Moscow, Russia, August 15- Abeba Aregawi beat Jenny Simpson for the gold medal in the women’s 1500m at the Luzhniki Stadium on Thursday night using the simple strategy of taking the US runner’s best asset, and executing it better.

Simpson closed like an express train to take the title in Daegu two years ago; an express train with a great big, radiant smile spread across its face. Aregawi, too, has excellent closing speed and, after running a world lead 3:56.60 in Doha back in May, she has honed that speed in most of her other races.

Simpson came here in great form, having won over a strong field, albeit one without Aregawi, at the Monaco Diamond League meeting in a fast 4:00.48.

In a role reversal of sorts, Simpson led here, though at a pace which left plenty in reserve for a kick. She went through 400m in 1:05.73 and 800m in 2:13.92.

Aregawi was always close behind and moved to the lead as the field started the final lap. She led at 1200m after a 1:04.99 third lap. That was the fastest of the race, but still not that fast in a World Championships final.

Now Aregawi played her final card, sprinting from the 300m mark with the defending champion close behind, her potent kick in reserve. Having gained two or three metres, Aregawi would not let any of it go. Simpson would not give up, either, and crept a little bit closer half-way along the straight.

That was as close as she got, however, and Aregawi, fifth in the Olympic final last year for her native Ethiopia, won a World Championships gold medal this year for her adopted Sweden. She crossed the line in 4:02.67 to Simpson’s 4:02.99.

Aregawi ran 58.89 for the last lap and 43.76 for the final 300m. It is hard to get by someone running that fast unless they falter, and Aregawi did not.

Hellen Obiri of Kenya, who had tripped in the past two global championships finals, took the bronze medal in 4:03.86 after racing close to the lead the whole way. Hannah England, who took the silver medal in Daegu, again charged home along the final straight, but this time missed the medals.

Of the others who were in contention, Faith Kipyegon and Genzebe Dibaba, second and third on the world list at 3:56.98 and 3:57.54 in the fast Doha race, finished fifth and eighth, respectively.

Kipyegon was there had she been good enough on the night, Dibaba pushed towards the lead several times but could never settle into a position from which to mount a final challenge.

Zoe Buckman of Australia, a revelation in winning her semi-final the night before, again found a good position just behind Simpson and Aregawi most of the way.

But her finishing speed was not as good as the medallists and she finished seventh in 4:05.77. If she continues her progress from here, she could be a challenger to the top women in the next few years.

So, too, could Mary Cain, the 17-year-old US prodigy who became the youngest ever World finalist in the event. She was never a real factor in the final – she finished 10th in 4:07.19 – but her presence in it suggests immense future possibilities.

Moscow, Russia-Uganda’s Stephen Kiprotich became just the second man to win the Marathon at back-to-back Olympic Games and IAAF World Championships when he strode to victory around the streets of Moscow on a blistering hot Saturday afternoon.

He showed that his win at the London 2012 Olympic Games was not just a flash in the pan but that he is a great championship by shrugging off three top-quality Ethiopian runners before crossing the line in the Luzhniki Stadium in 2:09:51.

“I am happy that I wrote history for my country once again. Last year people did not expect the Olympic title. Today, I proved that I am a champion and that I can beat the world. I realized that I could win at 40km, then I just kept pushing. I decided to break away but my competitors were strong and I had to apply some tactics. I am happy that I could win another medal for my country”, said Kiprotich.

Asked what the difference was between the Olympic and the World titles, Kiprotich said smiled disarmingly: “The Olympic gold was better, the World gold is much better”.

“The conditions were very tough and unfavourable but I was determined because I knew that it was the only chance for Uganda to get a medal. I was sure that I was going for a win”, said Kiprotich.

Stephen Kiprotich hails the Cheptiyal Village in the Kapchwora District of Uganda, which nestles close to the Kenyan border. He was initially inspired the by Ugandan international Francis Musani, who is just six years older than Kiprotich, to take up running.

“I used to see Musani and other boys jogging near home in the morning. I also picked interest and I began running. I started running when I was at the Kaminy Primary School where I met a teacher called Patrick Chemonges who encouraged me to run.”

To start with, Kiprotich prioritised his studies over running and he was a far from an obvious talent half-heartedly committing himself to the sport in his mid-teens.

Not a bad start

“I made my debut at the World Cross Country Championships in Fukuoka where I finished 24th. I wouldn’t say that I performed badly because it was my first appearance at an International race”

His modest success during 2006 spurred him on to start training seriously and decided to quit school to focus on running. In 2007, he took part in the IAAF World Cross Country Championships in Mombasa, in neighbouring Kenya, where he finished 19th coincidently being on a team with his role model Musani for the only time in his career.

Kiprotich then made a major breakthrough in April 2011 when he won the Enschede Marathon where he set the Ugandan record of 2:07:20 in his debut over the classic distance. Later that same year, he finished ninth at the IAAF World Championships in Daegu.

He started the 2012 Olympic season with a solid third place in the Tokyo Marathon in 2:07:50, finishing ahead of Haile Gebrselassie. “This performance made me confident that I could beat the world’s best. Beating Haile meant a lot to me as he has always been my role model.”

This was just a prelude to grabbing the headlines last year in London when he became the second Ugandan to win an Olympic gold medal after the late 400 m hurdler John Aki Bua, who won the gold medal in Munich 1972.

In London, Kiprotich won the only medal from all sports for his country, with perfect timing in many respects as it was just ahead of the country’s 50th anniversary of independence.

The Olympic gold medal made him hugely popular. Thousands, including senior government dignitaries, gathered at the airport to welcome the new national hero and he can expect a similar response this time when he finally touches down on Ugandan soil.

The Ugandan runner currently trains much of the time over the border in Kenya at Kaptagat where he is part of the training group directed by 1992 Olympic 3000 m steeplechase silver medallist Patrick Sang.

“Moving to Kenya has helped me a lot. I prepared for this race really well. It is fantastic that I actually train together with six of my compatriots. We work under the same coach. I went to train in Kenya because we don’t have facilities in Uganda. I hope the Government will invest in our sport,” reflected Kiprotich with a familiar lament.

Kiprotich was Uganda’s second triumph at the IAAF World Championships, eight years years after steeplechaser Dorcus Inzikuru won in Helsinki 2005, and the pair have proved that while their successes may be few, their country is far from short on talent.

-Image courtesy of Getty Images

Moscow, Russia- Meseret Defar made it two World Championships titles to go with her two Olympic titles when she sprinted away from her rivals to win the 5000m on Saturday night.

A race that had been expected to pit the distance runners – Defar and her Ethiopian teammates, Kenya’s Mercy Cherono and Viola Kibiwot – against middle-distance types moving up in Berlin 2009 1500m bronze medallist Shannon Rowbury and Susan Kuijken, the endurance specialists came out comprehensively on top.

Defar might fancy her chances in a finish against pretty well anyone – she produced a 29.42 last 200m in racing to victory – but it never came to that anyway.

Kim Conley, Dominika Nowakowska and Dolores Checa combined to lead through most of the first 3000m with a succession of 72-75 second laps.

Five laps from the finish, Almaz Ayana took up the pace for her teammate. Ayana, a former steeplechaser who has run the second-fastest 5000m this year behind Tirunesh Dibaba in Paris, immediately kicked the pace down to the 68-second-per-lap range.

Straight away, the leading pack was reduced to five – Ayana, Defar, the third Ethiopian finalist Buze Diriba, Cherono and Kibiwot. Fifteen metres back, Molly Huddle, Rowbury and Kuijken were trying to up the tempo themselves, but to no avail.

Diriba was quickly dislodged as Ayana ticked off laps of 71.07, 68.14, 67.26 and then 64.50 to take the leaders to the last 200m.

Kibiwot had fallen away at the bell. It was now a straight battle between Cherono, twice World junior champion at 3000m, and the Ethiopian pair.

Defar took one glance back over her shoulder and kicked powerfully for home. Cherono was trapped behind Ayana as they rounded the final bend, losing valuable ground. She inched past her in the straight, but by then there was no catching Defar. It is doubtful there ever had been.

Defar threw her arms skywards as she crossed the line in 14:50.19. Cherono followed her in 14:521.22 for the silver and the workhorse Ayana took the bronze in 14:51.33.

Kibiwot, Diriba and Huddle were the next three, with Rowbury seventh in 15:06.10 and Kuijken eighth in 15:14.70.

The closing speed was the key to the race. Led largely by Ayana, the final five laps took just 5:31.84 – equivalent to about 13:50 pace for the full distance. The final lap was 60.09 and Defar’s finishing burst from 200m took only 29.42.

So Defar added a second World Championships gold medal six years after her first in Osaka. She likes to leave a gap between her title wins. Her London Olympic victory was eight years after her first in 2004.

She has also completed a remarkable return after appearing to be eclipsed by Kenya’s Vivian Cheruiyot.

Cheruiyot won the 5000m titles in Berlin and Daegu (where she also took the 10,000m) and her team-mate Sylvia Kibet took the silver both times, too, relegating Defar to two bronze medals. In the middle of all this, she was out-kicked for the World indoor title at 3000m by Hellen Obiri. Defar had won the previous four.

Defar showed tremendous resilience in bouncing back to defeat Cheruiyot and Dibaba in the Olympic 5000m final last year. With Cheruiyot taking the year off to have a baby, Kibet not making the Kenyan team and Dibaba ultimately deciding to concentrate on the 10,000m only in Moscow, this race was hers to lose.

And from 200m out in the final, that was never going to happen.

-Photo courtesy of Getty Images/IAAF Photo Assistance Project

MOSCOW, Russia, August 8- There was one more twist of drama in the final of the men Javelin final and it came from a shocking source.

Team captain and 24-year-old Kenyan policeman Julius Yego, who has been training in Finland, sent his Javelin flying to 85.40m in round five, more than three metres beyond his previous national record of 82.09m from the Kenyan Trials in July.

Yego is the first Kenyan field event finalist in the history of the World Championships and his country’s first ever competitor in the Javelin as well as being the first field competitor to captain his nation.

Kenya’s best placing in a field event before this was 15th in the Triple Jump qualification.

But in the end there was to be no medal for Kenya in this event as home athlete, Dmitri Tarabin passed him in the final round with 86.23m to snatch the bronze.

While most Kenyan athletes have shot to fame by turning to their blessed legs, Julius Yego remains in a class of his own after using an online platform to catapult to international recognition.

Yego and history have become synonymous since he won his country a maiden men Javelin gold medal at the All Africa Games in Maputo in 2011 to become the only acclaimed Kenyan star in athletics outside the distance running world beaters the nation is more famed for.

His progression from a downcast teenage field athlete who shed bitter tears when Athletics Kenya declined to enter him for the 2008 World Junior Championships despite his 72.41m throw qualifying him for the competition to leading his nation’s squad for the 14th IAAF World Championships in Moscow in 2013 as overall captain has been nothing short of phenomenal.

Known widely as the ‘You Tube Man’ Yego circumvented the lack of proper coaches in his chosen sport by spending hours at cyber cafes in Nairobi and Eldoret to improve his technique by watching his idols led by world record holder, Jens Zelezny, on the video sharing website, forcing the same authorities who crushed his World Junior dream to parade him as a success in the country’s efforts to expand its medal catchment in the sport.

Since Maputo, Yego has gone ahead to break the national record no less than seven times, his latest best mark, 82.09m, being set last month (July 13) at the Trials for Moscow where once again, he eclipsed the more renowned distance running stars with the performance of the event.

Last year, he made history as the first African Javelin thrower to qualify for the Olympics final in London.

Having attended Soba River Primary and Kapsabet Boys’ Secondary schools for his primary and secondary education completed in 2006, he came to the attention of the Kenya Police head coach, Nicholas Kilisio, who went on to influence the recruitment of the aspiring field athlete to the force.

Yego was recruited by the Police after finishing third at the 2007 national championships with a throw of 61.80m. “We saw the talent in him and decided to take him. He had a small frame but we have bulked him up,” Police head coach, Kilisio said of Yego.

He graduated as a constable from Kenya Police College in March 2008 and was subsequently posted to the CID Headquarters in the outskirts of Nairobi to begin service.

Inspired by the legendary record holder, Zelezny, Yego knew from the start that he was destined to excel in Javelin. “It is my talent and I had interest in Javelin since I was in Standard Six,” he asserted.

-Photo Courtesy of Getty Images/IAAF Photo Assistant Project

MOSCOW, Russia, August 18- Russian hearts were broken inside the Luzhniki Stadium as the home favourite Mariya Savinova, known as ‘the chess player’, was tactically out-manoeuvred by the unheralded Kenyan Eunice Sum in an absorbing final.

Sum, the nearest pursuer to long-time leader Alysia Johnson Montano, ran a clever race to stave off the challenge from Savinova down the home straight to pull off one of the biggest surprises of the championships. She smashed her personal best – which was 1:59.13 prior to the final – by nearly two seconds to defeat the Russian by 0.42 in a time of 1:57.38.

The fast-finishing Brenda Martinez also set a personal best of 1:57.91 for bronze to earn the USA’s first ever medal in this event at the World Championships. The courageous Montano, who had led for 750m of the race, suffered the despair of fourth. Yet today was all about a Kenyan woman called Sum.

Savinova looked composed at the start when her name was announced to a near-full house crowd, who then chanted her name rhythmically, generating an atmosphere which must have given the Olympic champion goose bumps.

Predictably, Montano – who loves to play the rabbit – burst into the lead and passed 200m in 26.80, already holding a five-metre advantage from Sum.

This pattern of the race continued for the next 200m as Montano further stretched her lead out to eight metres from Sum with a further four-metre gap back to the main bunch led by Czech Lenka Masna and followed by Natalia Lupu of Ukraine with Savinova back in fifth.

Down the back stretch for the second time Montano still held a huge lead but her stride was gradually shortening, while Sum and the rest of the pack – now led by Savinova – were starting to close.

Around the final bend, the US long-time leader still held a three-metre advantage but was finally starting to pay the price for her ferocious first-lap pace. Sum was second on the inside with Savinova half a stride behind the Kenyan on her outside looking ready to pounce in trademark fashion.

Yet as Montano’s challenge finally wilted and Savinova was about to strike, Sum appeared to find a second wind and started to forge ahead. Roared to the rafters by a passionate home crowd, many expected Savinova to rise to the challenge, but instead it was the 25-year-old Kenyan, who prior to Moscow had not competed in an 800m this year outside of her own country, who was pulling ahead.

Entering the final 20m it was clear that Sum, a World Championships semi-finalist at the 2011 edition, would triumph which she did in a personal best.

Savinova, who seemed to be running through treacle in the final few strides, hung on for silver while Martinez, who had been back in seventh at the bell, powered through on the inside to snatch bronze.

An exhausted Montano dived for the line and toppled over an agonising fourth for the second successive World Championships.

The second Russian, Olympic bronze medallist Ekaterina Poistogova, placed fifth in a season’s best of 1:58.05 with teenager Ajee Wilson – and definitely one for the future – setting a US junior record of 1:58.21 in sixth.

Lupu placed seventh with Masna back in eighth.

(VIDEOS COURTESY OF IAAF)

MOSCOW, Russia, August 18- Although he was the defending champion, Asbel Kiprop was out for redemption in the men’s 1500m final after the Kenyan finished last in the 2012 Olympic final when carrying an injury. This time there was no dispute about who is the world’s best middle-distance runner.

Kiprop, competing in his fourth World Championships 1500m final despite being just 24 years of age, kept himself out of trouble and took an early lead, albeit at a comfortable pace. After passing through the first lap in 59.68, team-mate Nixon Chepseba shot into the lead.

At half way, Chepseba had built up a six-metre lead on the rest of the field, but his opponents were not worried. He passed through 800m in 1:59.24, but his lead had dwindled to less than a stride length as the bell sounded for the last lap.

With less than 400m remaining, Kiprop was right behind Chepseba with Ethiopia’s Mekonnen Gebremedhin and USA’s Matthew Centrowitz seemingly ready to pounce.

The third Kenyan in the field, defending silver medallist Silas Kiplagat, began to kick with 150m to go and looked set to get among the medals. As the field entered the home straight, Chepseba began to fade as Kiprop edged ahead.

In a frantic final 50 metres, Kiprop kept his cool out in front and won in 3:36.28, but behind him Kiplagat had left himself with too much to do. Meanwhile, Centrowitz passed the fading Chepseba to finish in second place with 3:36.78, improving on the bronze medal he won in Daegu two years ago.

But perhaps the biggest surprise was the well-timed dip of South Africa’s Johan Cronje to secure the bronze in 3:36.83. His nation had never before had a top-eight finisher in this event at the World Championships, let alone a medallist.

Chepseba finished an agonising four hundredths of a second away from a medal in fourth, while Germany’s Homiyu Tesfaye was another surprise top-five finisher, clocking 3:37.03 to finish one place and 0.08 ahead of Kiplagat.

Gebremedhin finished within one second of the winner with 3:37.21, but in a close finish it was only good enough for seventh place, one ahead of European champion Henrik Ingebrigtsen of Norway.

Kiprop is now just the third multiple champion in this event at the World Championships, following Nourredine Morceli and Hicham El Guerrouj, who won three golds each.

Any hopes of a Kenyan medal sweep, however, will have to wait until Beijing in two years’ time.

(VIDEOS COURTESY OF IAAF)

NAIROBI, Kenya, August 26- Kenya’s former World 800m champion Janeth Jepkosgei has decided to give up the try to move up to the 1,500m distance next season and will continue to fight for her place in the competitive two-lap distance.

Jepkosgei, who failed to start at the World Championships in Moscow because of a tendon injury, said in Eldoret that she is ready to work her way back to best form and contest at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics in 2016 as a 800m runner.

“I have thought over the move up to 1,500m, but after seeing my understudy Eunice Sum win gold in 800m at Moscow worlds, I must say, it jolted me to remain in the two-lap race.

“She needs the protection from me and I will be there to guide her through. We have come a long way with her and it was a surprise even to me to see her sprint to the victory,” she said.

Jepkosgei does not turn 30 until December 13, and believes Sum performance has turned what was a poor season for her camp to success.

“I couldn’t believe that she will make it. I had told her to keep in front and maintain her cool until the final straight. I saw her surge forward away from the Mariya Savinova of Russia and realised she will win,” said Jepkosgei.

In fact not even Sum believed in her potential that she could conquer the world in Moscow. A semi finalist in the 1,500m distance during the last Worlds in Daegu 2011, she went to Moscow keen to make the final and let the rest be decided by fate.

Well, she had her skills and tactics right leading from start to finish. Sum went ahead to prove her win in Moscow was no fluke when she won at the Stockholm Diamond League last week.

“It is great that Kenyan women have dominated 800m race since 2006. I won gold in Melbourne Commonwealth and in Osaka in 2007. Then came Pamela Jelimo who did what she did and now, for some time we faded off the stage. But we are back. I want to defend the gold Jelimo won in Beijing at the 2016 Rio games,” she said.

“My advice to upcoming athletes is to remain loyal to the doctrines of athletics, train hard and win easy. It is the only way and Kenya will always have somebody new emerging at every big championships.”

For Jepkosgei, the championships in Moscow were a bitter sweet pill to swallow. Out with a tendon injury is a nightmare to any sportsperson. But again she had to remain optimistic that her project – Sum and Winnie Chebet – would emerge from her shadows to make their names in the distance. Well they did and that was sweet news to her.

Meanwhile, Women’s Olympic 800m Champion, Mariya Savinova of Russia has admitted she underestimated the strength of Sum at the finals in Moscow, she said in a statement.

“I never believed Sum could break her own lifetime best by a full two seconds. It was clear that Alysia Montano could not keep that pace going all the way to the finish, but I certainly made a mistake with the Kenyan,” said Savinova.

She explained, “You need to turn it on with 150m to go because it is hard for everyone at the finish. This is exactly what happened but I had allowed Sum to get slightly in front of me. I made a mistake. I admit it.”

NAIROBI, Kenya, August 26- Gor Mahia’s tactician Bobby Williamson reserved grovelling praise for his players after charging from 2-0 down to hold archrivals AFC Leopards in his first ‘Mashemeji’ derby on Sunday.

Goals from Noah Wanyama and a Paul Were screamer set Ingwe on their way to a first victory over K’Ogalo in five games but a ‘customary’ Dan Sserunkuma finish and David Owino’s well placed leveller saw the sides share spoils in a pulsating encounter at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani.

“I am relieved we got a point which is important than none and I would like to thank my players who fought relentlessly despite being two goals down. The players showed maturity and never panicked even when they conceded,” Williamson told SuperSport.com.

“We will ensure we make amends on the mistakes that led to the two goals but I am happy with the general performance which was great and the fans who gave us massive support during the entire game even when we were down,” he added.

The Scotsman emphasised that his side was on track to winning its first title since 1995 saying they are getting closer with nine matches to go after they opened up an eight-point lead over second placed Ulinzi Stars with a point.

“We expect to maintain our form in the league and win the rest of our matches since our major aim this season is to win the league title which I believe is possible,” the coach who took over from Croat Zradvko Logarusic stressed.

Ingwe’s title hopes took a severe blow after Luc Eymael’s side failed to hold on to a commanding 2-0 lead with half an hour to go despite climbing to third as the rest of the league took a breather to pave way for the derby.

Belgian Eymael made headlines ahead of the encounter with doubts about his future at Leopards but returned to give the club a timely boost after reportedly departing the side without leave.

“We deserved to win the game but we lost concentration towards the end. We will fight to the end,” the Ingwe boss said after the encounter.

Gor are scheduled to travel to Awendo to visit their ‘B-side’ Sony Sugar although in the past, the encounter has been held elsewhere due to security concerns over the tiny Awendo Green Stadium while Leopards have another tricky clash against champions Tusker at Kasarani to look forward to.

Ulinzi who have roared back to the title race face unpredictable Mathare United in Nakuru.

NAIROBI, Kenya, August 26- The 16 players selected to represent Kenya from the 2013 Copa Coca-Cola are gearing up for the September 8 trip to South Africa where they will face 14 other nations in a one-week tournament.

Golden boot winner Musa Masika, John Ochieng, John Ronaldo, Llloyd Kim, and Edwin Okoth all from champions JMJ, Joseph Bwire, Patrick Ochieng, Ibrahim Ochieng and Ian Samuel from Kisumu Lakers as well as Gunners trio Zadock Ombewa, Joseph Luchenga and Richard Otuomo are in the squad.

Nathaniel Kadenge, Hassan Ali, Hilton Isutsa and Western’s Murhanda Boys player Elphas Shiveka are also in the line-up.

“I am looking forward to travelling to South Africa after I missed out in the previous edition. I am glad I got this opportunity and am sure we will do better than last year when our U17 team finished 4th overall,” a confident Masika said Monday.

The team will depart for the one-week trip where they will clash with 14 other teams from across Africa and debutants Kazakhstan.

Defending champions Rwanda, Zimbabwe, Democratic Republic of Congo, Algeria, Egypt, Tanzania, Uganda, Burundi, Congo and Rwanda as well as the hosts have been drawn to contest the continental tourney.

Defending champions Rwanda, Zimbabwe, DRC, and Congo will also grace the 2013 event where the players will receive first-class training from Chelsea FC coaches.

On Monday, the Copa squad toured Nairobi Bottlers plant after paying a courtesy call to the company’s Managing Director Patrick Pech.

“It’s been a good competition this year and I believe these boys will do the country proud during the championships in South Africa,” said Pech.

“We have had one of the best national championships and we saw real talent among these budding talents. As the host bottler, I am glad both the girls’ and boys’ titles remained in my territory,” he added.

KAMPALA, Uganda, August 26 – World marathon champion Stephen Kiprotich has been “overwhelmed” with gifts and support after pulling off an upset in Moscow against distance giants Kenya and Ethiopia, he said Monday.

The jovial athlete out-kicked a strong field and again displayed the smart tactics that propelled him to a shock Olympic gold over the distance last year in London.

It was Uganda’s second world gold medal after Dorcus Inzikuru won the 3000m steeplechase at the 2005 worlds in Helsinki, and only the African nation’s fourth medal ever.

His London victory had secured Uganda’s first Olympic medal in 40 years.

“I am very happy given the number of donations coming through. They are overwhelming,” Kiprotich told AFP.

The runner, who works as a prison warder, was greeted by Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni on his return, and presented with a car, a cash prize and the promise of a house.

He also said the president had promised to build a “high altitude training centre in my honour”.

Ugandan athletes have long complained about the lack of funding.

Like most of the country’s top runners, Kiprotich has been forced to move to Kenya’s renowned high altitude Rift Valley to do most of his training and to attract the attention of sponsors and agents.

But Uganda’s sports minister, Jessica Alupo, suggested that attitudes were changing — with the president greeting and handing cash prizes to the entire Moscow team upon their return.

“These sportsmen and women have played a major role in marketing Uganda and promoting sports,” she told AFP. “It is befitting that the president recognised their efforts.”

NAIROBI, Kenya, August 27- The Kenyan sporting fraternity was thrown into grief on Tuesday when the eyes of the doyen of sports writing, Hezekiah Wephukulu, shut for the last time at a Nairobi hospital as August upheld its cruel reputation as the darkest month for the country’s most recognised.

The passing of the veteran scribe who at his heyday, was the final word on all matters football in the country ended a distinguished career that spurned over four decades, his mighty pen churning thousands of articles for the Daily Nation and publications affiliated to the paper.

Hez as he was referred among his peers traversed the ages of the typewriter to the iPad, black and white print to full colour and backwater treatment of local sport to the rise of publications wholly devoted to his passion.

Following his death at Kenyatta National Hospital, tributes began pouring in from all corners of the nation; with the social media network he was averse to its use providing a fitting condolence book.

“Mzee Hez as he was popularly known was a polished football writer and in a class of his own. He is regarded as the best sports writer a feat that saw him win several awards.

“His many years as a football writer he has covered football matches from yester years and he saw the birth of football in Kenya as it transited from the colonial era,” Football Kenya Federation boss, Sam Nyamweya, said in his message of condolences.

“We all read his contribution for the Daily Nation ‘down memory lane ‘as he gave us a glimpse of football’s past.

“It is indeed a great loss not only to his family and many friends from the fourth estate but to all Kenyans,” he added in reference to the fiery AFC Leopards supporter who no doubt must have been outraged by his team tossing away a 2-0 lead against their archenemies, Gor Mahia to draw 2-2 on Sunday.

Fellow scribes, many who grew up reading his witty, articulate and sharp pieces were quick to pay homage to the icon that sadly, spent the last years of his life battling poverty as a nation abandoned one of her most prolific sons.

“Another great Sports journalist fallen! RIP Hezekiah Wepukhulu, the mobile Kenyan football recorder,” former colleague at Nation Media Group and now a reporter for Sports News Arena, Evelyn Watta wrote on Face Book.

“RIP Hez, your works inspired me to take up Sports Journalism as a career and I don’t regret it,” Jeff Kinyanjui posted.

“Sad to hear veteran Sports writer Hezekiah Wepukhulu has passed on…Hez had 40+ years experience as a writer. May your soul rest in peace Hez,” was Michelle Katami, a television reporter and producer offering.

“RIP Mzee Hezekiah Wepukhulu……u inspired many. To colleague Ken Nato…take heart,” his colleague at Nation, Odindo Ayieko, stated as he consoled his scion who followed his father’s giant footsteps to the Aga Khan owned outfit before switching to the People Daily where he continues to write on football and athletics.

While sports journalist today enjoy favourable terms, Wephukulu and his contemporaries worked in an era where passion overrode the take home package, a factor that left most of that gifted generation with little to count on in later life.

However, they did give rise to an age where sports writing was unparalleled, respected and above all, incisive where issues superseded colour during the time where Kenyan sport enjoyed a period of unmatched success.

NAIROBI, Kenya, August 28 – With what was largely an acclaimed performance at the Moscow Worlds to emulate, the Kenyan team for the Africa Junior Athletics Championships departed for Mauritius on Tuesday exuding confidence of another bumper medal harvest.

The competition that starts on Thursday and runs until Monday, Sept. 1 will see 22 athletes represent the East African nation.

“The team was inspired by watching their seniors do well in Russia and it has been easy to motivate them to aim for excellence. We have prepared well and are ready to face our competitors,” said coach Gregory Kilonzo on Tuesday ahead of their departure to Mauritius.

“We have some experienced runners in the team who ran at the World Youth Championships last year who will help the new ones adapt to competition. This is their chance to make a name for themselves,” the coach added.

Athletics Kenya (AK) vice-presidents, David Okeyo and Lt. Gen ( Rtd) Jack Tuwei, accompanied the squad hoping the team will post another commanding performance.

“This competition introduced the world to athletes such as David Rudisha and Pamela Jelimo and our aim is to return with more than the five gold medals the senior team won in Moscow.

“We have given them all the support since they came to camp and there is no reason for them not to do well as is expected of any Kenyan athletics team,” Tuwei noted.

World men’s 800m record holder, Rudisha and 2008 women 800m Olympics champion, Jelimo, who holds the World Indoor title were among the gold medallists at the 2007 Africa Junior Championships in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso where Kenya recorded their highest ever gold medal tally at all levels of competition, 13.

“To match or better what happened in Burkina Faso at that time is asking too much of the team and we do not want to put them under any pressure. Its just like the Moscow team that was faced with winning the seven number of gold medals as Kenya did in Daegu in 2011 but they came back with five which is commendable,” Tuwei added.

World Youth silver medallist, Moses Mukono, a training partner for Rudisha and Sheila Chepng’etich who placed sixth at the same competition in addition to Africa Cross silver winner, Agnes Tirop, are the foremost names in the squad.

The officials who will accompany the team are; Erastus Kabugi – Team Manager, Henry Lebo – Assistant Team Manager, Kilonzo and Hosea Sang as coaches and Lydia Muraya as the team chaperone.

TEAM KENYA

Men: Kenneth Kirui (400m hurdles), Geoffrey Kiprotich (200m), Moses Bett (800m), Jonathan Kiprotich (800m), Kiplagat Cherono ( long jump), Vincent Tarus (long jump), Mathew Kiptanui (1,500m), John Maina (1,500m), Alex Kiprotich (Javelin), Elvis Cheboi (10, 000m), Josephat Kiprop (10,000m), Moses Mukono (5,000m), Benard Kipkemboi (5,000m), John Koech (3,000m S/Chase) and Festus Kiprono (3,000m S/Chase).

Women: Agatha Jeruto (800m), Sheila Chepng’etich (3,000m), Miriam Muthoni (1,500m), Agnes Tirop (5,000m), Lina Cheruto (5, 000m) and Marion Kibor (3,000 S/Chase).

NAIROBI, Kenya, August 29- After missing out on his maiden world title in Moscow courtesy of the unstoppable championship force that is Ezekiel Kemboi, teenager Conseslus Kipruto is in line for a first career Diamond Trophy at Thursday night’s Zurich final.

The 19 year-old silver winner in Russia who got a taste of contemptuous finger wagging from his erstwhile hero Kemboi as he came across the line for the second medal requires a third finish at least to clinch the circuit crown and the $40,000 (Sh3.48m) winners’ jackpot.

Should he succeed, Kipruto will dethrone another of his idols, circuit specialist and compatriot, Paul Kipsiele Koech, who has held on the elite international circuit racing crown for the past three seasons.

“I want to run like Kemboi at championships and Kipsiele at the Diamond League. I want to be a mix of the two, they are my heroes,” Kipruto said in March as he prepared to compete for his nation at the World Cross Country Championships in Bydgoszcz, Poland.

If Kipruto is not in the top three, then his hero turned foe, Kemboi or the little known countryman, Hillary Yego, who topped the pair in Stockholm last week will be declared the winners should they get an unobstructed view of the finish line in Zurich.

The youngster billed to be the future of the steeple as far as his country is concerned has however, not finished outside the podium in the water and barriers event this season, including Stockholm where he was third as Kemboi, clearly suffering a major Moscow hangover, propped the field.

Other Kenyans on the Diamond rush at the final where 15 of the first 16 Diamond winners will be crowned- New Zealand’s Valerie Adams clinched the women Shot put title- include another silver winner from Moscow, Mercy Cherono.

Cherono however, faces the Herculean task of supplanting the headline acts of the race, the Ethiopian world champion pair, Meseret Defar and Tirunesh Dibaba, who are placed first and second in the women 5000m to accomplish what would be nothing short of an amazing steal.

With eight points up for grabs for the winner, Cherono (four) must win and hope Meseret (ten) and Tirunesh (eight) do not place in the podium.

But the two Ethiopians who avoided each other in Moscow with the former bagging the 5000m as her compatriot and arch rival won the 10,000m will square off in their first circuit final since 2006.

Then known as the IAAF Golden League, Tirunesh was on the verge of winning $125,000 (Sh10.75m today) with victory but out came her foe to win by the thickness of a vest and deny her the jackpot. A week earlier in Brussels, she appeared to scuttle Meseret’s attempts to break the world record.

The women 10000m Worlds silver winner, Gladys Cherono will also feature in the Zurich showdown hoping to continue embellishing her reputation.

Although she is not in the running for the Diamond Trophy, newly coined surprise women 800m world titleholder, Eunice Sum, will line-up against the Russian she dethroned, Mariya Saminova with revenge at the heart of the home favourite who was put to the shade by the Kenyan’s late burst.

Olympic silver winner, South Africa’s Caster Semenya, will feature in her first race of the season hoping to dip under 2:00 in a race where the winner will take home the Diamond crown.

Moscow champion, Asbel Kiprop, who paled in Stockholm has a chance to restore his billing in the men 1500m although he does not have a chance to win the circuit title with compatriots, former World junior champion, Caleb Ndiku and Bethwell Birgen, who failed to qualify for the Russia final standing a chance to win top Diamond honours.

NAIROBI, Kenya, August 30- World champion Eunice Sum crowned her awesome season by clinching her first IAAF Diamond League crown as steeplechase prodigy and Moscow silver winner, Conseslus Kipruto, hang on to bag a similar crown at the Wetlklasse Meet final in Zurich on Thursday night.

On a night where 15 winners of the $40,000 (Sh3.405m) jackpot apiece and a Diamond Trophy were decided on a night of riveting action, Sum once again prevailed over Russia Olympics champion, Mariya Saminova by out-lasting her on the homestretch to win in 1:58.82, just 0.11 seconds ahead of her predecessor of as a world champion.

In the absence of Burundi’s injured Francine Niyonsaba, Sum also took the Diamond Trophy in the open race by proving that her win at the Luzhniki Stadium over Saminova was no fluke as she found the legs to stop the feared Russian who prior to Moscow, had won five major titles in two years.

With a cast containing the gold, silver and bronze winners from the Moscow Worlds lining up for the men 3000m steeplechase, all eyes were on Ezekiel Kemboi, the three-time champion who prevailed over his 19 year-old rival, Conseslus Kipruto, whom he led to the altar in Russia.

But soon after the gun, it became apparent that Kemboi was not interested in giving the world a re-match as he went through the motions and eventually, jogged home second from last in 8:37.68.

However, the World Junior champion had a job to do, ensure he finished third to win the consolation of bagging his first ever Diamond League crown and after taking the lead through to three-laps to go, Jairus Kipchoge Birech, his rival for the title took charge.

The pair were joined by Hillary Yego, another circuit performer as Kipruto dropped to third, with the strain showing. At the bell, Birech and Yego took off for the honours with French Worlds bronze winner, Mekhissi-Benabbad and compatriot Gilbert Kirui, breathing down Kipruto’s neck.

Yego (8:08.03) won it over Birech (8:08.72) by injecting the decisive turn of pace just before the final water jump as Kipruto (8:10.76) just managed to fend of Mekhissi for third to lift the Diamond Trophy.

Elsewhere, Commonwealth champion, Silas Kiplagat, showed he could still win big races when his timed sprint over the homestretch landed him the win in Zurich (3:30.97) in a race where world champion, Asbel Kiprop (3:33.78), gave up the chase to finish sixth.

That allowed Ayanleh Souleiman from Djibouti to celebrate a Diamond victory with Kenyan frontrunners from the jackpot in the event, former world junior champion, Caleb Mwangangi (3:33.41/fourth) and Bethwell Birgen (DNF) failed to pick up the points that would have seen them secure victory.

In the thrilling women 5000m final, Moscow silver medallist, Mercy Cherono (14:40.33) led compatriots, Emily Chebet (14:46.89) and fellow second medal winner over 10,000m, Gladys Cherono (14:47.12) to occupy the third, fourth and fifth positions in a scorching race where Ethiopian powerhouses, Meseret Defar (14:32.83) and Tirunesh Dibaba (14:34.82) gave the world another instalment of their pitch rivalry.

Defar and Dibaba, the 5000m and 10,000m gold medallists respectively from the 2013 IAAF World Championships, were brought together to battle for supremacy over the shorter distance, something that didn’t happen in Moscow earlier this month owing to both of them deciding to only have one bite of the cherry in the Russian capital. It was just their fourth race against each other since the Beijing Olympics five years ago.

Dibaba may have come in as the World record-holder and 2013 world leader, while Defar was saying ahead of the meeting how tired she was after her recent outings in Moscow and Stockholm, but it was the latter who prevailed in a dramatic and thrilling last lap, coming home just under two seconds in front of her Ethiopian compatriot and rival in 14:32.83.

The winner uncorked an unofficial last kilometre of 2:40.68 and a last lap of 58.3 and her win meant that she was also was victorious in the Diamond Race and added a $40,000 first prize as well as the impressive and elusive Diamond Trophy, which she received at the end of the meeting along with the 14 other winners on Thursday night.

-Report compiled from Iaaf.org

LONDON, England- He is the man who famously reduced Rod Stewart to tears and has broken records throughout his fledgling career. Indeed, Victor Mugubi Wanyama is intent on becoming a big hit in his own right this season.

Sporting the number 67 on his shirt in tribute to the club’s Lisbon Lions, it was fitting that Wanyama triggered one of Celtic’s most famous European nights early last November when he scored the goal that teed up a 2-1 win over Barcelona’s all stars. How Celtic miss him now.

It prompted scenes of delirium rarely seen around Glasgow outside of Burns’ Night and New Year. Grown men, including celebrity fan Stewart, broke down and sobbed.

Minutes later, Stewart was celebrating with his heroes in the home dressing room. ‘That was a great night,’ recalls Wanyama, 22. ‘Rod was hugging us all. It was great to meet him. Celtic fans are special. It meant a lot to him, like it did to all of us. It was probably the highlight of my time at Celtic. To score against a team like that with Lionel Messi and everyone, and to win. I didn’t celebrate too hard but it was a good night.’

Despite being Southampton’s £12million summer signing, in true African style Wanyama does not like to overplay life.

He looks taller than his official 6ft 2in and as he stretches out his muscular physique, you question whether both legs were on the scales when he weighed in at 83kg.

He is a big man who likes a physical challenge but don’t be fooled, he can play too. Celtic manager Neil Lennon labelled him world-class.

Not that expectation troubles ‘Big Vic’ as he chills in his Southampton apartment. It seems as if everything is Mañana (tomorrow) in Wanyama’s world. Or as they say in Kenya, hakuna matata — no worries.

There, Wanyama is a national treasure. He is the first Kenyan to play in the Premier League after making his bow in the 1-0 win over West Bromwich Albion last week and is the youngest player to figure for Kenya’s national side, making his debut against Nigeria at 15.

‘All of Kenya was watching that Barcelona game on the TVs in their homes, in the shops, in the pubs,’ he said. ‘I had many messages. My family was very proud. They’ll be watching the Premier League too now. It is everyone’s dream there to play in England, as it was mine.’ His success is of little surprise in his homeland where the Wanyama family’s sporting pedigree is well known.

Sharing a small shack in Nairobi — ‘It wasn’t easy but it was a good place, not a violent one,’ says Wanyama — his parents earned a crust with jobs on Kenya Railways but remained passionate about sport.

Noah, Victor’s father, played football for AFC Leopards, mother Mildred played netball, big brother McDonald Mariga is at Inter Milan, his sister Mercy is on a basketball scholarship in Chicago while their other siblings, Sylvester, Thomas and Harry, also play football. They have moved up to a grander house now with a Hummer and Cadillac parked outside.

Their rise caught the nation’s imagination so much that a film about them has just been released, titled More Than Brothers.

‘I’ve not seen it yet,’ says Wanyama. ‘It’s more about my brother Harry’s take on life, like a documentary.’

Documentaries aren’t really Wanyama’s cup of tea. In fact, you sense he has a yearning to be the Premier League’s next action hero. He likes to escape watching fast-paced films starring Jason Statham, Bruce Willis and Vin Diesel; The Expendables and Fast & Furious.

As a boy in Nairobi, the posters that adorned the wall above his bed were of Roy Keane, Paul Scholes, Patrick Vieira and Michael Essien. All combative but talented.

‘I like a physical challenge,’ he says. ‘But every week the Premier League will throw me a new challenge and that is to get better. It is the most competitive league and I’m excited about what I am getting into. I want to show I can make a big impact but not just by being physical. I think that by competing for Celtic in Europe against teams such as Barcelona, Benfica and Juventus I have shown there’s more to my game than that.’

Finding the right blend between silk and steel should come as second nature under the guidance of Southampton coach Mauricio Pochettino, a former Argentina defender.

‘He has been great,’ says Wanyama. ‘I have only been here a short time but already he has taught me a lot. He is a good motivator but knows when to pick out details that can change your game.’

Although Wanyama’s protracted move to Southampton was far from straightforward, with wrangles over fees and a rival bid from Cardiff, he feels at home already.

‘It’s nice here,’ he says. ‘My motto is always to do better and if I didn’t think I could achieve that I wouldn’t have come. I have belief that I can realise dreams here.’

It’s a far cry from the bouts of homesickness he suffered while starting his football pilgrimage as a teenager in Sweden with Helsingborgs. He speaks to his mum every day on the phone and she is planning a visit soon. He has eyes on a new place in a village not far from the River Itchen. ‘It’s peaceful. I like to watch the boats sailing out into the Channel…’

Can you feel a song coming on, Rod?

-By Simon Jones, Daily Mail

NAIROBI, Kenya, August 30- It has taken Belgian head coach Adel Amrouche six months since his appointment as national football team head coach in February to realise what majority in this nation have known all along.

Only God, the Almighty, intervenes for cash-strapped Harambee Stars to make headway in the game following chronic lack of finances to implement ambitious programmes Amrouche and his predecessors have hatched for the side for well over a decade.

On Friday, Amrouche whose brief was to announce the squad that will face Namibia in their dead rubber last 2014 World Cup qualifier at a media conference told of his frustration on the team’s preparations for key matches but in true Kenyan fashion was quick to peddle hope that all will be well with the meagre resources available. He is sure learning fast.

Turning to the team he rolled-out via his assistant Ken Odhiambo out of the respect of pronouncing his players’ name correctly, first division forward, Rodgers Omondi of Talanta FC and Tusker FC leading scorer, Jesse Were have been handed maiden call-ups in his 27-man squad.

Former captain, record goal scorer and French Ligue AJ Ajaccio striker, Dennis Oliech, is also back to the fold and is in the running to face Namibia.

Amrouche also revealed he will lose the services of number one goalie, Arnold Origi, who is scheduled to go under the knife on his injured arm on the same day in Norway.

“We talk about preparation and friendly games that I agree, but we need Francs, money, where are the sponsors? Nothing? Who helps? We have only God at this moment, its true!

“If we have money and sponsors who help, we would be fine. Last time we played with Adidas, sometimes Puma so we cannot talk about good preparations. Look at the rugby team; they wear suits with their country’s flags and nice uniforms. We cannot talk about Fifa rankings if we play with Adidas, then Puma,” an exasperated Amrouche decried when pressed why his team will be together for just over a week before they welcome Namibia.

Unlike most national football teams, Stars have no kit sponsor among other endorsements with their solo backing coming from the logistics and rights deal they have with East Africa Breweries Limited brand, Tusker.

The head coach expressed his sadness at losing Origi since he was pivotal to his aim to beat Namibia as a platform to the 2015 Nations Cup and 2018 World Cup qualifiers, that is, if he will be there to guide the team.

“Arnold showed me his bandaged arm and I was sad he will not be in the side. Of course, we are playing to win but I build my team from goal. Without a good keeper at the back, the team makes mistakes. We saw how the goal in Nigeria here went in.

“However, we have good players in that position. Namibia are a technical team, they have been together for four years, we need the same here and the door is open to any player as long as they are in good form and have the patriotism to play for the country.”

The inclusion of Omondi and Were was made in his attempt to shift the goal getting burden from the back of Oliech who has served his nation with distinction since 2002.

“Oliech has been going for goals alone and finding them the way he wants but in my team, everyone can score. I like his technique of Omondi and his heart, he is willing to give it all for his nation. Were has been scoring three, four goals in the league and now, let us see whether he can do that in the national team.”

Stars will be led out against Namibia by Victor Wanyama, who joined EPL side Southampton in a record deal in a fixture Amrouche says is among few available for his team that often postpones planned international friendlies of stays idle in the Fifa international windows.

This informed his decision not to spare the Europe based players despite Stars can only look forward to December’s Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup since Kenya are already out of Brazil 2014.

“My aim is the next Africa Cup and World Cup as coach of Kenya if I’m still here and to put structure like the ones I did in the Burundi team that is going to play in CHAN. Cecafa is important but it is not the big thing for me.

“But is you look, 80 percent of the Cecafa squad is in this team.”

Kenya face Namibia having not played since they drew 2-2 in Blantyre on June 12, with the Belgian slamming the lack of proper build-up to competitive games.

Nigeria lead the Group F with nine points and a win over Malawi who are two points adrift will see them seal qualification to the final knock-out phase of the CAF qualifiers for the 2014 World Cup.

Namibia in third and Kenya who prop up the pool on three points will be playing for pride as they seek to end their campaign on a high.

SQUAD (All Kenyan based unless stated)

Goalkeepers: Duncan Ochieng (Sofakapa), Wilson Obungu (Bandari(, Fredrick Jerim Onyango (Gor Mahia)

Defenders: David Owino (Gor Mahia), David Ochieng (Tusker), Brian Mandela (Santos/South Africa), Jockins Atudo (Azam FC/Tanzania), Abdallah Juma (AFC Leopards), Aboud Omar (AFC Leopards), Musa Mohammed (Gor Mahia), Mohammed Hassan (Ulinzi Stars).

Midfielders: Anthony Akumu (Gor Mahia), Peter Opiyo (AFC Leopards), Victor Wanyama (Southampton/England), Francis Kahata (Thika United), Johanna Omollo (Lommel/Belgium), Patrick Osiako (Simurq/Azerbijan), David Kingatua (Thika United), Paul Were (AFC Leopards), Edwin Lavatsa (Gor Mahia).

Forwards: Allan Wanga (AFC Leopards), Dennis Oliech (AJ Ajaccio/France), Jesee Were (Tusker FC), Raphael Kiongera (Gor Mahia), Kenneth Wendo (Mathare United), Rodgers Omondi (Talanta FC)

NAIROBI, Kenya, August 31- Harambee Stars head coach, Adel Amrouche, has vigorously denied allegations he is hawking the country’s local based players to overseas clubs for profit.

Speaking at a media briefing, the visibly annoyed Belgian tactician said he was using his expansive international coaching links to link Kenyan players to foreign clubs to improve their careers just as he did in his four-year tenure in Burundi.

“I don’t talk about transfers. I put them in direct contact with clubs, I don’t take consultancy with players and I help my players to grow. I’m angry when reports asked whether Adel is an agent or coach. People called me from Europe.”

The Belgian national was instrumental in facilitating the move that is yet to materialise for local league leaders, Gor Mahia forward Raphael Mungai Kiongera to German club Borussia Monchengladbach.

“I work here for Kenya. If the national team is good, it’s good for everybody. If we go to Africa Nations Cup, Kenya goes to African Cup. Sometimes we have these problems and when a player comes and ask me whether he should play for a team, I tell them no, I come from far and I cannot be involved in (local) tribes,” he said.

Recently, Amrouche linked domestic top flight titleholders Tusker FC defender, David ‘Cheche’ Ochieng with a switch to Saudi Arabia professional league outfit Al Taawoun where he has already made an appearance according to reports.

Kiongera and Ochieng were named in his provisional squad to face Namibia in a 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifier scheduled for Sept. 8 although the latter is still listed as a Tusker player in the squad sheet signed by the coach.

“Don’t bring me problems with people. I have only my team and I saw ‘Cheche’ leave since I cannot support them living this (poor) life and when he comes, ask him. I’m happy when they come back, they can buy houses for their families.”

“God gave me this chance to help and I put 23 players out in Burundi and when I do it for one player here, some journalists ask me whether I got something. For this, I’m angry since I’m here for good intention and I love this country and with time, you know why,” he added.

Amrouche expressed he was saddened by reports that some former players were living in abject poverty and part of his duties was to engage his contacts to better the lives of those who can make it in clubs overseas.

“I don’t want to see Kiongera or Cheche selling things in the market in future. I’m proud of what I did in Burundi and if this will make me be called an agent, then call me that. I will not be here forever and when I go, I want to leave a structure here where Kenyan players can move to develop their careers,” the Belgian said.

Amrouche noted that the country’s low FIFA ranking was not a cause of concern but shifting more players abroad would help the nation improve.

“When (Victor) Wanyama plays for Southampton in England, it makes interest in Kenyan players’abroad increase. We need more than this since we do not have enough money to put all programmes and structures we need to improve,” he stressed.

Wanyama, who moved from Scottish champions Celtic FC to English Premiership side Southampton for a record 12 million pounds last month, is expected to captain Stars against Namibia if he honours his call-up.

NAIROBI, Kenya, August 31- Kenyan sporting greats, including running legend, Dr. Kipchoge Keino, were among the glitterati who gathered to witness the launch of the new ultra modern SuperSport and M-Net studios in Nairobi.

Besides the two-time Olympic champion and chairman of the National Olympics Committee-Kenya, the fete brought out relatives of the late greats, Robert Wangila Napunyi, the first African boxer to bag Olympics gold as well as rally legend, Shekhar Mehta.

Pauline Konga, the first Kenyan female Olympics medallist and football icon Joe Kandege completed the list of sporting paragons who witnessed the rise of the new age in sports broadcasting as they were indicted into a Hall of Fame at the most expensive studios in the country.

The facilities were constructed in a bid to increase local content with the expansive grounds equipped with the latest equipment in video, sound lighting and editing will see more sports material from East Africa on SuperSport.

The premier Sports channel is now seeking to do more magazine shows focusing on different sporting disciplines as they now have 4 channels dedicated to local events.

- By Kangethe Njoroge

The new studios constructed at the grounds that formerly housed private production firm, Film Studios are located off Nairobi’s Ngong Road opposite the Jamhuri Polo Grounds.

The two pay television content providers will now be able to download and upload content straight to the Multi-Choice Africa Head offices in Ransburg, South Africa for bouquet selection.

The investment has cost MultiChoice over half a Billion shillings.

In what will be a statement of intent, the unveiling comes as competitor Zuku is set to take the Communication Commission of Kenya (CCK) to court over DSTv monopoly of content like the English Premier League matches.

SuperSport holds exclusive rights for local sports content as well as the English Premier league which it has held since.

KISUMU, Kenya, September 1- Carl “Flash” Tundo navigated by Tim Jessop in a Mitsubishi Lancer EVO 9 fought gallantry to win the KCB Mobi Bank Kisumu Rally in Chemase region on Saturday.

The Equator Motor Club tour was rendered a two-horse race pitting defending champion Tundo and Ian Duncan after series leader Baldev Chager suffered a puncture 5km into the opening CS1 Chepsweta stage.

But Duncan had contend with fourth following an excruciating flat that saw him lose grip on the lakeside showdown which he won last year.

Homeboy Jaspreet Singh Chatthe stunned all when he secured a maiden podium finish; incidentally on his first outing in the Mitsubishi EVOX car after re-uniting with Gugu Panesar.

A top-three finish for the duo was indeed a welcome relief for home fans given that the pair rolled their EVO9 machine during last month’s Safari Rally.

“Im now coming to grips with the new car though I didn’t start well in the initial sections but as the rally wore on, I got better and better,” Chatthe.

Omar Mayanja from Uganda won the 2WD Class in 13th overall but Toyota Vitz driver Sammy Nyorri in 20th scored a maximum 80 Formula Two championship points with his new lady navigator Qui Mungai.

There were only two 2WD finishers in Kisumu. Khan brothers Aslam and Arshad won the Classic Car Cup in 12th overall place after their category adversary Hardev Singh Sira of Great Britain retired in CS1 with clutch problems.

KNRC Debutant Ronak Shah and his Nairobi partner Riyaz Ismail won the S Class in 14th overall place. Jassi Chatthe emerged the KNRC Division Two winner while Division 3 honors went to Jasmeet Chana in 7th place.

Aslam Khan who is the reigning Classic Car Cup Champion said he is planning to rest his Porsche 911 and strip it well in time for the Kenya Airways East African Safari Classic.

Aslam said he is planning to use a different car during the penultimate Guru Nanak Rally which will take place on the first week of October.

FINAL RESULTS –KCB KISUMU RALLY

1.Carl Tundo/Tim Jessop (Mitsubishi EVO 9) 1:40.01
2. Jaspreet Chatthe/Gurdeep Panesar (Mitsubishi EVO X) 1:42.35
3. Baldev Chager/Ravi Soni (Mitsubishi EVOX) 1:44.06
4. Ian Duncan/Amaar Slatch (Mitsubishi EVO9) 1:45.55
5. Azar Anwar/Julius Ngigi (Mitsubishi EVO 8) 1:46.40
6. Izhar Mirza/Kavir Dave (Mitsubishi EVO 9) 1:47.30
7. Jasmeet Chana/Rohit Budhia (Mitsubishi EVO9) 1:49.08
8. Hardeep Rehsi/Jaspal Matharu (Mitsubishi EVO 9) 1:49.12
9. Farhaaz Khan/Taussef Khan (Subaru Impreza) 1:53.32
10. Raaji Bharij/Geoff Mayes (Mitsubishi EVO 9) 1:53.38
11. Rajbir Rai/Supee Soin (EVOX) 1:59.39
12. Aslam Khan/ Shakeel Khan (Porsche 911) 2:05.46
13. Omar Mayanja/James Mwangi -UG (Toyota Allex) 2:06.01
14. Ronak Shah/Riyaz Ismail (Toyota Celica) 2:06.20
15. Jaswinder Chana/Ravi Chana (Toyota Celica GT4) 2:10.14
16. Mahesh Halai/Ketan Halai (Subaru Impreza16) 2:10.25
17. Davinder Saimbi/Gurdeep Mehangra (Subaru Impreza N16) 2:23.20
18. Stephen Mwangi/Steven Nyorri (Subaru Impreza N10) 2:25.29
19.Phillis Wambui/Linet Ayuko 2:27.53
20. Sammy Nyorri/Kui Mungai (Toyota Vitz) 2:29.39

NAIROBI, Kenya, September 2- It was one of those matches where you knew football would not make the headlines and so it proved after the crunch Kenyan Premier League (KPL) tie between leaders Gor Mahia and Sony Sugar, dubbed ‘Gor B’ ended in abandonment on Sunday.

Had the heated situation descended into full scale fighting, then the country would now be mourning another stadium disaster since the venue of the derby as well as the security personnel deployed had no chance to cope with the sheer numbers of the Green Army who filled every available space.

The ageing Awendo Green Stadium bore the brunt of the pandemonium in a match where tensions simmered from as early as an hour to kick-off before a controversial K’Ogalo 85th minute equaliser to make matters 2-2 finally ignited the touch paper as chaos reigned unabated.

Its start was delayed by almost ten minutes as officials declined to get proceedings underway until Gor fans who had perched themselves at the groaning roof of the main stand stood down in an ominous beginning that kicked-off the melodrama that lasted for over two hours.

“The verdict is match abandoned due to insecurity. This stadium does not have floodlights and we need to protect everyone including these (pointing at bemused children alongside) future players.

“As you can see, the stadium barriers have been broken and if the remaining five minutes are played, we cannot guarantee the safety of everyone since already, fans have invaded the pitch. If for instance, Gor concede, there will be mayhem” referee boss at KPL, GMT Ottieno said after a stand-off lasting over an hour after enraged Sony players initially declined to take to the pitch for the re-start.

A handful of Gor supporters who were keenly listening to his television interview took exception to the last bit of his statement and after remonstrating with the official, they shifted their ire to the crew whom they told to edit that bit out “since it is shedding our club in bad light.”

“The way forward is the officials, including myself, will submit a report to the KPL and they will rule on the outcome that I cannot pre-empt for now,” Ottieno added.

Gor supporters who travelled from far and wide, took over the stands, as well as the creaking roof of the main stand and after the anti-climax end to the derby, the sagging facility lay in total ruin, wire-mesh perimeter barriers broken, smashed seats all around and even the national flag hoisted in front of the main stand found new owners.

Amid all the disorder, Sony, coached by former K’Ogalo coach, Zedekiah ‘Zico’ Otieno gave the league leaders a good game of football and bar the contentious goal, looked well on course to derail Gor’s title charge with a well deserved win.

Defender Andrew Waiswa planted a header past Gor captain, Jerim Onyango, for the opener in the 21st minute before winger Edwin Lavatsa netted the equaliser just shy of the hour mark with a near post header.

That invited a mini pitch invasion but the jubilant Green Army were quickly brought down to earth when Marwa Chamberi, a constant threat to K’Ogalo’s defence, got to the end of a flowing move for 2-1 three minutes later.

Stunned to near total silence, Gor fans looked on in agony as the clock ticked before centre referee, Nasur Doka and his officials provided an explosive twist to the volatile affair.

Following a failed Sony attack, Gor moved the ball to the left and substitute Patrick Oboya floated in a free-kick that was met with venom by defender David Owino, who unloaded a sweet strike that ricocheted off the cross bar and back to play.

However, Doka, after consulting his assistant, pointed to the centre circle much to the consternation of the Sony players, led by their captain and keeper, Wycliffe Kasaya, who made his feelings known to his opposite number Onyango as well as the linesman that made the call by assaulting the pair.

Following the incident and the melee at the centre of the pitch, Gor supporters uprooted part of the perimeter barrier and poured on to the field enmasse as threats, counter-threats and terse exchanges ensued without spiralling, thankfully, to full blown violence.

“It’s unfortunate that a good game of football has to end that way. We had prepared very well for the match and we managed to out-play them and we could have scored a third in the remaining five minutes.

“It’s a bad day for Kenyan football since at the end of the day, sport is meant to bring people together. Our referees are to blame for the ugly incidents that happen in our grounds, particularly away from live television cameras upcountry,” Sony boss, Otieno lamented.

He was however, quick to admonish his captain for his crude behaviour that only served to inflame the already flaming situation.

“I will talk to him since to be honest, he should realise he is the captain of his team, not the referee. I have never seen such behaviour from him and he should be the first to realise he is a leader,” the former K’Ogalo coach told.

Bobby Williamson, resplendent in a black suit and white shirt, watched passively in his technical area as the bedlam unfolded all around him before slipping away when the game was called off.

“There is immense pressure to win the title for Gor. I don’t read newspapers or watch news since my work is to galvanise my team and give the confidence they can see it through,” he said before kick-off.

It was that strain that was transmitted from the stands to the pitch as Sony went on the rampage, Arita crashing a vicious shot to the cross bar three minutes after the opener with Gor pegged back in their own half as the sugar millers swarmed them with wave and wave of attack.

Sony supporters who made the stadium, including a group of their colourful female supporters, were forced out of their allocated zone at the stadium by the Green Army that also compelled VIPs, including their chairman Ambrose Rachier and the assistant to former Prime Minister, Eliud Owalo, among others to be sat on the dirt track surrounding the pitch as they took full command of the stands.

The wisdom of hosting such a tempestuous derby on a facility that cannot hold itself together will be questioned as Gor fans used the tyranny of numbers to intimidate their hosts who to their credit, did not fold, at least not on the pitch as evident from the relief that swept through the K’Ogalo faithful when they were awarded a late equaliser.

Also, the thin police presence deployed for the game could not have contained the situation had it erupted to full scale violence in yet another recipe for disaster as planning for potentially perilous KPL matches once again comes into sharp focus.

“Everyone here can see that there is no way a stadium as poor as this can contain Gor fans and yet the club continues to be blamed for anything bad that happens in our games. At least today, we did not cause the abandonment,” Gor secretary, George Bwana, sighed.