FKF Electoral Board member, Steve Mburu addressing press on October 28. PGOTO/Raymond Makhaya.

NAIROBI, October 27 – The vetting of clubs mandated to vote in sub branch and branch Football Kenya Federation (FKF) elections will be done by an independent body, the Electoral Board has announced.

At the same, the Board extended the nomination and presentation of fees deadline of sub branch and branches candidates to November 11, a fortnight before the elections.

The Electoral Board who will decide whether to divide Nairobi County into two; released a list of 1,101 clubs from 10 regions eligible to vote with North Rift leading with 264.

Speaking on behalf of Board chairman, Donald Kipkorir, Member Steve Mburu, declared they have approached three bodies; the Independent Electoral Commission (IEBC), Institute for Education and Democracy and Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy, to conduct the exercise and will thereafter settle on one.

“We have sourced enough to ensure verification issues raised by aspirants are well dealt with. We have identified independent bodies that we will work with to vet all clubs presented to us by FKF and verify candidates.

“Although formed by FKF in their AGM. we are independent. We have taken over to ensure whoever wants to contest can be accommodated so long as they meet the requirements. We are here to ensure football wins,” Mburu underscored after the Board met presidential candidates on Wednesday.

Incumbent, Sam Nyamweya opted to sit out of the gathering with Board Treasurer, David Mereka accusing him of trying to scuttle the process.

However, the Board distanced itself from the statement made by Mareka after the FKF boss threatened to sue the Treasurer for what he termed as character assassination.

“There were issues on the press about which account the nomination fees is supposed to be channeled but we want to make it clear that we have opened an Electoral Board account that will be used by all candidates.

“It’s an honour serving in the Board but we have names to protect and when your name has been adversely mentioned, it’s important for somebody to find a way of defending himself. We cannot control that but going forward, we want to centralise information coming from us. The threats made by FKF president were directed to an individual and not the Board,” Mburu explained.

On his part, the Treasurer, said, “There was a reply by the president of FKF concerning the email that I sent to press and he made certain threats, so in that respect I cannot comment on that letter because the threats are still valid,” Mereka asserted.

The Board is yet to get funds to conduct the elections with Mburu outlining they have written to world governing body FIFA and the Government to come to their aid.

“It’s a very expensive election particularly at this time because we want whoever will be in office to have authority. For us to achieve that, we need to spend time, money and resources.

“We also request FKF to hand to us money they have reserved for the exercise. For the credibility of these elections, if we don’t have the funds to verify the branches and candidates, let me assure you we shall not hold the elections,” Mburu, who is a board member declared.

Gor Mahia fans in full song at the aborted Mashemeji Derby. PHOTO/Raymond Makhaya

NAIROBI, October 29 –Gor Mahia will hoist a new trophy aloft on Sunday when they are crowned SportPesa Premier League champion since the record 15-time top flight winners will get to keep the old cup for good.

Gor who held on to the title for three times in a row this season, will celebrate another landmark as the first side to lift the Europe-manufactured new trophy that weighs 12kgs.

An elaborate trophy presentation ceremony has been planned on after Gor play their last game of the season against Muhoroni Youth where they are out to wrap up the season unbeaten at Nairobi’s Nyayo National Stadium.

“Gor will have the opportunity to have a touch of the new trophy when they will be presented with it but after winning the league for three seasons in a row, they will keep the old one for good,” KPL announced on their official website.

It has been a splendid outing for the most successful club in Kenya with the class of 2015 setting records to re-ignite memories of the golden team that ruled the region and Africa, winning the domestic title from 1985 to 87.

After being the first team in the 16 team format to hit the 75 points mark, K’Ogalo are on the verge of entering into the county’s football history books if they finish the season without tasting defeat in the Kenyan Premier League era that started in 2007.

Only 2006 champions, Sony Sugar got 75 points when they won their first crown when the league featured 20 teams.

Gor officials have called on their fans to maintain decorum on Sunday to enable a smooth ceremony unlike in the past two seasons that saw the Green Army invade the pitch, making it difficult for organisers to hand over the cup.

Last season, the trophy ceremony was done in Kisumu’s Moi Stadium with club patron and former Prime Minister, Rt Hon Raila Odinga presenting the diadem amid chaotic scenes as the crowd invaded the pitch and main dais in manic celebration.

Keeper Boniface Oluoch who has kept clean sheets in the last five,  will looking to win the Golden Gloves award while striker, Michael Olunga who scored his 18th goal in their 1-0 win over Western Stima, has a chance to close on Tusker FC’s Jesse Were 20 goals in the race for the Golden Boot.

Wilson Kipsang after winning last year’s New York Marathon. He is among stars taking part in the 836km march for peace. PHOTO/File

NAIROBI, October 30- One thing is certain. There will be no cheating Joseph Njogus on Sunday when the cast of star Kenyan marathoners take to the streets of New York in their bid to conquer a course 2005 champion and celebrated legend, Paul Tergat, described as ‘the classic race’.

Wilson Kipsang, the former marathon holder and Mary Keitany, who has returned with force since taking a maternal break will put their men and women titles on the line.

Njogu stole international headlines last Sunday at Kenya’s signatures Nairobi International Stanchart Marathon after brazenly attempting to cheat his way to second place and its Sh650,000 reward before he was quickly exposed, arrested and eventually released without charge.

To his credit, the wannabe had his 15 minutes of shameful fame on all local and major international outlets including AFP, Reuters, BBC and Sky News among others.

However, the New York Police Department (NYPD) has promised no Njogus or any other characters intent on making trouble on race day will have a sniff of a chance in the American city that is prepared for week of chaos; the World Series (Baseball), Halloween and New York City Marathon.

Runners participating in Sunday’s marathon will be sprinting past a sea of blue, the NYPD’s top cop said Thursday. More than 1,800 cops will be along the 26-mile route, Police Commissioner Bill Bratton said at a marathon-related press conference in Central Park, according to a report on New York Daily news.

There’s a lesson hidden in there for Stanchart Nairobi Marathon organisers. At the end of the day, headlines will be dominated by two athletes who will cut the tape first over the classic 42.195km distance, not the sideshows that marred what was a good celebration of running by the big elephant in the room- Njogu.

In the men’s race, the pressure is on Kipsang, 33, who by his lofty standards, is yet to prove his mettle this year having ran seven sub 2:05:00 career marathons, owned the world record, won London twice and above all, coming in as the defending champion.

In April, he was beaten to second by Eliud Kipchoge who deployed a sustained charge over the last two kilometres to end his reign as London champion by five with his commendable 2:04:47 remaining his year best and marking the seventh time he has dipped under 2:05.

Worse was to befall the man who ran to a 2:03:23 world record at the 2013 Berlin Marathon when he donned the Kenyan colours for the August IAAF World Championships in Beijing, China, where pressure cooker conditions slapped him a DNF and the chance to move closer to Kipchoge in the World Marathon Majors rankings.

Last fall, Kipsang won a share of USD500,000 WMM jackpot with his Big Apple triumph after topping the 2013/14 biennial cycle competition standings and had he taken Beijing gold, it would have pushed his tally to 41 points, the maximum he can achieve with victory on Sunday.

Kipchoge (50), who is also in New York, will be watching the men’s race with more than keen interest since he stands to succeed Kipsang as the jackpot winner provided Ethiopia’s Yemane Tsegay (32) does not win the race since a victory for him would take his total to 57.

“I think when I compare my condition from last year to this year, I think this year I am a bit [more] well prepared and I think I can run faster than last year,” Kipsang, the Olympics bronze winner was quoted in runningcompetitor.com.

And he is in no mood to engage any challenger in a slug fest like last year when he duelled with Ethiopia’s Lelisa Desisa in the final stages, exchanging the lead as they came to the final borough of the five that make New York before prevailing over the challenger in 2:10:59 with a sprint.

On the domestic front, Kipsang’s reign will be put under severe test by World Cross Champion and namesake, Geoffrey Kipsang Kamworor, who proved his versatility in long distance running by pushing feared British track star, Mo Farah, all the way before settling for 10,000m silver at the Beijing Worlds.

Having finished the time trial Berlin Marathon third in successive years, including when Kipsang stormed to his world record, the 22 year-old who also holds the World Half Marathon crown finished fourth in Berlin (2:06:39) in his last outing over the ultimate distance.

Last year’s Boston runner-up, Stanley Biwott, who holds a 2:04:55 personal best and fourth place finish at this year’s London Marathon, is the other strong Kenyan challenger in New York, having kept up with Kipchoge, Kipsang, world record holder, Dennis Kimetto who rounded the podium until the dying embers of the race.

The Ethiopian three-pronged challenge features Yemane who was second in Boston and bagged silver at the Beijing Worlds but the fact he will be running his fourth marathon of the year could prove to be his undoing.

Lelisa comes with the Boston title under his belt before he finished seventh in Beijing with the added motivation of climbing a step higher in the podium to atone for his narrow loss last year.

Gebregzhiabher Gebremariam, a winner here in 2010 and third last year completes the Ethiopian trio and having fought off three seasons of injury, is slowly working his way back to the top.

-Keitany primed-

Mary Keitany breasts the tape to defend her Great North Run crown on Sunday. PHOTO/IAAF/AFP

Revered Kenya athletics head coach, Julius Kirwa, once said, a new mother “returns to running with new power, almost a second strength to her natural gift.”

In the case of Mary Jepkosgei Keitany, the assertion holds true, having returned from a second maternal break with a seismic bang to end her year with the New York title after outlasting the hard fighting compatriot, Jemimah Sumgong, in the closing stages to complete the course in 2:25:07.

Her bid to reclaim her London title in April was only bettered by the superior display on the day from Ethiopia’s surprise package, Tigist Tufa, with the clocks returning 2:23:22 against 2:23:40 and having been overlooked for the Beijing Worlds, New York should expected a wounded Keitany on her streets on Sunday.

Despite the fire raging in her belly, the soft spoken, affable but ruthless distance runner preached caution ahead of another stern test she hopes to pass with flying colours for a second New York title.

“I will run very carefully. In 2011 here I started too fast. I could not finish well. My training has been good. Before the London Marathon in April, I had been ill with malaria. This time I think I will run well.

“When I won last year, the fans were shouting ‘Go, Mary! Go, Mary!’ I like the people. New York is a wonderful city. As a mother, I am not running for myself, but for my family,” runningcompetitor.com quoted the mother of two who is always quick to offer a dazzling smile at the pre-race press conference.

Keitany, also 33, who was fourth at the London Olympics will hinge her reputation against a mean cast including the much-awaited full marathon debut of Sally Kipyego, the Olympics 10,000m silver medallist who will feel more at home since she is based in Oregon.

Helah Kiprop- who stunned everyone by winning silver at the Beijing Worlds, losing the top medal by a second- and 2015 Boston Marathon champion Caroline Rotich and 2013 winner, Pricash Jeptoo, round off the Kenya’s ‘Big Five’ lined-up for the Big Apple showdown and the last WMM event of the year.

Keitany will renew acquaintances with Tigist in the mouth-watering instalment of their duel this year with her fellow Ethiopians, Asefelech Mergia and Buzunesh Deba, possessing the quality to take the crown on their day.

A lot also expected from debuting home runner, Laura Thweatt, ranked the top female American runner and seasoned Latvian Jelena Prokopcuka.

Pambazuka Entertainment models Winnie Njoki (left) and Penninah Juma parade the new SPL trophy during its launch in Nairobi on October 30, 2015. PHOTO/Raymond Makhaya

NAIROBI, October 30 – SportPesa Premier League champions Gor Mahia have strict measures in place to avoid chaos that blighted their coronation for the past two seasons when they will be officially handed the new SportPesa Premier League trophy on Sunday.

Speaking during the unveiling of the glittering 12kg silverware on Friday, Gor skipper Jerim Onyango, urged their loyal Green Army supporters to uphold calm and give players ample time to take photos to savour the historic moment after the team wrapped their third successive title.

“These are memorable moments that we are going to face as players and as a captain. We are hoping we will not have a repeat of the past two seasons. What happened wasn’t good because we didn’t have time to take photos especially as a team.

“This time, players are looking forward for the day. They will have their families around and give them time to take photos and above all have memories of winning the league.

“Winning it (league) three times in row is not easy. We hope there will be good security and gates will be opened early,” Onyango, who will have the privilege of hoisting the trophy aloft thrice, urged.

As the home team in their final fixture against Muhoroni Youth, K’Ogalo will beef up security in and around the stadium where the fanfare will start at 7am with entertainment before gates open at 10am ahead of the 3pm kick-off.

To avoid a pitch invasion, the club will have screens inside the stadium to enable fans follow the trophy presentation with stern warning issued to unruly support who might attempt to disrupt the party.

“We have behaved well throughout the season and we expect the same on the final day. These will not only give our players ample time to celebrate but attract sponsors. We will have enough security to ensure the day is a success.

“Whoever will try to invade the pitch or destabilize proceedings, will make an example to the rest. Tickets will be sold from 7am at the stadium booth and in town where there will be two vans,” Gor vice-chairman, John Pesa declared.

Just like 2013 when the team was treated to a grand entrance to Safaricom Stadium in Kasarani in a movie star convoy after winning a first time in 18 years, plans are afoot to layout the ‘swag’ that fervent supporters of the side identify with.

“Our wish was to do it more than 2013 but finances are a stumbling block. For security reasons, we are not allowed to bring in players in convoy but we are still hoping to airlift few players, maybe the captain and few players who have been sensational.

“We will host the team and their families for dinner at a Nairobi hotel,” a Gor official told Capital Sport.

Gor will be the first team to have their name engraved on the handmade trophy that is 90cm tall and 60cm wide.

“The trophy is supposed to a mark of the new beginning. We had to go for something elegant. It’s not finished yet, it will be returned to Italy after presentation for a few adjustments that will take a month. It has cost over Sh1m.

“The trophy has been bench marked to international standards. It’s a brass trophy and has a sliver coating all around. From next season we will have a replica for the winning team. We couldn’t start immediately because our partnership with Kenyan Premier League was to start next year,” SportPesa marketing manager, Kester Muhonja told.

Gor will keep the old ‘big eared jug’ silverware for good to mark their feat of winning it thrice or as they say, Giniwasekano!

Luke Kibet when winning Bupa Marathon in 2008. PHOTO/ FILE by IAAF.

LIBREVILLE, October 31 – Kenya’s 2007 world champion Luke Kibet will take part at this year’s IAAF Bronze Label Road Race, Marathon du Gabon scheduled for November 29.

The race will have its two previous men’s winner, Kenya’s Peter Kurui and Ethiopia’s Wosen Feleke.

In tough weather conditions, Feleke won last year’s race in the Gabon capital Libreville in 2:23:02, the slowest of his 11 career marathons but ironically his only win to date.

He can boast of a personal best of 2:10:56 from when he finished fourth in the 2013 Warsaw Marathon.

Kurui was much faster in 2013, the inaugural edition of what has quickly become one of Africa’s leading road races, winning in 2:14:42 and will be looking to return to that sort of form after not racing internationally since November last year.

Kibet, now 32, has a best time of 2:08:52 but that dates back to 2004. In January this year he ran 2:10:57 to finish third in Mumbai but his two most recent marathons – both in China – have been more modest, with sixth place at the Yellow River Marathon in 2:18:09 and then fifth in Hefei last Sunday in 2:17:02.

Also in the field, and the man who can be considered the favourite, is Kenya’s 2007 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships bronze medallist Evans Cheruiyot, the winner of this year’s Enschede Marathon in 2:09:40 back in April.

Ethiopia’s Hailu Shume will be another man to watch out for after going under 2:10 twice last year when winning in Rome and then Caen, in 2:09:47 and 2:09:27 respectively.

Shume’s most recent marathon saw him finish second in Geneva in 2:11:27 in May this year.

Around 15,000 runners are expected to take part in the weekend of activities which also includes a half marathon, 10km and children’s races.

The marathon itself starts in front of the presidential palace and much of the out-and-back course is along coastal roads by the Atlantic Ocean.

KCB RFC celebrates after winning the 2015 Impala Floodlit tournament on October 31. PHOTO/ COURTESY.

NAIROBI, October 31 – KCB RFC successfully defended the Impala Floodlit tournament after rallying from behind to stop hosts Impala 26-14 in a pulsating final on Saturday.

In the University competition, USIU beat Strathmore 30-20 to list the title while in the schools category, Laiser Hill Academy were 24-7 winners over Ofafa Jericho to retain the trophy.

KCB who entered as favorites, saw Kenya 15s fly half Kenny Andola make his debut after completing the move from Strathmore Leos and his presence was felt as the Lions trailed 13-14 at the interval.

Impala who were seeking to end a five year trophy drought, started brightly, forcing KCB to concede a scrum after winger, Kevin Ochami broke through.

Impala’s lock Paul Oimbo then send his side ahead when he  touched down near the uprights for full back Sammy Oliech to convert.

KCB could have reduced the deficit when they were awarded a penalty but Andola missed the 40 yard kick.

Moments later, fullback Darwin Mukidza gave Curtis Olago charges the three points after he converted a penalty to make it 7-3 but Impala extended the lead through lock, Eric Kere who touched down after an inside pass from centre Sammy Motari as Oliech kick went through.

At the half hour mark, Mukidza’s conversion from a penalty was good while Oliech missed his five minutes later to inspire the Lions who closed the gap courtesy of Eli Mukaizi’s converted try from the scrum  for a 14-13 scoreline at the interval.

KCB resumed a resurgent side and within two minutes, they were awarded a penalty that was well taken by Mukidza to enable the Bankers take the lead.

Impala got a major blow when Robert Aringo was sin-binned for tackling Mukidza in the air to give Olago charges an upper hand as they surged forward.

Kenya 7s skipper, Andrew Amonde maximized the opportunity when he touched down at the left corner from a scrum pushover move that emanated from the penalty.

Mukidza’s conversion was wide as KCB opened a six point gap with a quarter an hour to the final whistle.

Mukidza was at it again with a scrum try to take the scores to 14-26 in the Lions favour but he missed the conversion as they managed to hold on for the win that saw them clinch their fifth crown.

Gor Mahia celebrating the 2015 SportPesa Premier League title on November 1. PHOTO/Raymond Makhaya

NAIROBI, November 1 – In the 10 frenzied minutes it took a crew to assemble the stage for champions Gor Mahia to receive the newly glittering SportPesa Premier League trophy, their supporters were treated to the raw statistics as the class of 2015 wrote history as the first team to win the league unbeaten in the new KPL era.

The three time back-to-back champions who emulated the class of 1976 that was led by club legend Allan Thigo, had been top of the table for a record 252 days, from the moment they beat Mathare United 4-2 at Nairobi City Stadium in their season opener on February 21.

KO’galo wrapped up their season in style after outdoing in-form Muhoroni Youth 2-0 courtesy of Ali Abondo and ‘Engineer’ Michael Olunga second half goals to complete a fine campaign after going 30 matches without tasting defeat.

It has all came together for Gor in one joyous celebration, patiently waiting five weeks, since they were confirmed as champions after beating Sony Sugar 1-0, to get their hands on the shiny silverware to celebrate in front of their supporters.

To spice the party, the team kept the old cup for good after clinching the hat-trick of titles for the first time in three decades when the club won in it 1985.

Frank Nutall’s team have been in a class of their own, winning 24 matches in 30 games to successfully retain the title by a massive 78 points, the highest to be collected by a team in the 16 team KPL format league.

“It’s great for us to win the league unbeaten and write history. I thank my technical bench, players and supporters and everybody who has pull together for us to reach this far.

“It has been a difficult season, struggling financially and for us to get to this point, I’m happy for everyone. We are just enjoying today,” ecstatic Gor head coach, Nuttall stated after the win.

Gor have been too good for all teams this season, as they demonstrated by showing the character of a champion in the second half to record their 14th home victory out of 15 home matches and complete the double over Muhoroni.

It was a spirited start by Muhoroni, but the reality is that their season ended when they secured a top eight finish after coming from behind to draw 1-1 with struggling giants AFC Leopards last weekend.

After a dull first half that saw both sides create less chances, Olunga tore the right to bring in a fine cross but there was no one to tap home as Gor resumed on a high.

Abondo then light up the stadium when he netted the opener in the 62nd minute from a superb free-kick to send the Green Army into jubilation.

Olunga who prior to the game was two goals behind Jesse Were in the golden boot hunt, was man-marked but he found space to seal the win six minutes to stoppage time.

The Harambee Stars lethal forward fired home his 19th goal and the winner to ensure the champions’ party could start in earnest when he shot low and hard from the edge of the box past keeper, Daniel Kiptoo.

The final whistle indicated the start of the party at Nairobi’s Nyayo National Stadium where unlike the past two seasons, the Green Army maintained decorum to give players ample time to celebrate with their families and take photos of the trophy.

Wearing T-shirts written “3-peat Champions 2013-2014-2015”, the players sprinkled water on Nuttall who has only lost one league match since succeeding countryman Bobby Williamson in September last year.

The trophy lift was a familiar feeling for the captain, Jerim Onyango, having done so in 2013 and 14 but this time he was joined by defender Musa Mohammed who has skippered the team the entire season.

The two captains were handed the big eared trophy by patron and former Prime Minister, Raila Odinga who was accompanied by Siaya Senator, James Orengo.

A lap of honour took forever, soaking it all up again as they made their way towards their fans in all four corners of the stadium to mark their record 15th national title that with no doubt crowned them as Kings of Kenyan football.

Gor’s George ‘BlackBerry’ Odhiambo vies for the ball with Muhoroni Youth’s Wycliffe Nyangechi. PHOTO/Raymond Makhaya.

-GOR unbeaten journey-

21/02 Gor Mahia 4 Mathare United 2

19/03 Gor Mahia 2 Bandari 1

22/03 Gor Mahia 3 Chemelil Sugar 1

08/04 Gor Mahia 3 KCB 1

12/04 AFC Leopards 1 Gor Mahia 1

15/04 Nairobi City Stars 0 Gor Mahia 3

19/04 Gor Mahia 0 Sofapaka 0

26/04 Ushuru FC 0 Gor Mahia 2

02/05 Gor Mahia 2 Ulinzi Stars 0

06/05 SoNy Sugar 0 Gor Mahia 1

10/05 Western Stima 0 Gor Mahia 0

17/05 Gor Mahia 5 Nakuru AllStars 0

24/05 Muhoroni Youth FC 0 Gor Mahia 1

01/06 Thika United 0 Gor Mahia 2

06/06 Gor Mahia 1 Tusker FC 0

27/06 Chemelil Sugar 1 Gor Mahia 4

08/07 Gor Mahia 2 Thika United 0

12/07 Mathare United 1 Gor Mahia 1

09/08 KCB 1 Gor Mahia 6

12/08 Gor Mahia 2 Ushuru FC 0

15/08 Gor Mahia 3 Nairobi City Stars 1

19/08 Nakuru AllStars 1 Gor Mahia 1

23/08 Gor Mahia 2 AFC Leopards 0

29/08 Bandari 1 Gor Mahia 2

13/09 Ulinzi Stars 0 Gor Mahia 0

16/09 Gor Mahia 1 SoNy Sugar 0

21/10 Sofapaka 0 Gor Mahia 2

25/10 Tusker FC 0 Gor Mahia 1

28/10 Gor Mahia 1 Western Stima 0

01/11 Gor Mahia 2 Muhoroni Youth FC 0

City Stars head coach, Dennis ‘Wise’ Okoth in a past SportPesa Premier League match. PHOTO/Raymond Makhaya.

NAIROBI, November 1 – For the third season running, Nairobi City Stars survived relegation after coming from behind to draw 1-1 with Sony Sugar as curtains on the 2015 SportPesa Premier League came down on Sunday.

In Kisumu, KCB drew 1-1 with hosts Western Stima to join Nakuru All Stars in the second tie.

Elsewhere, Jesse Were scored twice as Tusker thrashed AFC Leopards 3-0 to bag the Golden Boot with 22 goals ahead of Gor Mahia’s Michael Olunga who finished with 19.

Bandari sealed their first ever top 8 spot after holding Ulinzi Stars to a goalless stalemate at Nakuru’s Afraha Stadium to finish fourth on 46 points.

Sitting two points above the relegation zone, City Stars needed to match KCB’s result to survive, pending an agreement by Football Kenya Federation and Kenyan Premier League on the criteria of relegation/promotion.

Gambian striker, Sanneh Ebrima netted when it mattered most in the 50th minute to cancel out Amos Asembeka’s 28th opener and give the Kawangware based side a sigh of relief.

The result saw Sony suffer a major blow in their Top 8 quest as they finished 10th on 35 points.

Ugandan winger, Jimmy Bageya and Sanneh were inspirational for Dennis ‘Wise’ Okoth charges as they enjoyed fine exchanges at the half hour mark but the latter’s shot was sent out for a fruitless corner.

Asembeka opened the scoring for the Sugar belt side after City Stars keeper Ronny Kagunzi spilt the ball from a Rober Omunuk corner before City Stars wasted chance to level from a set-piece at the edge of the box.

City Stars resumed a re-energised side and it paid off nine minutes after the interval when Saneh headed home from a Calvin Masawa cross on the left wing.

Omunuk then set through Amos Nondi but the latter misfired with only the keeper to beat before Masawa found Sanneh but Gambian headed wide in the end to end action.

Sony could only find the woodwork five minutes to full time through Omunuk as City Stars held on for the crucial point.

Mary Keitany after winning 2015 New York Marathon. PHOTO/IAAF

NEW YORK – November 1 – Kenya’s Mary Keitany defended her title in fine style at the New York City Marathon, crossing the line in 2:24:25 at the IAAF Gold Label Road Race, while the men’s title went to Stanley Biwott in 2:10:34 on Sunday.

The marathon, they say, is a race which doesn’t truly begin until 20 miles, and that was certainly the case in New York, with both winning moves coming in the closing miles after largely uneventful races beforehand.

With an impressive turn of speed over the final five miles in the historic race, which winds its way through the Big Apple’s five boroughs, Keitany finished 1:07 ahead of Ethiopia’s Aselefech Mergia, who was second in 2:25:32.

Another Ethiopian, Tigist Tufa, was third in 2:25:50 with the best European runner, Portugal’s Sara Moreira, coming through strongly over the final four miles to finish just three seconds further back.

With cool and breezy conditions greeting the start in Staten Island, a nine-woman group led by Portugal’s Sara Moreira went through halfway in a steady 1:12:54, and they were all still together at 18 miles before the pace gradually increased over the course of the next two miles.

At 20 miles, the Kenyan pair of Keitany and 2013 NYCM champion Priscah Jeptoo, along with the Ethiopian duo of Tufa and Mergia, were the only ones left in contention at the front. “When I made my move, I said if somebody was strong enough to go with me, I was ready,” said Keitany.

Keitany cranked up the speed even further in the 21st mile, throwing in a 5:14 mile, which did considerable damage to her rivals, and only Tufa was able to follow suit.

However Keitany surged again in the miles that followed – running the 22nd mile in 5:13, the 23rd in 5:16 – and reached 35km in 1:58:55.

At that point Tufa dropped away, and her decline was sharp, losing 13 seconds to Keitany in barely a kilometre.

From there, there was little doubt that the 2009 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships gold medallist was going to run out the winner and take her tally to four wins out of eight marathons.

-Patience pays off-

When she crossed the line in 2:24:25, Keitany became the first athlete to successfully defend her title at the New York City Marathon since Paula Radcliffe in 2008, and afterwards, the 33-year-old said much of her performance can be credited to previous race experience.

“I learned lessons here in 2011, so today I had to be patient and wait,” she reflected. “I was very confident coming here. At home my training was perfect and I was coming to defend my title. It helped that I understood the course, as the field was very tough.”

Behind Keitany, Mergia overtook the flagging Tufa with just under a mile to the finish to clinch second place in 2:25:32, with Tufa holding on for third in 2:25:50.

In the men’ race, the field dawdled through the opening 5km in 15:47 and, with more than a dozen athletes bunched together at the front, only marginally picked up the pace in the following miles to reach 10km in 31:31.

Shortly before halfway, Ethiopia’s Lelisa Desisa moved to the front and whittled the leading pack to eight, but it was a short-lived injection of pace and at halfway, which was reached in 1:06:49, there were 13 athletes still in the leading group.

It wasn’t until 20 miles that the race was finally blown apart, with Geoffrey Kamworor surging to the front and clocking a 4:24 mile.

Only Desisa, Biwott and defending champion Wilson Kipsang could go with him, but the strain on Kipsang’s face soon became evident and the former world record holder soon began to drop away.

Desisa was the next to crack, losing contact with the Kenyan duo after Biwott moved to the front in the 23rd mile, which was covered in 4:33.

Even Kamworor was beginning to feel the effects of his surge, which saw him record a 14:50 5km split between 30km and 35km.

-Biwott turns the screw-

The following 5km, with Biwott applying the pressure at the front, was 14:19, by far the fastest of the race, and that pressure proved too much for Kamwowor, the reigning IAAF world half marathon and world cross country champion.

“The pace was too slow,” said Biwott afterwards, “so I went hard to make it even until the end.”

Biwott opened a lead of five seconds as they entered the final mile in Central Park and as much as Kamworor tried, he couldn’t regain contact during the final run to the finish line.

With a few hundred metres to run, Biwott began waving to the crowds, celebrating what was his first win at a World Marathon Major race.

He crossed the line as champion in 2:10:34 to take his first marathon win since Paris in 2012 and afterwards, the Kenyan explained that a different focus in training had led to his breakthrough.

“During my previous big marathons, I was not able to run the last five kilometres at a consistent speed, so this year I have trained for the full 42 kilometres to improve my endurance. I increased the distance and today it helped me a lot.”

Kamworor took second place in 2:10:48 and afterwards, the 22-year-old was content with his performance. “I was happy to finish on the podium,” he said. “Second is good for me, and hopefully I can come back next year and try to win.”

Desisa faded badly over the closing miles, but still hung on for third in 2:12:10, with Kipsang third in 2:12:45.

In total, 50,229 runners entered to take part in this year’s event, which is the world’s largest marathon.

KCB felix Wanjala in action against Impala. PHOTO/Raymond Makhaya

NAIROBI, November 2 -The curtains may have fallen on the Impala Floodlit tournament, the traditional precursor to the Kenya Cup, but teams are still keen on fine tuning their squads ahead of the 2015-16 season which gets underway November 21.

fresh from retaining Floodies, defending Kenya Cup and Enterprise Cup champions, KCB will lock horns with Top Fry Nakuru in a pre-season friendly dubbed the Titans Cup on Saturday at the RFUEA Grounds.

The two sides have over the years built a great rivalry, that was initially characterized by big hits and tight encounters, and while these initial factors exist, they have gone on to be rivals for national honors.

Nakuru completed the league and cup double over the Lions during the 2013/14 season before Wanyore surrendering to KCB last season.

This fixture will be preceded by an equally mouthwatering clash between Kenya Harlequin and  Homeboyz.

Clashes between the two sides have oscillated from one-sided to thrilling and exciting over the years and Saturday is another opportunity to see what they have in store ahead of the new season.

-fixtures-

2.00pm – Kenya Harlequin v Menengai Cream Homeboyz

4.00pm – KCB v Top Fry Nakuru

Venue: RFUEA Grounds

Gates open at 12.00pm, Entry charges Ksh 300

Gor Mahia striker, Michael Olunga lifts the SportPesa Premier League trophy on November 1. PHOTO/Raymond Makhaya.

NAIROBI, November 2 – Gor Mahia talisman, Michael Ogada Olunga, or if you prefer, ‘Engineer’, is still sore about missing that penalty against Zambian titans, Power Dynamos, in a pre-season friendly that sparked his barnstorming season where he ended as a celebrated crowd darling of the Green Army.

The 21 year-old engineering student at Nairobi’s Technical University of Kenya powered K’Ogalo to wrap a third successive title and go the entire league season unbeaten with 19 goals, only bettered by SportPesa Premier League Golden Boot Jesse Were with 22.

Olunga, the powerfully built and lanky goal-scoring machine; weathered unforgiving criticism from the fans at the start of the campaign to become their cult hero with a ruthlessness eye for goal as the season progressed to its historic climax.

After a lean spell at fellow titans, Tusker FC, Olunga was flogged to Thika United on loan before as fate would have it, he was signed to K’Ogalo to take the slot vacated by another celebrated marksman, Ugandan Dan Sserunkuma, their top scorer in the championship-winning seasons of 2013 and 14.

Despite the obvious difference in frame, Sserunkuma was a diminutive ‘fox in the box’ as opposed to his tall replacement, Olunga found the ‘little’ boots left by the departed Ugandan international too big for him to fill as he endured a wretched start to his Gor career.

Against Dynamos on his K’Ogalo debut, Olunga recalls how his dream move unravelled at an instant.

“My most terrible moments were during the pre-season when I missed a penalty against Power Dynamos in front of fans who ruled me out. I felt demoralised but took the criticism as a challenge and a wakeup call.

“It made me work extra hard to not only prove them wrong but also cement my place in the starting line up. My highlight of the season was today when I’m being crowned a champion unbeaten,” the Harambee Stars striker, told.

Olunga, set the ball rolling when he scored twice in his Premier League debut and went on firing in the goals that saw him earn a call-up in the Under-20 and senior national sides teams where he is remembered with his famous hat-trick against Botswana that took Stars to the brink of vying for a final round of Rio 2016 Olympics qualifying after a 4-4 aggregate tie saw Kenya eliminated on away goals.

In September, he gave an entire nation the audacity to believe when he opened the scoring after 13 minutes before Harambee Stars crumbled later in the first half to surrender 2-1 to 2012 champions Zambia in an AFCON qualifier.

The former Tusker FC forward was courted by early South African Premier Soccer League side Bidvest Wits before the move fell through in the second half of the season in a testament of his bludgeoning reputation in a league televised live across the continent on SuperSport.

The ‘Engineer’ took his goal-scoring tool box to the regional Cecafa Kagame Cup club competition where he became an overnight sensation in Tanzania by plundering in five.

Gor however, fell at the final hurdle to moneyed home side, Azam FC 2-0 but he was forced to deny widespread reports of a switch to the Vodacom Premier League with the country’s top sides- Simba SC and Yanga – allegedly sparking off a bidding war for his signature.

“I thank God for everything he has done to me, the technical bench and my fans. They have all been supportive because we played as a team. It was not individual effort so I congratulate everyone in Gor fraternity.

“It means a lot winning the league unbeaten because its history and just like the class of 1976 is recognised, in the near future if another team wins it unbeaten, they will say there was a striker called Michael Olunga in 2015 who helped Gor win the league without losing a match,” The Liberty Academy graduate underscored.

-Content-

After missing out the Golden Boot, Olunga is content finishing runners-up after giving Were, 26, a fight to the last as he signed off fittingly- with the last strike of the campaign for K’Ogalo in a 2-0 win over Muhoroni Youth- who met their nadir after breezing through the second leg of the campaign unbeaten.

Were, who was also taken for trials by Bidvest without success just like Olunga, sunk a brace as Tusker thumped frail giants and bitter K’Ogalo archrivals, AFC Leopards, 3-1 on final day to sign-off a humiliating season for Ingwe.

However, Gor’s dangerman did not waste time in delivering an early warning to go for the top scorer’s accolade next season if he extends his contract that comes to an end in December.

“I’m content with the number of goals I have scored and a striker; my target is to score. We are all in competition and it has shown Jesse (Were) is a good striker. It’s good for the national team because if we have quality, performances wil improve, so I congratulate him.

“Last year I was third best goal scorer, this year second so who knows if I play in the Kenyan Premier League next season, I will go for the top position. For now I’m contracted with Gor when the season ends we will see how it goes,” Olunga who only missed two league games asserted.

-Were history-

After making it to the podium finish in the past two seasons, coming second in 2013 and third last year, Were broke the Kenyan Premier League era goal-scoring record of 21 held by Allan Wanga in a campaign he memorably netted a hat-trick of trebles in successive games in the infancy of the second leg.

“I’m happy score two more goals on the last day. My target was 20 so this is a plus. I have been working for it so this season I perfected it. I’m now focusing on the next game against Gor,” Were whose contract also comes to end in December added.

National sevens team captain Andrew Amonde in action during a training session on 20th September 2013 at RFUEA ground.PHOTO/Raymond Makhaya

NAIROBI, November 3 – National men’s sevens head coach, Benjamin Ayimba will name his 12-man squad for Africa Olympics qualifier next week ahead of their departure on November 12.

Kenya who are seeded top will be out to grab the sole spot when the competition gets underway November 14 and 15 in Johannesburg after missing out the automatic qualification that was up for grabs for the top four finishers in the 2014-15 Rugby Sevens World Series.

Should they be successful in their quests for qualification, they will join the men’s hockey team and the women’s volleyball team as the only team sport to have represented the country at the Summer Games.

However, Ayimba has warned his team faces a difficult task to qualify despite being seeded top against 12 other African sides as they seek to win the tournament in Johannesburg on November 15, to clinch the sole berth for the Olympics where  sevens will makes its debut.

“This is really a tough test for us. It will not be an easy task,” said Ayimba, whose team are drawn against Madagascar, Mauritius and Senegal in the opening Pool A matches.

“The tournament is a sprint as opposed to a marathon where everyone has a shot at the Olympics. It is going to be a difficult one,” Ayimba stated.

The traveling squad  will likely be drawn from the players who featured in the 2014-15 sevens World Series, where Kenya finished 13th as well as from the Shujaa and Morans team who competed at this year’s Safari Sevens.

But Ayimba said the selection of the squad would be based on the player availability, fitness levels and team combinations.

“We are extremely lucky to have a committed squad which is looking to go forward, despite having no contracts or sponsors to give them the moral support,” the head coach underscored.

The side is in residential high altitude training camp at Nandi Hills preparing in earnest for the event that will see only one team qualify for the Rio-De-Janeiro showdown.

By virtue of them being the only core side,  Kenya headline Pool A which also features Madagascar, Senegal and Mauritius.

Pool B will see Zimbabwe, Zambia, Uganda and Nigeria while Pool C consists of Tunisia, Morocco and Botswana battle it out.

Africa will be represented by three teams in Rio, including South Africa, who finished second to Fiji in the 2014-15 sevens World Series, which also doubled as the automatic qualifier for the Games.

-Lioness-

The Kenya Lionesses who missed out on direct qualification in September, face an uphill task when they will be seeking to try their luck via the world repechage against Argentina, Russia, Ireland, Spain, Venezuela and  the Oceania representative.

This final round of qualifying is set for 2016 at a date and venue to be confirmed by World Rugby.

Gor Mahia players posing for a photo with club patron, former Prime Minister Raila Odinga on November 3. PHOTO Raymond Makhaya.

NAIROBI, November 3 – Barely 24 hours after they made history as the first team in the modern era to lift the SportPesa Premier League title unbeaten, goodies have started flowing for Gor Mahia with former Prime Minister and club patron, Raila Odinga, setting the pace with Sh500,000 cash reward.

The playing unit received Sh300, 000 while Sh100, 000 each went to the club management and technical bench.

Speaking on Tuesday when hosting the triumphant team at his Nairobi office, Odinga who was at Nyayo National Stadium when K’Ogalo lifted their record 15th national title, challenged the club to focus on bettering their performance in the CAF Champions League.

“The way you guys won reminded me of Bayern Munich who won the league in Germany last year on 79 points. Finishing with a massive 20 points gap clearly means there is no doubt you are the champions.

“We now want to see the team not only shining in the region but should focus on matching the level of African giants in Egypt, Congo, Cameroon and Nigeria. With that I have no doubt Harambee Stars will qualify for Afcon.

“Last time you saw Zambia coming here and beating us at home. I felt very embarrassed but I think K’Ogalo really deserve what they have done this season,” Odinga asserted.

With the team going the past two seasons without a sponsor, the club patron committed to not only help Gor secure a sponsor but also extend the same to archrivals AFC Leopards who had a nightmare season that saw them finish seventh on 48 points.

“We have been discussing with the management of the club tohave a corporate sponsor because you cannot rely on donations. We are working hard to help clubs particularly those who are struggling financially.

“In other countries we have companies sponsoring clubs but in Kenya companies own the clubs making it difficult to partner with other teams. I would like to see KCB now that their club has gone under to sponsor Gor.

“We want to try and promote AFC Leopards because if they are strong, Gor will also become stronger and I’m sure Leopards fans are hurt since their team is not in the top four,” Odinga added.

Club chairman, Ambrose Rachier hailed the team, pointing out they have achieved more than the 1976 squad after emulating the class of 1985 who were the last K’Ogalo side to win three back-to-back titles.

“Much has been said about the year 1976 and we were able to bring seven legends who are alive. The only feat they achieved was to go unbeaten but this team has achieved much more than that by winning the league on three consecutive seasons and winning the league unbeaten with four matches to go.

“The quality of football that has been displayed this year is something that is unique. We earned 78 points out of possible 90, something that may take many years for any team to do repeat,” Rachier who doubles up as the Kenyan Premier League chairman declared.

Among the famous 1976 ‘invincible’ team that was present in the stadium are club legend, Allan Thigo, Maurice Ouma AKA ‘Ole Tunda’, James Ochieng, James Ogola Kadir, Maurice Ochieng, David Okelo and Martin Ouma.

Winner Eliud Kipchoge on the podium of the Berlin Marathon on September 27, 2015. PHOTO/AFP

NAIROBI, November 4 – Eliud Kipchoge and Mare Dibaba have earned the most votes in the road running category in the first round of voting for the 2015 IAAF World Athlete of the Year award.

Kipchoge won the London Marathon earlier this year in a world-leading 2:04:42. The Kenyan then bettered that world-leading mark when winning the Berlin Marathon in September in 2:04:00.

Dibaba started her year with a 2:19:52 victory at the Xiamen Marathon. After finishing second at the Boston Marathon, the Ethiopian went on to win the marathon title at the IAAF World Championships, Beijing 2015.

Last month the IAAF Family* was asked to select nine men and nine women from each of the following categories: sprints, hurdles, middle and long distance, road running, race walking, jumps, throws, combined events and multi-terrain.

The longlist will comprise the top-voted athletes in each category. The candidates from the other categories in the world athlete of the year voting will be announced over the coming days.

An international panel of 10 experts** will then select the finalists – three men and three women – the names of whom will be announced on 17 and 18 November.

From those finalists, the Council of the International Athletics Foundation (IAF) will select the male and female World Athletes of the Year.

The announcement of the winners will take place live on stage during a special ceremony in Monaco at the IAF World Athletics Gala on Saturday 28 November.

Sony Sugar players celebrating after Andrew Ssekayombia scored the second in their 3-1 win Top 8 semi over Sofapaka on November 4. PHOTO/Raymond Makhaya.

NAIROBI, November 4 – Sony Sugar are through to their first ever KPL Top 8 final after thrashing Sofapaka 3-1 in the second leg semi-final at Nairobi’s Nyayo National Stadium on Wednesday.

A late own goal by Collins Shivachi added to two first half goals netted by Justine Monda and Andrew Ssekayombya to see the Sugar Millers sail through with a 5-3 aggregate after the sides shared 2-2 spoils in the first leg.

Congolese defender, Felly Mulumba handed Batoto Ba Mungu the consolation after converting from the spot two minutes to the interval with head coach David Ouma commending his charges despite failing to go for their maiden Top 8 title.

“I congratulate my players despite losing the match of course everybody knows where we are coming from. We created many chances and dominated the game but unfortunately we conceded from counter attacks.

“People can say it was a poor season for us but finishing third in KPL is not easy considering the financial constrains we are facing. The boys have played their hearts out so we will prepare for the next season,” Ouma who doubles up as Harambee Starlets head coach, declared.

His opposite number, Salim Babu was confident of going ahead to clinch the title on Saturday in Kisumu.

“I’m so happy for the win. The boys played entertaining football that enabled us create many chances. I knew we would beat after killing their midfield to enable us break from the counter and it paid.

“We promised our fans we will win one trophy this season after battling relegation. I’m sure we will win it and whoever we will meet in the final we are ready since we will be at home,” Babu who replaced Zedikiah ‘Zico’ Otieno underlined.

In a three goal thriller first half, Sony went ahead two minutes to the half hour mark courtesy of Monda’s easy opener when he lofted the ball over on rushing Sofapaka keeper, David Okello after a mix up between centre halves,Mulumba and Willis Ouma from Allan Owiny’s goal kick.

The porous Batoto Ba Mungu defence was once again exposed to see them concede the second in a space of 10 minutes when unmarked Ssekayombya met a Robert Omunuk delivery from the left to nod past hapless Okello.

Sofapaka had a reprieve two minutes to the interval to pull one back from the spot when Hamidu Kwizera handled the ball in the box to see Mulumba step up for the challenge with a beautiful penalty.

The Sugar Millers, who entered the encounter with a two goal away advantage, were unlucky in the second half that could have seen them add three more goals through Omunuk and Victor Ademba.

Ssekayombia started the raid in the 55th when he did well to leave Okello for dead but Ouma kept his side in the game when he cleared the goal bound off the line.

Wycliffe Opondo who came on in the second half for Patrick Mugendi responded for Sofapaka with a long range thunder bolt but Owiny was keen to parry it away.

Omunuk forced Okello to stretch fully and punch over his ferocious strike in the 72nd before the former Tusker FC striker hit the cross bar two minutes later.

Ademba could have buried Batoto Ba Mungu with his well taken right footed shot that found the woodwork but Shivachi did justice to the hosts when he turned back to his own net from Amos Asembeka cross three minutes to stoppage time.

Michael Olunga celebrates after scoring a brace against Tusker FC in their KPL Top 8 semi final second leg on Wednesday, November 4, 2015 at Nyayo Stadium. PHOTO/Raymond Makhaya

NAIROBI, November 4 – Sensational forward Michael ‘Engineer’ Olunga scored twice to send SportPesa Premier League Champions Gor Mahia to the KPL Top 8 final, following their 2-1 second leg victory over holders 10-manTusker FC on Wednesday night at Nyayo National Stadium.

It was a sweet revenge for K’Ogalo who face Sony Sugar in Saturday’s decider in Kisumu, after the Brewers eliminated them at the same stage in the previous two seasons.

Tusker Old boy, Olunga returned to haunt his former side when he gave his side a lifeline with a 53rd equaliser before sealing the win 20 minutes later to enable unstoppable Gor progress with a narrow 4-3 aggregate win after a 2-2 stalemate in the first leg.

However, centre referee Amos Ichingwa was put on the spot on some of the decisions he made including sending off Tusker’s Clifford Alwanga for a second bookable offence in the 38th minute when the Brewers were leading 1-0 courtesy of Kevin Kimani’s ninth minute opener.

Gor head coach, Frank Nuttall said they were under no pressure going to the match since they were carrying two away goals advantage.

“It was close for a while but our second half performance was good considering we had played seven games in 18 days. We had no pressure since we had the two goal away advantage.

“It took time for us to wake up when they went down one man and I’m glad with the boy’s mentality to win,” Nuttall underlined in a post match interview.

Tusker interim head coach, Leonard Odipo who was looking to lead his team to a record three peat, stated luck was not on their side but was positive they will bounce back next season if he is given the job that was left vacant after Francis Kimanzi’s departure.

“We lost the game when we went a man down since we could not control the tempo. Playing against Gor when you are 11 is difficult but playing them when you are 10 is dangerous.

“I don’t know if Alwanga deserved a red card, I have to see the replay but that was the decision of referee maybe he has a better view of it. We had to go for the kill but unfortunately lack was not on our side. At this point we just want to congratulate Gor,” Odipo outlined.

In a tempered first half that was dominated by hard tackles, Ichingwa stole the limelight when he brandished a controversial second yellow card on Alwanga who brought down Khalid Aucho, with replays in the live televised match showing the former KCB man had no contact on the Ugandan.

This was after Kimani was booked for protesting when he was hacked down by Aucho as the referee ignored his plea only to turn back to him.

Being the only silverware they were chasing this season, Tusker set the bar high when they tested the character of the Kings of Kenyan football.

Kimani broke the deadlock when he picked up a Jesse Were defence splitting cross to easily tap home past keeper, Boniface Oluoch who was the only change for skipper, Jerim Onyango from the team that played in first leg.

Noah Wafula’s attempt to double the lead was thwarted at the quarter hour mark as Gor chased the game before defender Eugene Asike was cautioned after obstructing Olunga who was man-marked in the entire 45 minutes.

Nuttall introduced Godfrey Walusimbi for ineffective George ‘Blackberry’ Odhiambo to push Innocent Wafula upfront as the Ugandan reverted to his left back position.

K’Ogalo made good use of Tusker’s one man less to dominate the second half with Ali Abondo coming close just on the restart but keeper, Martin Musalia rescued the threat from a corner.

Gor finally restored parity when Walusimbi headed back to Olunga who did well to control the ball before turning to fire home with his favourite left foot from close range.

Abondo, Kagere and Aucho came close but none of them could double the scores to wait late for Olunga who nailed the final nail on Tusker’s coffin when he picked a poor back-pass from second half substitute Ronald Musana to drive in his second.

Humphrey Mieno nearly drew the Brewers level a minute later but his effort came off the woodwork in the last chance of the game.

The win kept Gor’s hopes of clinching a treble alive to add on the DSTVSuper Cup they bagged in the beginning of the season after edging out Sofapaka 2-1 in a season opener curtain raiser.

CAF LOGO/FILE

NAIROBI, November 5 – The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has lifted a two-year ban imposed on Kenya’s men Under-17 football team for withdrawing from the 2015 African Championship qualifiers.

Kenya was suspended last year after Football Kenya Federation pulled out the team which was scheduled to host South Sudan in the first leg of the CAF Under -17 qualifiers.

The team was withdrawn due to financial constraints and as a result, South Sudan received a walkover.

The decision to pardon Kenya and other nine countries was reached during the CAF Executive Committee held on October 27 and 28 in Cairo, Egypt.

The U-17, concerned member associations include Benin, Burundi, Central African Republic, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Libya, Mauritania, Sierra Leone and South Sudan.

Also handed a sigh of relief are the men’s Under-20 teams from Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, Lesotho and South Sudan.

This means that all 54 member associations are eligible to enter the qualifiers of the Africa U-17 Cup of Nations set for Madagascar in 2017 and Africa U-20 Cup of Nations Zambia 2017 before December 31 deadline.

The bans were given for breaches of regulations, including no-shows and age-cheating.

CAF director of communications Junior Binyam said the organisation decided to lift the bans so as not to deprive youths of those countries to miss back-to-back competitions.

The ban came in 12 years after the Kenyan Government disbanded the 2003 team who were sanctioned for fielding an illegible player in their Africa Youth Championships qualifiers against Ghana.

Muhoroni Youth head coach Paul Nkata with his players during their SportPesa Premier League match against Tusker FC on October 2. PHOTO/Raymond Makhaya.

NAIROBI, November 6 – Muhoroni Youth head coach, Paul Nkata is set to join Kenyan Premier League ten-time champions, Tusker FC to replace Francis Kimanzi who stepped aside last month after a string of poor results.

George Owoko is tipped to assist the Ugandan who guided Muhoroni to a sixth finish in the SportPesa Premier League with the two being offered a two-year deal.

According to club chairman, James Musyoki, talks are at an advanced stage that could see the two report to work December 1 to take the team through the pre-season as the Brewers seek to return to their glory days that saw them last lift the national title in 2012.

“We are in discussions with him (Nkata) and other coaches because we want to employ a new coach before December. We have shortlisted six coaches who will come for the interview next week.

“Of those who applied, he (Nkata) has an upper hand because of his qualification and the work he has done for Muhoroni but we are yet to finalize on the matter,” Musyoki told Capital Sport on Friday.

On his part, Nkata hopes the deal will materialise that will see him become the second foreign head coach to manage Tusker after Tony Banfield guided the team, then referred as Kenya Breweries FC to the 1991Cecafa Senior Challenge Cup title.

“Yes they approached me and we have been in talks for a while. I’m set to go for the interview 1st of December but for now I’m still with Muhoroni until we finish our GOtv matches.

“I’m praying all goes well and if I’m considered well and good but if I’m not then I will remain at Muhoroni,” Nkanta, a former Uganda Premier League’s SC Villa and URA tactician declared.

Owoko, a Confederation of African Football License ‘C’ holder is set to replace, Leonard Odipo who was elevated as interim head coach when Kimanzi, a UEFA-B coaching license-holder and former Harambee Stars boss decided to relinquish his position.

Odipo who has a CAF ‘A’ License, took over after the team was dumped out of the GOtv Shield round of 16 by second tier side Nzoia United but failed to better Kimanzi when he saw his charges bundled out of the Top 8 semi-finals by SportPesa Premier League Champions,Gor Mahia.

“Nobody wants to sleep hungry so I’m hoping to retain the job. We will see how it goes since I believe I have done my best,” Odipo, along serving Team Manager underscored after losing 2-1 to K’Ogalo on Wednesday.

In five matches Odipo has been in charge, he has won two and lost two (both against Gor Mahia) and drawing one.

Nkata has experience in the league, having coached Nairobi City Stars before joining the Sugar Millers where he recorded eight wins, five draws and one loss14 matches with Gor ending their unbeaten second leg on the last day of the campaign, losing 2-0.

Mary Keitany celebrating after defending her New York Marathon on November 1.

NAIROBI, November 7 – Less than 24 hours after dispatching her rivals with almost embarrassing ease to win the New York City Marathon, Kenya’s Mary Keitany was back at the site of her victory in Central Park, beaming a wide, satisfied grin.

Last Sunday, the tiny Kenyan crushed the field over the final five miles to win her second title in New York – finishing in 2:24:25, more than a minute clear of her closest pursuer – and with that victory in the bag, her attention was shifting to the great, shiny target which now looms on the horizon.

“To win the Olympics, or to get a medal, would mean a lot,” she says. “I’ll go home now, get a rest, maybe wait for the team to be selected, but I’m ready to go and try to get a medal in Rio.”

Keitany stands at just five feet two inches (1.58m) and speaks in a gentle, hushed tone, a fraction above a whisper. It’s a constitution that’s difficult to pair with the athlete who, just one day earlier, had dismantled her rivals with ruthless, relentless aggression over the closing miles.

Having nestled in the pack and conserved energy through the first half of the race, Keitany swept to the front after 20 miles, cranking the pace up to a level that had her rivals soon sending out distress signals.

Clocking off splits of 5:14, 5:13 and 5:16 between 20 and 23 miles, she began to disappear out of her rivals’ sight, once again leaving them to scrap for the minor places.

“I was very confident coming here,” she said. “When I made my move, if somebody was strong enough to go with me, I was ready. Fortunately they never got me.”

Though Keitany may play up the role of fortune, there was nothing accidental about the manner in which she earned her second title in New York, which was her fourth victory in a Marathon Major. The 33-year-old’s performance was a combination of absurd natural talent, years of hard graft, and a racing wisdom gained through experience.

And, according to her Italian coach Gabriele Nicola, Keitany’s ability to extract more from herself on race days than any of her rivals.

“Her talent is big and she’s a professional,” says Nicola, “but the difference between her and the others is the ability in competitions to use all she has, and even put more on top.”

Nicola would know, for he has been coaching Keitany since 2009, along with many world-class marathoners. When they first joined forces, Keitany was returning to training after the birth of her son.

“Everybody saw big potential in her,” says Nicola. “With six months of training, she ran 69 minutes for the half marathon. In one year, she took silver at the World Half Marathon Championships, running 66 minutes. That’s talent.”

While Keitany was exceptional at the half marathon, her inevitable transition to the marathon was pockmarked by that well-known parent of success: failure.

“The marathon takes time to learn,” says Keitany, whose last defeat at the half marathon came in 2007. “You learn by making mistakes and adjusting, how to put yourself at a comfortable pace and not always just pushing, pushing, which means you pay the price at the end.”

In New York four years ago, Keitany learned the hard way. At the time, she held the half marathon world record at 1:05:50, and she duly blasted through the first half of the marathon in 1:07:56, which is still the fastest half marathon ever run by a woman in the city.

That exuberance cost her dearly in the closing miles, though, and with her tank running on empty, she faded to third in 2:23:38. Mistakes, though, are only mistakes if you don’t learn from them, and that was a lesson Keitany only needed to be taught once.

The following year, she took a second victory at the London Marathon, running an African record of 2:18:37, which ranks her as the second-fastest woman of all time.

On her return to New York in 2014, she adopted a new strategy, biding her time and outsprinting Jemima Jelagat to take victory in 2:25:07. And this year, she again showed admirable patience until the 20-mile mark.

“I learned lessons here in 2011,” she says. “I understood the course this time, so I had to be patient and wait. I was very confident.”

For Keitany, it was the perfect way to re-establish her supremacy after finishing second at the London Marathon in April. ”London was not good because I had malaria,” she says. “For New York, my training was perfect and I was coming to defend my title.”

For Nicola, Keitany’s run was further proof his protégée is becoming the complete package over 26.2 miles. “It took her time to believe she could become a marathoner,” he says, “but now she knows she is, not only physically, but mentally.”

Having overseen her training for almost seven years, Nicola knows exactly what Keitany needs to reach peak fitness. “Training is an evolution year by year on what you have done before,” he says. “Mary runs about 150-160km a week, but we don’t mind if she runs 20km less. Living at altitude, training in a place with a lot of hills, it’s important to take care of the recovery to arrive ready for the quality sessions.”

Keitany lives and trains in Iten – a Kenyan town of about 40,000 which is revered in distance running circles – and alongside her training demands, she sometimes oversees the running of the hotel she owns in Eldoret. In terms of her priorities, though, running comes first.

“I just mind my training for now,” she says, “but maybe after I finish running I will have enough time to be there.”

Keitany is also a mother to two children – Samantha, two, and Jared, seven – and far from finding them a burden on her running career, she credits her children for providing extra motivation.

“It was tough at the beginning to come back after pregnancy,” she says, “but being a mother is also good. When I’m running I remember them and I realise I’m not running for myself, but also for my family.”

Having struck a successful balance between her professional and family life, Keitany sees no reason to change things in the build-up to the Olympics where, pending selection, she hopes to improve on her fourth-place finish from London 2012 – her only road-running performance to date in which she did not make the podium.

“I’ll continue life the way it is,” she says. “For now it’s time to go home, get some recovery and enjoy the victory. It’s still a long way to the Olympics, but it’s in my mind. If I’m selected to represent my country, then I would love to get a medal.”