was surprisingly beaten to silver Jonathan Muia Ndiku in the Commonwealth final having won all honours before and after; re-established his reputation as the man to beat in the run-up to the Worlds by completing his second successive crushing victory in Shanghai.

A bold piece of front-running from Birech brought the defending Diamond Race champion an impressive victory over a raft of fellow Kenyans in a world leading time of 8:05.36.

Birech picked up where he left off in 2014 as he broke clear after 2km and strode away from Beijing Olympic bronze medallist Paul Koech and Conseslus Kipruto, the 2013 world silver medallist, to win by more than six seconds.

Koech fought hard to stay in touch but had to be satisfied with second in 8:11.39 while Kipruto was another three seconds back in 8:14.59 as Kenyans filled the top eight spots.

The winner then confirmed his sights are firmly set on toppling three-time champion, Ezekiel Kemboi from his crown at the summer Worlds in Beijing.

“What a fantastic race! It was tough and I felt a lot of wind especially from the 300-200m point. I trained to pass steeples and it went well.

“I already have a good feeling and I want to train harder for the season. I am confident of running a new PB and get gold in Beijing,” the 22 year-old sounded out as warning to the two-time Olympics champion on his intent to dethrone him from the crown.

Commonwealth and African champion Sum sealed her first win of 2015 in 2:00.28 to put her on track to defend the Diamond Race trophy she clinched by 13 points in 2014.

Chased hard by compatriot Janeth Jepkosgei, the Kenyan who won 14 800m races last year strode away from a field of sub-2 minute runners to win by almost half a second.

Morocco’s fast-finishing Malika Akkaoui stole through on the inside for second in 2:00.73 while her mother in athletics and former champion, Jepkosgei held on for third, the 2007 world champion clocking 2:01.14 ahead of USA’s World Relay gold medallist Molly Ludlow.

“I didn’t expect to win here. It was a bit windy. Next race, I hope to win below two minutes. The crowd was screaming and it was a great feeling,” the Moscow Worlds titleholder said.

The World bronze medallist produced a brilliant front-running victory to smash the Shanghai meeting and Diamond League records.

The 23-year-old Ethiopian took the lead at half way and gradually pulled away from a field of east African rivals to win in 14:14.32, a time only her legendary compatriots Tirunesh Dibaba and Meseret Defar have ever bettered.

It was a bravura display from the African champion who left Kenya’s Viola Kibiwot adrift over the final 1000m as she powered towards victory.

She was some 30m clear by the time she took the bell in 13:08, with Dibaba’s world record of 14:11.15 very much within sight. But despite a great effort over the last lap, she fell just three seconds short. Kibiwot was second in 14:40.32 while world cross country silver medallist Senbere Teferi took a surprise third for Ethiopia in 14:41.98, the 20-year-old beating her previous best by more than a minute and 20 seconds.

There were PBs right through the field – nine in all – as the first seven women beat 15 minutes.

“Second place is good. It’s the opening of the season, it’s a good beginning. I was trying to catch up with Ayana but she was too fast. I will try my best to join the national team in Kenya and win a medal in Beijing.

“I like the atmosphere here and I think it will be wonderful too in Beijing,” the beaten Kibiwott who was thrilled by following the untouchable winner across the line said.

Kirani James runs to the finish line to win the men’s special 400-meter dash at the Drake Relays athletics meet in APril. He won the 400m race at Shanghai Diamond League on Sunday.

 SHANGHAI, May 17- Olympic 400m champion Kirani James stormed to victory at the Shanghai Diamond League Sunday, but Jamaican Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce was a disappointing fifth in the 100m before her world title defence. 

James powered across the finishing line on 44.66 secs, well ahead of Americans Tony McQuay in second and world champion LaShawn Merritt in third.

It was a dominant performance from James and a psychological boost as he gears up for the World Athletics Championships in Beijing in August, when he will be seeking to reclaim from Merritt the title he won in 2011.

“It is always a great atmosphere and a great field,” he said, following his second successive victory at the Shanghai meet.

“It was very tough but I am very happy,” the Grenadian added.

The women’s 100m event featured another athlete finding top form in Shanghai. Nigeria’s Blessing Okagbare easily outpaced highly-decorated Jamaican sprinters Fraser-Pryce and Veronica Campbell-Brown.

Okagbare produced a season’s best 10.98 secs, with Campbell-Brown in fourth and Olympic champion Fraser-Pryce in fifth.

The result is a blow for Fraser-Pryce in her first 100m of the season, only weeks before she defends her 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay titles in the Chinese capital.

“The feeling is OK,” the 28-year-old said after the race. “I am looking forward to my next race. What comes, comes.”

Okagbare, who won the 200m and the long jump at last year’s meet in Shanghai, was ecstatic at her victory Sunday.

“It is not easy to compete with the best in the world but I won,” she said. “Shanghai loves me and the track loves me.”

In the field events, Mutaz Essa Barshim of Qatar won his high jump showdown with Ukraine’s Bohdan Bondarenko with a season’s best 2.38m.

The pair dominated the event last season. Bondarenko, the world champion, reached 2.42m last June before Barshim produced 2.43m in Brussels last September to clinch the Diamond League title.

The Diamond League meeting in Shanghai is the second in the 14-leg circuit.

Shanghai Diamond League results

Men

Long jump

1. Aleksandr Menkov (RUS) 8.27 m

2. Jeff Henderson (USA) 8.26

3. Wang Jianan (CHN) 8.25

Discus

1. Piotr Malachowski (POL) 64.65 m

2. Robert Urbanek (POL) 64.47

3. Vikas Gowda (IND) 63.90

High Jump

1. Mutaz Essa Barshim (QAT) 2.38 m

2. Bohdan Bondarenko (UKR) 2.32

3. Zhang Guowei (CHN) 2.32

400m

1. Kirani James (GRN) 44.66

2. Tony McQuay (USA) 45.54

3. LaShawn Merritt (USA) 45.58

200m

1. Alonso Edward (PAN) 20.33

2. Julian Forte (JAM) 20.36

3. Nickel Ashmeade (JAM) 20.44

1,500m 

1. Silas Kiplagat (KEN) 3:35.29 

2. Hillary Cheruiyot Ngetich (KEN) 3:35.40 

3. Collins Cheboi (KEN) 3:35.46 

3,000m steeplechase 

1. Jairus Kipchoge Birech (KEN) 8:05.36 

2. Paul Kipsiele Koech (KEN) 8:11.39 

3. Conseslus Kipruto (KEN) 8:14.59

110m hurdles

1. David Oliver (USA) 13.17

2. Orlando Ortega (CUB) 13.19

3. Aries Merritt (USA) 13.25

Women

Shot put

1. Gong Lijiao (CHN) 20.23 m

2. Christina Schwanitz (GER) 19.94

3. Tia Brooks (USA) 18.66

Triple jump

1. Caterine Ibarguen (COL) 14.85 m

2. Olha Saladukha (UKR) 14.62

3. Olga Rypakova (KAZ) 14.38

Javelin

1. Lu Huihui (CHN) 64.08 m

2. Sunette Viljoen (RSA) 63.60

3. Kimberley Mickle (AUS) 63.60

Pole vault

1. Nikoleta Kiriakopoulou (GRE) 4.73 m

2. Katerina Stefanidi (GRE) 4.58

3. Yarisley Silva (CUB) 4.58

400m hurdles

1. Kaliese Spencer (JAM) 54.71

2. Tiffany Williams (USA) 55.27

3. Cassandra Tate (USA) 55.68

800m

1. Eunice Jepkoech Sum (KEN) 2:00.28

2. Milika Akkaoui (MAR) 2:00.73

3. Janeth Jepkosgei (KEN) 2:01.14

100m

1. Blessing Okagbare (NGR) 10.98

2. Tori Bowie (USA) 11.07

3. Michelle-Lee Ahye (TTO) 11.13

5,000m

1. Almaz Ayana (ETH) 14:14.32

2. Viola Jelagat Kibiwot (KEN) 14:40.32

3. Senbere Teferi (Eth) 14:41.98

Gor Mahia fans in full voice at Nyayo Stadium.

NAIROBI, May 17- Rwandese international Meddie Kagere scored a breathtaking goal to inspire champions Gor Mahia to turn in a five-star performance when they blew-apart bottom side Nakuru All Stars 5-0 to extend their lead at the top of the Kenyan Premier League on Sunday.

The televised match at Nairobi’s Nyayo National Stadium will long be etched in memory after Kagere’s wizardly bamboozled All Stars keeper to score what is an early candidate for goal of the season for his brace with Michael Olunga, a penalty from Victor Ali Abondo and Harun Shakava’s late header sealing the emphatic win.

Elsewhere, title chasing Tusker FC fell off the wagon when struggling KCB stunned them 1-0 at Nairobi’s City Stadium as Ulinzi Stars marched on by beating home team Thika United 2-1 with resurgent 2008 champions, Mathare United edging Western Stima 2-1 in the first of the double header at Nyayo.

Sofapaka rose to third, same number of points with second placed AFC Leopards on 21 with a 2-1 victory over Sony Sugar with unbeaten Gor 12 ahead of the pack.

Gor opened the floodgates in the second half as they bid to be the first team to finish the first half of the season unbeaten with three games left.

“We were lifted by the first goal since All Stars were working extremely hard so I was a bit concerned but once it came it gave the boys morale. I’m impressed with the team’s good display. Kagere has settled well, he works hard to assist and score goals. He has a potential to score many goals,” Gor head coach Frank Nuttall said after the win.

His opposite number, Peter Okidi turned to biased officiating to explain his team’s capitulation offering, “The fourth official had added two minutes which had already elapsed by the time we conceded the goal so if the referee could have stick on that the match could have ended goalless at the first half. In the second half we donated goals to them.”

All Stars custodian, Shyne Indimuli was sensational in the first-half doing well to Ali Abondo, Olunga and Kagere before the latter broke the deadlock on the fifth minute of added on time at the end of the period.

Gor, who entered the encounter at the back of a barren draw at Stima, showed early intent of getting back to their winning ways with Kagere’s bicycle kick missing the target by inches.

Poor clearance from Indimuli at the quarter hour mark could have seen All Stars concede the opener but Rwandese international failed to capitalise on the glorious chance, blasting wide from Olunga’s pass from close range in what could amount as a miss of the season.

More frustration for the Green Army who were at good voice was to come with Collins Okoth’s header rattling the cross bar from a Kirim Nzigiyimana thrown in.

All Stars only chance came in the 40th but veteran Hillary Echesa shot wide instead of chipping over Gor keeper Boniface Oluoch who had come off his line.

Kagere who has started his KPL life on fire ensured the champions went to the break when he scored with a low header past Indimuli from an Abuoba Sibomana delivery.

The champions returned from the breather firing on all cylinders with Indimuli denying Abondo who unleashed a cracker minutes after restart before Elias Kipkeboi cleared Olunga’s effort off the line.

With 20 minutes to full time, Gor ran riot, with Olunga getting them on their way when he placed his header past Indimuli from a Sibomana cross for his sixth of the campaign.

Two minutes later, Kipkemboi gifted Gor a penalty when he muscled Olunga down to the turf in the box with Abondo making no mistake from the spot for his eighth of the campaign to move level with Leopard’s Jacob Keli on top of the scoring charts.

Then the moment of magic arrived. Teddy Simwa delivered a poor back pass that Kagere raced on to and left Indimuli rooted to the ground when he mesmerised him with a dizzying turn then a back flick that took him put him of the equation before calmly placing the ball to the net for his brace and eighth strike of the campaign.

There was still time for defender Shakava to add gross to the scoreline when he ghosted into the box and netted with a header in stoppage town to set off manic celebrations among the Green Army who made a triumphant noisy entry to Nairobi’s Central Business District in song and dance.

Collins Injera autographs the ball after scoring his 203rd World Series try. Kenya won the London 7s Bowl on Sunday.

NAIROBI, May 17 – Kenya closed their disappointing 2014-15 HSBC World Series campaign by turning on the style on Sunday to win the Bowl trophy of the season ending London 7s.

In a season characterised by many lows, vice-captain Collins Injera left the UK tour with the honour of notching his 203rd career try in the elite rugby sevens circuit as Shujaa ran out 26-7 winners over Argentina in the third tier decider.

The win saw Felix Ochieng’s side collect eight points to finish 13th overall on 46 points, a deep drop from last season where they were ranked seventh on 84 points.

As Shujaa lick the wounds, former head coach, Mike Friday guided USA to their first Main Cup title when his charges demolished Australia 45-22 in the gold medal match leaving Kenya wondering what might had been had he stayed put.

Fiji who were already confirmed series winners beat home team England 26-12 in the third and fourth play-off and will be joined as automatic qualifiers for the 2016 Rio Olympics by Plate finalists, New Zealand who hit South Africa 26-14 for that title.

-Injera surpasses 200-

Injera hit the right headlines in a campaign that has drained hope for Kenya when he became the third man in history to score over 200 tries to remain third on the all time top try scorers list behind leader Santiago Gomez from Argentina and England’s Ben Gollings.

“Hopefully I can catch Gomez, especially if I play  next year. It’s a great feeling to reach 200 tries. I’d like thank all my teammates for helping me reach this special milestone,” Injera gushed after attaining the mark against Japan.

His elder brother Humphrey Kayange praised the country’s record try scorer, “I think that we didn’t start the tournament well yesterday and we let ourselves down but we picked ourselves up today.

“It was great to see Collins Injera get to 200 tries and we are all massively proud of the work that he has done and contributed to the team.”

Shujaa were relegated to the Bowl competition after hosts England and Scotland ended their dreams of reaching a second Main Cup quarter-final as Kenya only managed to beat Brazil in the Group.

Day Two saw Felix Ochieng charges win three out of three edging out Samoa 38-7 to storm the final and eliminating Japan 24-12 the quarters.

Against Argentina, Kenya grounded four tries in a repeat of Las Vegas Bowl final where they beat the Pumas 24-12.

Argentina set up the tone with Gaston Revol punching through a huge gap in defence to open the scoring, at the other end Odhiambo made hard yards before feeding Injera for the leveller.

Odhiambo quickly got his own only seconds later as Kenya strided ahead on a 14-7 lead at the breather.

Both sides tested each other on resumption and it took patience to build the next score from Oscar Ayodi after many phases.

The score sparked Argentina as they build their own attack but substitute Bush Mwale extended the lead from Ayodi pass that sealed the win even as Rodrigo Etchart scored a consolation.

Against Samoa, Injera, Odhiambo and Ombachi grounded braces each to see Kenya record their biggest victory in the tournament.

Injera opened the scoring seconds after kick-off when Kayange set him up from Biko Adema’s kick-start but poor defence saw Faalemiga Selesele hit back.

Ombachi restored the lead when he powered through to go over for his second try before Odhiambo touched down on the hooter for a 19-7 lead.

Odhiambo completed his brace seconds after restart from a Michael Wanjala pass to kill Samoa’s possible comeback as Injera romped home for another score once again from Kayange pass to send Kenya to the final.

Against Japan, Kayange set the pace in a one way opening half when he picked the ball from the rack few metres from the try-line to go over for his 148th career try.

Ombachi doubled the lead from a solo effort when he made good use of his strength and speed to touch down his fourth of the season from a Odhiambo long pin point pass.

Then cometh the hour; cometh the man as Injera used his brilliant skills to dash between two Japanese defenders to sprint and touch down his 200th try.

He went on to celebrate in style when he picked a pen in his stockings to sign an autograph on the ball before repeating the trick for cameras.

Odhiambo sealed the win with his fourth try of the tournament to see Kenya lead 24-0 at the break.

Japan scored their consolation after the break.

Collins Injera auditions the camera lens after notching his 200th try at London 7s.

LONDON, May 18- Everyone loves a special celebration when a player reaches a particularly important landmark. 

But Kenyan sevens international Collins Injera may have taken his commemoration of a try a little too far, destroying an expensive camera in the process.

Injera scored his 200th try for his country in a win over Japan at the London sevens at Twickenham, and decided to celebrate by signing a rugby ball.

It was obviously a pre-planned celebration, as he pulled a marker pen from his sock, picked up a ball and wrote his name on it.

However, at that point Injera seemed to get carried away, also signing the lens of a television camera.

Unfortunately, Injera didn’t seem to realise that permanent marker is not suitable for a camera lens, and he had just ruined a piece of equipment worth around £60,000 (Sh 9,055,131).

According to World Rugby, ‘the cameraman was far from impressed… the lens that Injera signed (with permanent ink!) costs around £60,000′.

The try took Injera, who is third in the all-time list of scorers in the sport, to within 30 of leader Santiago Gomez Cora of Argentina.

He said afterwards that he was hoping to catch Cora and become the all-time greatest – although if he does, cameramen everywhere will be worried.

-By DailyMail