NAIROBI, Kenya, February 21 – Kenya Open Golf Limited (KOGL) has reserved 17 slots for local professionals with five more to be added from next week’s Jamii Telcom PGK Masters qualifiers to obtain the 22 who will tee-off in the 2014 Barclays Kenya Open.

The opening round of the 2014 European Challenge Tour will run from March 6 to 9 at the Karen Country Club with KOGL announcing it will be preceded by two Pro-Am events at the tournament venue and Muthaiga Golf Club.

Speaking Friday during the presentation of Coca-Cola East Africa sponsorship worth Sh8.6m (USD 99, 825.96), KOGL chairman Peter Kanyago, said they would finalise the list of 17 by the end of the day with the announcement of local pros who will take part in the event to be made after the Jamii qualifiers.

“We are on final stages of the preparation and the course is in top condition since it has been raining. As usual organisation will be first class because we hope to have a successful competition this year.

“Our patron who is retired President, Mwai Kibaki, has agreed to grace the event, we have also extended the invite to President Uhuru Kenyatta who is yet to confirm,” Kanyago stated.

General Manager, Peter Njonjo, said part of the package will go towards organising the Muthaiga Pro-Am.

“By putting our entire portfolio behind this year’s tournament, we underscore our continued commitment to supporting the sport and making it popular in our country and internationally.”

Kenya Open which is part of the Professional Golfers Association (PGA) tour has attracted players from around the globe, with a total of 156 competitors expected from Africa, America and Asia.

The prestigious competition will also feature six local amateurs namely; John Karichu, Nelson Simwa, Tony Omuli, Robinson Owiti, Justus Madoya and Daniel Nduva.

This year’s prize money is € 200,000 (Sh23, 634,778.7) up from last year’s € 190,000 (Sh22, 457,021.92).

Winner will receive €32,000 (3,778,468.21).

Kenya will be looking to better her last year performance where five local professionals made the cut.

Greg Snow was the first Kenyan golfer in 2013 after finishing 34th while Timbe Kopan (39th) David Odhiambo (46th), Ngugi Njuguna (51st) and Brian Njoroge (58th) all made through the prize money bracket.

LONDON, February 22 – Arsenal and Manchester City replied in kind after John Terry scored an injury-time winner against Everton to preserve Chelsea’s position as Premier League leaders on Saturday.

Chelsea’s victory momentarily gave them a four-point lead at the summit, but Arsenal closed the gap to a point by overwhelming Sunderland 4-1 and City are three points back with a game in hand after edging Stoke City 1-0.

Arsenal had been dealt a dispiriting 2-0 defeat by Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Wednesday and they reacted in style by outclassing third-bottom Sunderland at the Emirates Stadium.

Left on the bench against Bayern, Olivier Giroud was restored to the starting line-up to face Sunderland and the Frenchman responded with a brace of goals in the first 31 minutes.

The former Montpellier man also played a role in the glorious move that led to Tomas Rosicky chipping in Arsenal’s third goal before half-time, with Laurent Koscielny heading home a fourth in the 57th minute.

Emanuele Giaccherini claimed a late consolation for Gus Poyet’s side, who face City in next weekend’s League Cup final.

City also tasted Champions League disappointment in mid-week, losing 2-0 at home to Barcelona, and their return to winning ways was not quite as straightforward as Arsenal’s.

Manuel Pellegrini’s side toiled in front of goal against Stoke at the Etihad Stadium and there was a sense of relief when Yaya Toure broke the deadlock from Aleksandar Kolarov’s cut-back in the 70th minute.

Earlier, Terry’s last-gasp winner allowed Chelsea to hold onto top spot as they snatched a 1-0 victory against Everton at Stamford Bridge.

With Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard in sparkling form, Chelsea looked set to drop points until Terry marked his return to the team after a three-game absence by toeing home a Frank Lampard free-kick in the 93rd minute.

“When you score in minute 90-something, you could speak about being lucky, but the reality is that the boys chased it,” said Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho.

“I feel sorry for Everton because a point would have been fair, but we were the team that was trying to win, which is our responsibility.”

Terry’s strike was a bitter blow for an enterprising Everton side, who squandered an opportunity to close the eight-point gap that currently separates them from fourth-place Liverpool.

Meanwhile, Felix Magath saw victory snatched from his grasp in his first game as Fulham manager after a 1-1 draw at West Bromwich Albion.

Fulham were on course to climb off the foot of the table thanks to Ashkan Dejagah’s 28th-minute goal, only for Matej Vydra to plunder an 86th-minute equaliser with a shot that squirmed past Maarten Stekelenburg.

Vydra’s goal meant that Cardiff City remained second from bottom after they were crushed 4-0 at home by Hull City, who prevailed through a Nikica Jelavic brace and strikes from Tom Huddlestone and Nikica Jelavic.

Hull are now six points above the relegation zone and West Ham United are a point better off in 10th after goals from Matt Jarvis, Carlton Cole and Kevin Nolan set up a 3-1 win at home to Southampton.

Later on Saturday, Wayne Rooney will hope to celebrate his new Manchester United contract with victory when his side visit Crystal Palace, a day after he committed himself to Old Trafford until 2019.

NAIROBI, Kenya, February 22 – African champions Kenya failed to qualify for a sixth straight FIVB Women’s Volleyball World Championships after a 3-2(21-25, 25-15, 28-26, 10-15) heartbreak loss to Tunisia as curtains came down on continental Pool U qualifiers in a pulsating decider Saturday at a fully packed Safaricom Indoor Arena in Nairobi.

The week-long round robin competition saw the African Queens beat neighbors Uganda 3-0 (25-16, 25-10, 25-12), Mozambique 3-0 (25-12, 25-9, 25-19), Senegal 3-1 (25-19, 25-12, 17-25 and 25-11) and Seychelles 3-0 (25-13, 25-20, 25-11) to win four of their five matches and finish second behind Tunisia who will represent the continent alongside one other nation at the World Championships set for Italy from September 23 to October 12.

Coach David Lunga’aho said her charges gave their best since they were playing against a strong side that has been a hard nut to crack for a long time as his team suffered a first ever loss to the Magreb nation in a sport they have dominated in Africa in the past decade.

“The match was good but it was not our day. Tunisia played well and has improved. The ladies had a pressure after the visitors led the final set and tension overcame them since we have been at the World Championships five times.

“There are major competitions that we will be preparing for, like the World Grand Prix that starts in July 27 in Mexico. So I hope we will register good results then,” Lung’aho told reporters after the match.

Tunisian coach Messelimani Mohamed, was elated to beat Kenya at their home turf though he said the match officials were not fair.

“The match was very hard because we needed five sets to beat Kenya and it was long time since we beat them.

“We have accomplished our mission that we came for in Nairobi and that was to qualify for the World Championship.

“We knew it will be difficult to beat them at their home ground but it’s a good team and we knew what to expect since we played them in the Africa Nations Cup.”

The host started on a wrong footing, losing 21-25 in the first set to the North Africans, who over powered them with their spikes that saw setters Esther Wangeci and Jane Wacu fail in the blocks.

Everlyne Makuto and Ruth Chepn’getich tried to bridge the gap after calling for three technical time outs but the visitors blocks denied them.

Kenya had to struggle to win the second set 26-24 with Mercy Moim being influential despite mourning her mother who passed away two days ago.

Coach Lung’aho introduced setter Janet Wanja for Wacu as Wangeci was also substituted for Violet Makuto after poor serving.

Brik M, had to spike home to level 23-23 as Kenya called for a technical time out and came in rejuvenated to capture the second set.

The Queens overwhelmed the visitors in the third set winning 25-15 even after Tunisia led 8-6 before time out following Lengliz Maissa’s spike that saw Kenyan Libero Elizabeth Wanyama, fail to receive.

However siblings Everlyn and Violet Makuto, showed their experience to guide the home team to a second set win and force the match head to fourth set.

The visitors were at it again winning the fourth set 28-26, after Kenya had to come six points down to catch up with the North Africans 19-19, but captain Brackcides Agala, saw the ball touch in their side after she failed to receive.

Wanyama had to come for rescue on several occasion as Tunisia called for a time out with the host trailing 15-19.

Othmani Abir, served home to see Tunisia win and force the match head to the fifth set which was the decider.

Tunisia came stronger side in the last set, enabling Lung’aho to call for a technical time out with the visitors leading 8-6.

They tried to catch up with the visitors when Wangeci levelled for 8-8 but the Tunisians overpowered the host to clinch the sole spot in Pool U after a 10-15 win.

TOKYO, Japan, February 23- Dickson Chumba won the men’s race at the Tokyo Marathon on Sunday in a meet record of two hours, five minutes and 42 seconds as Kenyan and Ethiopian runners dominated the event.

The 27-year-old Kenyan was followed home by Tadese Tola of Ethiopia at 2:05:57 and fellow countryman Sammy Kitwara at 2:06:30.

Chumba broke his own personal best time of 2:05:46 he clocked in winning the Eindhoven Marathon in 2012.

Runners from the two African countries swept the top seven spots in the men’s race and the top five in the women’s.

Ethiopia’s Tirfi Tsegaye won the women’s race in a meet record of 2:22:23.

Fellow Ethiopian Berhane Dibaba finished second at 2:22:30 and Lucy Kabuu of Kenya third at 2:24:16.

Tsegaye, 29, made her marathon debut in 2008 when she won the Porto Marathon. She won the Paris Marathon in 2012 and the Dubai Marathon last year. She set her personal best of 2:21:19 when she finished second at the 2012 Berlin Marathon.

Under cloudy skies, about 36,000 runners took part in the eighth staging of the Tokyo event which was upgraded last year to one of the world’s major marathons, with the others comprising Boston, London, Berlin, Chicago and New York.

LEADING RESULTS

Men
1. Dickson Chumba (Kenya) – 2:05:42 – CR, PB
2. Tadesse Tola (Ethiopia) – 2:05:57
3. Sammy Kitwara (Kenya) – 2:06:30
4. Michael Kipyego (Kenya) – 2:06:58
5. Peter Some (Kenya) – 2:07:05
6. Geoffrey Kipsang (Kenya) – 2:0

WOMEN
1. Tirfi Tsegaye (Ethiopia) – 2:22:23 – CR
2. Birhane Dibaba (Ethiopia) – 2:22:30 – PB
3. Lucy Wangui Kabuu (Kenya) – 2:24:16
4. Caroline Rotich (Kenya) – 2:24:35
5. Janet Rono (Kenya) – 2:26:03 – PB

LONDON, England, February 25- José Mourinho has reacted angrily after reports emerged in France of the Chelsea manager making disparaging remarks, delivered in what he apparently considered to be a private conversation, over the quality of the forwards at his disposal.

The comments were made last week in Nyon but reported as he and his squad flew out to Turkey for the first leg of their Champions League knockout tie against Galatasaray.

Chelsea will come face to face with their former striker, Didier Drogba, at the Turk Telekomm arena on Wednesday and while that promises to be an emotional reunion, Mourinho has been left to rebuild bridges with Fernando Torres, Samuel Eto’o and Demba Ba after Canal Plus published a video on its website of him assessing the current crop.

While Chelsea do not deny the authenticity of the quotes, they have stressed that the manager was unaware he was being filmed and was instead conducting what he believed to be a private and light-hearted conversation with the head of Hublot watches at a sponsor’s event.

Mourinho, who has been left embarrassed and exasperated that footage of the exchange has since been published online, is heard to say: “The problem with Chelsea is we lack a scorer. I have one [Eto'o] but he’s 32. Maybe 35, who knows?”

The conversation went on to address the possible availability of the Monaco forward Radamel Falcao, a player in whom Chelsea have long been interested but given a value in excess of £50m and a colossal associated wage package, is now effectively out of their market, with the London club intent upon complying with Uefa financial fair play regulations.

“I don’t have Falcao but Falcao doesn’t have a team,” said Mourinho. “Who wants to play in front of 3,000 supporters? If I was one day to go to Monaco it would be at the end [of my career].”

Canal Plus was waiting to conduct an on-the-record interview with the manager, with other topics later discussed to camera, including a section about the much coveted Paris St-Germain forwards Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Edinson Cavani.

“It’s impossible,” said Mourinho when asked about the Sweden striker potentially moving to Stamford Bridge in the future.

“He’s happy in Paris. I know because he’s my friend and we’re in touch. PSG with all its wealth would never open the door. That’s mission impossible.”

The interest in Cavani was discussed in the context of a mooted swap deal, reported in France last month, involving Eden Hazard.

“Eden is our boy,” added Mourinho. “We want him to stay for 10 years. We want to build the team around him. He is a player with the style of football we want to have in our team.”

The comments were particularly untimely given Chelsea must continue to rely upon Eto’o, Ba and Torres – a £50m World Cup winner – as they pursue the Premier League and Champions League trophies this term.

That trio have not been prolific, albeit Torres and Eto’o have enjoyed brief flurries of goal scoring form, and Mourinho has already made it known he intends to reinforce up front at the end of the campaign.

Eto’o, a three-time European Cup winner, is out of contract in the summer and has attracted interest from clubs in Major League Soccer, while Ba, a £7m signing from Newcastle 13 months ago, is also expected to move on.

Drogba, too, could move to the US at the end of the season, with Galatasaray unlikely to offer the 35-year-old a new deal. Seattle Sounders have been earmarked as a possible destination, while New York Red Bulls – who have also been heavily linked with Eto’o – could also compete for his signature.

Chelsea travelled to Turkey with a trio of Brazilian players carrying minor injuries. David Luiz has a groin problem, Ramires has a niggle in a knee and Oscar has a slight muscular complaint in a leg that necessitated his withdrawal in the second half of Saturday’s narrow victory over Everton.

-The Guardian

PIRAUES, Greece, February 25- Manchester United manager David Moyes admitted that he had been taken aback by the abject quality of his team’s performance in their shock 2-0 Champions League loss to Olympiakos.

The English champions must attempt to overturn a two-goal deficit in the home leg of the last 16 tie on March 19 after a limp display at the Karaiskakis Stadium in Piraeus in Tuesday’s first leg.

Olympiakos were good value for their victory, secured through goals in each half from Alejandro Dominguez and Joel Campbell, who is on loan at the club from Arsenal, but in United they came across surprisingly generous opponents.

Careless in defence and short of ideas in midfield, United failed to muster a single shot on target during the game and did not seriously threaten until Robin van Persie shot over the bar in the 82nd minute.

“I’m just surprised,” a shellshocked Moyes told journalists afterwards.

“I didn’t see that level of performance coming. I didn’t see that. I still didn’t think we were necessarily two goals worse off in the game.

“We have a shot which gets deflected (for Dominguez’s goal), but we didn’t offer enough on the night to create a goal, really.”

Democratic in his criticism of his players, Moyes added: “We never really got to grips with things. To a man, you could hardly pick anybody out (who played well).

“We just didn’t perform well tonight (Tuesday). We came into the game in good form, with a good mindset, but it didn’t show tonight.”

The defeat, United’s first against a Greek team, was the latest sorry chapter in a season of misery for Moyes and his faltering side.

Knocked out of both domestic cup competitions, United trail Liverpool by 11 points in the battle for a top-four finish in the Premier League and face the stark prospect of missing out on a place in the Champions League for the first time since 1995.

They last overturned a two-goal deficit in a European tie in 1984, when they came from 2-0 down to beat Barcelona in the Cup Winners’ Cup, but Moyes believes the club can harness the mystique of their famous stadium to turn the tie around in the second leg.

“The players are hurting as well. They know how they performed,” he said.

“But there’s a team here, and we won’t change. We’ll stick together. There’s a second game to come and Old Trafford has seen some great nights in the past and I’m looking forward to hopefully seeing another one.”

Former United captain Roy Keane, working as a pundit for British television, opined that Moyes would have been “shocked” by the lack of quality in his squad, but the Scot dismissed that assessment.

“I think there’s undoubtedly talent at Manchester United, but tonight we didn’t show it,” he said.

“Me and the team, we didn’t show it together. It’s something we have to do and we’ll put it right. We’re determined to put it right, and we’ll have opportunities to do it in the coming weeks.”

Dominguez opened the scoring in the 38th minute, cleverly flicking Giannis Maniatis’s shot past United goalkeeper David de Gea, before Campbell curled in a fine effort from 25 yards after 10 minutes of the second half.

Olympiakos coach Michel, the former Real Madrid midfielder, described the result as the best of his managerial career, but he refused to disparage his opponents despite their wretched display.

“We’ve been preparing for a long time, but in silence,” he said.

“We know about the qualities of Manchester United and we know they’ll be far better in the second leg at Old Trafford.

“We congratulate our players and we’d rather do that than talk Manchester United down. We have huge respect for Manchester United.”

The 50-year-old added: “We have another match at Old Trafford, and what more can a person ask for?

“I’d glady swap places with any of my players, so we’d have a grandfather playing at Old Trafford.”

NAIROBI, Kenya, February 26- Women 800m champion, Pamela Jelimo, will not defend her title at the 2014 IAAF World Indoor Championships after Athletics Kenya (AK) declined to select her for the March 7 to 9 biennial closed circuit showpiece.

Speaking to Capital Sport, AK deputy president, David Okeyo, added they had “Decided not to include any runner in the women 800m,” sealing the fate for Jelimo who lifted the crown in Istanbul.

Fellow Istanbul champion, Hellen Obiri will defend her 3000m title against the might of Ethiopia’s Genzebe Dibaba who will also feature at the distance in Sopot, Poland.

Former world junior outdoor champion, Irene Jelagat, will join Obiri in the 3000m race.

Augustine Choge who won silver in the 3000m also made the Kenyan squad together with former World Junior champion, Caleb Mwangangi Ndiku in the squad of eight announced by AK on Wednesday.

Commonwealth 1500m champion, Silas Kiplagat and Bethwell Birgen who has hit form this season will partner in the metric mile event.

Jeremiah Mutai is the lone runner in the men’s 800m with former World Cross junior champion, Viola Kibiwott, running in the women 1500m event to complete the team.

Abraham Kipyego will be the leader of the squad that departs on March 5 and returns on March 10 after the event.

Jelimo, who became the first Kenyan female to run to the World Indoor title, has endured a listless build-up this season, with sixth (2:11.29i), seventh (2:07:06i) and fifth (2:07:52i) finishes in Moscow, Gent and Eaubonne this month failing to inspire confidence she could retain her title.

The 2008 Olympic champion, whose career since that Beijing win had been blighted by injury, timed 1:58.83 for gold with Ukraine’s Nataliia Lupu taking silver in 1:59.67 and American Erica Moore claiming bronze (1:59.97).

Jelimo was selected for the Istanbul squad on the back of a return to solid form with a runner-up finish in the closed circuit IAAF Permit Meeting in Lievin, France where she clocked 1:59:10, her first sub 2:00 performance in two and half years.

Obiri, who denied Ethiopian great Meseret Defar a fifth Indoor title timed 8:37.16 for gold in Turkey, with the favourite taking silver in 8:38.26 ahead of team-mate Gelete Burka in bronze (8:40.18).

The champion has her work cut out against Genzebe, who has broken world records* in three races she has competed this season over 1500, 2000m and 3000m this month.

Genzebe, the World Indoor 1,500m champion will step up the distance to 3000m in Sopot having smashed the world indoor 1500m record with 3:55.17 in Karlsruhe earlier this month.

Five days later, she took six seconds off the world indoor 3000m record with 8:16.60 in Stockholm. Little more than a week later, she set a world indoor best for two miles with a storming 9:00.48 run in Birmingham.

*awaiting usual IAAF ratification procedures

Kenya squad

Women

1500
Viola kibiwott

3000

Irene jelagat
Hellen Obiri

Men

800m

Jeremiah Mutai

1500

Bethwell Birgen
Silas Kiplagat

3000

Augustine Choge
Ndiku Caleb Mwangangi

TEAM LEADER: Abraham Kipyego

Mar 5 March 10

NAIROBI, Kenya, February 29- Retired American track and field legend, Carl Lewis, has said the sport will continue being tainted by doping as long as inconsistencies in testing and lack of a global crisis management effort continue at the top level.

Speaking in Nairobi on Thursday where he was a keynote speaker in the 2014 IBM Business Connect convention, Lewis, a winner of nine Olympics gold medals slammed authorities for failing to adequately address the subject that is threatening the very existence of the sport.

“People that follow the sport know what is going on. Track and field has never had a crisis management division to understand what is best.

“Right now, American football is attacking the issue of concussions. They are not attacking because of the athletes; the reality is they are attacking it because those athletes’ mothers and those athletes’ wives may not want their sons to play football,” the poster boy of track and field in the 80s and 90s explained.

He urged administrators of the sport including world governing body, IAAF and member federations to approach the matter from a business sense to safeguard the future of track and field that has seen credibility receive massive hits due to high level doping bursts with leading countries such as Jamaica, Kenya and USA under the spotlight.

“They should be focussed on what is the most important thing for our business model to be successful. We can care about people, that really where it starts unless you have a core understanding of what you are trying to accomplish you can’t do it. If you don’t know the question how can you have the answer that is what is wrong.

“Track and field flounders in this area if we don’t know what to do if we have drug problems, we can’t do anything, we are afraid of it, no! We have to be serious!”

Following recent reports of World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) targeting sprint kings Jamaica and distance running powerhouses Kenya for claims of widespread drug abuse, Lewis who had some of his monumental performances questioned in his hey day called for standardisation of testing procedures worldwide.

“There has to be consistency globally. Five years ago, I said that there was inconsistency in a lot of programmes around the world and they asked me about Jamaica and I said they are not testing the same way like the rest of the world is.

Until they do that, they will not have credibility. What happens five years later? They announced last year they did not test anyone for six months because they said they did not have the money,” he explained.

The eight-time World champion called on authorities to step up ramming the message home on recent measures in place to nab drug cheats including the widely hailed biological passport.

“How can you have credibility if you don’t have consistency? There are so many issues that have to be addressed before people will believe it. I believe, there is no plan, there is no global idea of what to do and they are not telling their message.

“One thing we have is the passport where they test you and continue to test your sample years in advance and that be the one I would be trumping right now saying look, we are so concerned and we will take down our top guy if we have to,” he underscored.

He added: “We have eight years to catch you, that’s a tremendous deterrent to the public if they knew we are going to keep going after you eight years after you have finished running your race, they will be wow!, they are really serious about this.

“No one knows about that so messaging is important, just as important as implementation of the programme.”

In 2003, it was revealed Lewis tested positive three times at the 1988 Olympics Trials for minimum amounts of pseudoephedrine, ephedrine, and phenylpropanolamine, banned stimulants and bronchodilators also found in cold medication and due to the rules his case could lead to disqualification from the Seoul Olympics but was cleared for intentional drug use.

This is the reason why he called on a broader crisis management to aid the sport rid itself of negative perceptions especially in this age where information flow is instant.

The nine-time Olympics champion is eager to see another athlete match his fete in his lifetime.

“I hope so; I hope we can see someone else do that. When I won my ninth gold and people came to me and said it. Obviously it’s difficult because you have to go to multiple games and do multiple events.

“To me, the issue is not the nine Olympic golds and the silver. It was the four golds in the Long jump because now people say the fastest man in the world which is the title I wanted. In my era, it was about the fastest man in the world, the heavy weight champion and the greatest athlete.

“Nowadays everybody runs but I ran and jumped so, I’m the best. It’s a possibility but seeing someone in the sprints and field events, I don’t think we going to see that because of the nature of the sport now.”

NAIROBI, Kenya, February 28 – SuperSport United have laid the bait to prey on AFC Leopards when the two clash at the Lucas Moripe Stadium in their opening CAF Confederation Cup first round clash on Saturday according to the Premier Soccer League (PSL) side captain, Bevan Fransman.

While Ingwe coach, James Nandwa, admitted little knowledge on their opponents, who incidentally played live on their parent satellite television channel SuperSport against Bidvest Wits that is available here on Tuesday, Fransman said they would study videos on Leopards shot by their spies who were sent here in the past week to snare their Kenyan rivals.

“We don’t have much information on them yet, but hopefully our analysts can bring some information back and inform us over the next two days more about them,” Fransman, told South African website The Citizen.

Nandwa told Capital Sport on Thursday, “This is the first time for a Kenyan team to play against a South African team (arch rivals Gor Mahia did play Hellenic, now Benoni Premier United in 1993) and even when I was playing I never met them, so I don’t know the team well.”

Leopards chances of beating the two-time PSL champions are now in doubt since they are set to depart Nairobi for Cape Town on Friday night after CAF declined their plea to push the tie on Sunday.

“It will be difficult for us to adapt the environment if we arrive there on Friday and play the next day (Saturday). My players will also be fatigued and that may affect our performance,” Nandwa added.

Ingwe were forced to reschedule their Thursday morning departure to Friday after their visas were not ready from the South African High Commission.

This incident calls to questions the efficacy of their officials in planning for the trip since they knew application for South Africa visas take seven working days after they claim to have taken the traveling documents last Friday.

With Matsatsantsa having all their squad, Leopards on the other hand will head down south without three key players, forward Allan Wanga, who picked up a knee injury during a training session, left back Abdalla Juma, who has two yellow cards and Harambee Stars midfielder Peter Opiyo, who is ruled out over a detained passport.

Both teams enter the continental tie having failed to register victories in their last domestic league matches, where Leopards were held to a goalless draw by 2010 champions Ulinzi Stars while SuperSport suffered a 3-2 loss to Bidvest.

Both SuperSport and Leopards skippers says their teams are looking to bounce back in the continental competition and the league results will not affect their performance.

“We are mentally prepared for the match and these are two different competitions, every game has its own game plan. Since we started by winning in the confederations Cup in the preliminary round, we hope to give our best and continue with the good run,” Leopards captain Martin Imbalambala, stated.

“It’s important. Maybe it’s a good thing that we’re playing so soon after that disaster against Wits.

“Maybe it’s a good thing to get it off the mind, get it out the system, get back on the field playing put things right and get back to winning ways,” his opposite number asserted.

Nandwa is targeting an away goal and a clean sheet so that they can increase their chances of qualifying for the second round, when they invite them for the return leg in Nairobi.

Jackson Saleh will partner James Situma, Edwin Wafula, and stopper Joseph Shikokoti at the back in place of Juma.

Bernard Mang’oli will replace Opiyo in the midfield alongside Ugandan Musa Mudde, Charles Okwemba and Augustine Etemesi while Paul Were who missed the return leg of the preliminary round against Defence FC steps in for Wanga to combine with Jacob Keli upfront.

Leopards marched into the first round following a comfortable 4-1 aggregate victory over Ethiopian side Defence FC while SuperSport edged out Botswana outfit Gaborone United 3-0 in the preliminary round to seal their progression.

Senegalese striker, Mame Niang, who scored all the goals against Gaborone United and was on target on Tuesday in the PSL is the danger man Leopards will hope to keep quiet to achieve what would be an unlikely away result.

Ingwe are placed 11th in the Kenyan Premier League after playing two matches while SuperSport are placed 3rd in the PSL with 32 points after from 20 matches.

The crunch will kick-off at 9:15pm local time.

NAIROBI, Kenya, March 1 – Gor Mahia failed to emulate the class of 87’ when they went down 3-2 to Esperance Sportive de Tunis in their opening match of the CAF Champions League in a pulsating tie played on Saturday at Nairobi’s Nyayo National Stadium.

Gor head coach Bobby Williamson, congratulated his boys for a job well done and he is looking to keep a clean sheet in the return leg and at least net two goals.

“The boys gave their best and they really tried. We managed to hold them in the first half where we scored a goal through our set pieces.

“The absence of David Owino, was felt since the defenders did not have confidence but Israel Emuge, who replaced him tried since it’s  long time he started in a game,” the scot said after the match.

On his part, Esperance tactician, Ruud Krol, said it’s not yet done and anything can happen in the second league.

“Gor is a good team, they played very well. We have learnt a lot from this match, our arrival one day to the match affected us since we didn’t have enough time to train and adapt the environment.

“We were forced to play in their long ball game and it was difficult for us. I know the return leg will be difficult and we will not underrate Gor since this is football anything can happen.”

The host started the match on a high, dominating the first half with Timona Wanyonyi, attempting through his low shot in the second minute.

Ugandans Dan Sserunkuma, Godfrey Walusimbi and Geoffrey Kizito, combined well but could not break through the Tunisians solid defence.

Walusimbi managed to beat the visitors left back to bring in a cross that found no one in the box to slot home.

The North Africans responded immediately with Ghana international Harison Aful, trying to break the deadlock in the 8th but his shot went wide.

K’Ogalo’s hard work finally paid in the 14th when Kevin Omondi, was infringed in the box by defender Chams Dhawad, and canter referee Bouchald Ahrachi, from Morocco did not hesitate to point at the spot-kick that saw Gor top scorer Sserunkuma, slot home at the top corner of the post to open the scoring and send the Green army into celebration.

Esperance tried to pin Gor at their side with Sameh Derbali, bringing a cross from the right flank but defenders cleared the danger.

Wanyonyi could have doubled in the 24th but his effort went wide.

K’Ogalo defence was exposed especially at the left flank which saw the North Africans restore parity when Musa Mohamed failed to clear the ball to enable Ahmed Akakhi, unleash a strike to score in the 25th.

Omondi and Walusimbi partnered well but could not beat the Cathage Eagles keeper Moez Ben who denied them on several occasions.

Ahmed could have notched his brace in the 29th after he beat Musa but defender Haron Shakava, came for rescue when he cleared the ball.

The visitors captain Khali Chammam, picked the ball from the left wing to pass to Cameroon international Yanick Ngang, but he wasted the chance with his off target shot.

With three minutes to the breather, holding midfielder Teddy Akumu, unleashed a cracker that Moez punched for defenders to clear the danger that found Kizito, who replied with a brilliant shot but the keeper was at it again as both sides settled for a one-all-draw in half-time.

K’Ogalo came in the last half highly charged with Walusimbi providing a cross but defenders were up to the task to deny Gor forwards shoot.

Danger-man Sserunkuma had a chance to double but Moez calmly handled his strike with Esperance responding with Houcine Regard’s effort but keeper Jerim Onyango, saved.

Gor’s defence failed to sustain pressure from the North Africans forward Yanick who tapped in after Onyango’s blander to open the lead in the 63rd.

The Cameroonian could have scored his second four minutes later but saw his header go wide.

Williamson brought in Patrick Oboya for Shaba Kenga and George ‘Blackberry’ Odhiambo, for Omondi who changed the game as they managed to break through Esperance defence.

Gor pressed the two-time champions to their edge and their efforts paid in the 78th when new signing Shakava headed home Wanyonyi’s corner to equalize for a 2-2 draw.

Substitute Iheb Msakni, could have sealed victory for his side in the dying minutes but that only remained to be dream as he blasted his shot

Another Substitute Haythem Goeini, finally hit the final nail on the coffin in the 89th after responding to his rebound that had hit the bar to score the third for the visitors.

K’ogalo will now head to Tunis hoping to keep a clean sheet and score at least two goals to see them proceed to the second round, though Esperance have a three away goal advantage

MACHAKOS, Kenya, March 2- Defending champions Baldev Singh Chager navigated by Ravi Soni in a Mitsubishi EVO X racked- up his maiden win of the season as the dust finally settled on the KCB Machakos Rally.

Victory in the County of the moment gave the ‘Flying Sikh’ back-to-back wins in the Kenya Motor Sports Club round of the KNRC which he won in Kajiado last year.

Second overall was Rajbir Rai followed by Jasmeet Chana in third. This was a career best for both podium finishers in an event marked by upsets galore.

Chager who won three rallies last year had his campaign effectively sewn-up when co-favourites Carl Tundo and Ian Duncan retired in CS5 and CS1 respectively.

Tundo who won last month’s Malindi Rally ended his interest with a blown turbo whilst Duncan cited heavy civilian traffic in the opening stage as his reason for withdrawal.

Tundo led the rally after the first stage but Chager nosed ahead in CS5 following his rival’s woes.

“I really had to keep an eye on the youngsters who were pushing really hard,” said Chager of the high-flying upcomers like Rajbir Rai and Jassi Chatthe who have been driving aggressively of late.

The second round of the KCB KNRC took crews through some straight and flat-out sections around Machakos and its environs.

All stages were centered around Nairobi-Mombasa highway at Ulu, Konza, Kilome, Kapiti Plains and Salama.

Fans who turned out for the event were treated to some exhilarating displays of high octane rallying.

Organizers KMSC ran a total of 11 stages with a competitive mileage totalling 173 kilometres. The most exciting stage of them all was the ‘power stage’ which also ran as one of the two designated spectator stages inside the People’s Park in Machakos.

Sunday’s race saw some of the top contenders fall by the wayside.

Issa Amwari retired on the transport road section in Ulu en-route to Tumaini School Service Park when he hit bump and damaged the EVO9′s sump-guard.

Car number 28 of Waita Nzioka and Laban Cliff in an ex-Ben Muchemi EVO9 retired with gearbox problems.

Hardeep Rehsi had a good run in the morning session but had his run impended by a puncture.

Joe Muchiri (Subaru gc8) and Hussein Malik (EVO6) rolled after hitting a culvert on the same spot at the end of the 8.45km CS1 stage which ran from Katumani to Kapiti Plains.

Jassi Chatthe kissed the event goodbye on transport after CS1 with engine failure. Chatthe proceeds to Ivory Coast or the Rally Bandama which is the first round of the African Rally championship next weekend.

Imran Mogul and Adnan Din also retired with a broken left drive shaft while lying fifth.

The third round of the KNRC heads to Kiambu on April Apri 26-27.

Provisional final results-KCB Machakos Rally

1. Baldev Chager (EVOX) 1:3107
2. Rajbir Rai (EVOX) 1:38.05
3. Jasmeet Chana (EVO9) 1:43.33

NAIROBI, Kenya, March 3 – Hope springs eternal for Gor Mahia as they prepare to travel for the second leg of their CAF Champions League first round tie against Esperance de Tunis this weekend trailing 2-3 from the opening home tie on Saturday.

With most expecting the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) champions to exit the competition, K’Ogalo coach Bobby Williamson insists all is not lost and they will give it a good go in Tunisia.

“We played an entertaining match over the weekend but unfortunately being on the wrong end we suffered the defeat even after creating many chances that we failed to score.

“We hope to net three goals and keep a clean sheet when we head for the return leg but it will not be easy because Esperance is a very good and experienced team, so it will be a tall order,” the former Uganda Cranes tactician stated.

K’Ogalo who were under pressure to emulate the class of 87’ that beat Esperance in the final of the Cup Winners Cup gained confidence after notching the opener but could not sustain the lead as the visitors equalised 10 minutes later.

Gor have to go back to the drawing board and rectify their mistakes especially in defence that was exposed by the two-time Champions League winners with left back Musa Mohamed, the chief culprit in the match that saw the visitors capitalize on his flank to net all three goals.

Williamson, blamed the loss due on the absence of Harambee Stars dependable defender David ‘Calabar’ Owino, who was suspended after picking a red card in their preliminary return leg round against Gabonese side US Bitam.

“Owino is a great experienced player and he could have helped a lot during this match since Israel Emuge, is not yet fully fit and he lacked experience to hold on the position.”

Skipper Jerim Onyango, who was nick named ‘King Jerry’ failed to replicate his starring role in the preliminary round in Gabon where he led his side to a 4-2 spot-kick victory over US Bitam after stopping  four penalties (two in regulation time and the same in the shoot-out) following  a 1-1 stalemate on aggregate.

The captain was at fault for the second goal.

The league champions need at least to beat the North Africans 2-0 for a 4-3 aggregate win in order to advance to the second round and will be boosted by the return of the imposing Owino.

K’Ogalo have been exempted from their KPL fixture to allow them prepare for the return leg scheduled for March 8.

Gor will need to up their game since they will once again be facing an experienced side that has 10 players who feature in the Tunisian national team at their home turf.

Esperance are currently leading their domestic league on 47 points, nine ahead of CAF Confederations Cup reigning champions Club Sportif Sfaxien while Gor are placed third in the KPL on six after winning their two matches thus far.

NAIROBI, Kenya March 4 – Gor Mahia coach Bobby Williamson, says the call up of six key players in their national teams for Wednesday’s FIFA International friendlies has affected preparations for Saturday’s CAF Champions League first round return leg in Tunis.

Defenders David ‘Calabar’ Owino and Musa Mohamed as well as midfielder Anthony Akumu are among 20 players called-up by Harambee Stars head coach Adel Amrouche, who is reported to have jetted in the country Monday to assemble the team less than 24 hours for their build up match against the Falcons of Sudan in Khartoum.

Williamson also released forward Dan Sserunkuma, left back Godfrey Walusumbi and midfielder Geoffrey Kizito, on Monday to honour their Uganda Cranes fixture against Chipolopolo of Zambia.

“We are not ready for the return leg since a couple of my key players are currently on international duty with their national teams and that has interfered with our training schedule.

“We will have to prepare physiologically since we have few days remaining ahead of our match but I don’t mind them playing but as long as they don’t pick up injuries,” the former Cranes tactician who will name his final Squad on Wednesday told Capital Sport after conducting training at Nairobi’s City Stadium.

K’Ogalo who lost 2-3 to visiting side Esperance de Tunis have a tall order to overturn the deficit over the two-time champions in order to proceed to the second stage but the Scot says he is yet to analyze his charges since they are affected by injuries.

“We will go and get a goal that’s for sure since we have a composed side. We could have won the first leg but some few individual mistakes cost us but that gives me confidence that we can create chances and score.

“There are few players who are injured but that’s part of football and it also create an opportunity for other players to step in.”

According to club Secretary General Chris Omondi, the team will depart in two batches with the first jetting out Thursday and the rest on Friday.

“The team will aboard Qatar Airways in two groups this is because the first flight on Thursday was fully booked and could only accommodate a few.

“We have organised for all traveling documents with the federation also in possession of the squad’s passport numbers ready for the departure later in the week,” Omondi stated.

NAIROBI, Kenya, March 5- National football team, Harambee Stars, players have reportedly revolted in Khartoum by declining to travel to the northern city of Darfur after their FIFA Day international friendly with hosts Sudan that was to be played Wednesday was pushed to the next day.

Unconfirmed reports say the match has been rescheduled to Thursday which falls outside the world governing body window with Football Kenya Federation (FKF) having used the FIFA Day to compel clubs to release their players with majority of the squad led by captain and Southampton FC midfielder, Victor Wanyama, seeking q quick exit from Khartoum.

Sources in the Sudanese capital say the squad of 20 plays and seven officials was holed up at Khartoum Airport for hours before they were transported to their hotel and informed the game would be played on Thursday at 3pm local time as opposed to Wednesday 6pm.

This sparked a protest with the foreign based contingent who risk heavy fines by failing to return on time as well as Gor Mahia and AFC players who are involved in weekend CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup action who could either miss their flight their flight to Tunis (K’Ogalo) or lack enough time to train (Ingwe) ahead of their second leg ties against Esperance and SuperSport United.

The squad departed Nairobi on Tuesday night with the understanding they would be playing on Wednesday only to get information the game had been rescheduled without their knowledge.

“This only makes a bad situation worse. We have no information whether our players with the squad will make it back in time to travel to Tunisia with the second batch on Friday,” Gor Mahia head coach, Bobby Williamson, said when contacted.

His players, David Owino and Musa Mohammed who form his preferred centre-back pairing and midfielder Anthony Akumu, also a regular, are in Sudan with the national team.

Gor are scheduled to travel for the second leg of their CAF Champions League first round clash against Tunisian giants and two-time winners, Esperance de Tunis, trailing 3-2 from the first leg in Nairobi last weekend.

Their counterparts Leopards who host South Africa’s SuperSport United with a 2-0 deficit from the opening leg of their Confederations Cup first round to make up for in Nairobi on Sunday have five players and their head coach, James Nandwa, with the squad.

Forwards Jacob Keli and Paul Were, midfielder Peter Opiyo, utility player James Situma and keeper Wycliffe Kasaya are in the Stars squad where Nandwa is the assistant to Belgian head coach, Adel Amrouche.

Capital FM attempted to contact FKF president, Sam Nyamweya and Media Officer, John Kariuki but their phones rang unanswered.

Failure to abide to the FIFA Day could open an avenue for the affected clubs to seek reproach with the federation.

Besides Wanyama who plays for Southampton FC, his elder brother, MacDonald Mariga of Serie A giants, Inter Milan, Dennis Oliech of French Ligue 1 side Ajjacio and Francis Kahata of Albanian titans FC Tirana, could face possible fines for returning late.

It cannot be established whether Gor players who were scheduled to travel to Tunisia in the second batch on Friday will make it in time to connect to Tunis for the Champions League tie.

“The clubs have no option; they have to honour call-ups for FIFA matches. We are not worried the players have not trained since they are professionals and have been training with their clubs,” Kariuki said Tuesday while explaining why Gor and AFC had to release their players for the Sudan friendly.

NAIROBI, Kenya, March 6 – Harambee Stars captain and EPL side Southampton FC midfielder, Victor Wanyama, led the his teammates in condemning ill preparations for their botched FIFA Day international friendly against Sudan upon touchdown Thursday morning from Khartoum.

Wanyama, who left thereafter for England, tore into both Football Kenya Federation (FKF) and Sudan Football Association for compelling overseas players to clock many miles and their local counterparts involved in continental action this weekend to skip training for an exercise in futility.

The planned match aborted when Stars declined to travel to the northern city of Darfur to honour the fixture upon arrival in Khartoum on Wednesday morning where they were informed of the venue switch.

The bitter skipper was speaking to Capital Sport at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport where the team landed to a non-existent reception as the squad of 20 dispersed to join their respective clubs among them, seven overseas based players.

AJ Ajaccio forward Dennis Oliech, Inter Milan midfielder Macdonald Mariga, Belgian based Johanna Omolo, KF Tirana’s midfielder Francis Kahata, MC Algier forward Edwin Lavatsa and Al taawuon Fc Defender David ‘Cheche’ Ochieng completed the foreign contingent called up to the squad.

“We refused to play the friendly since they shifted the match to war tone area Darfur, where we were scheduled to travel by road for a long distance.

“This has tainted the image of the country and also in our clubs. I feel wasted since I was released by Southampton to come and play so if they realize I did not, it will not go well with them,” Wanyama rued.

The Saints midfielder said he had recovered from injury and hopes manager Mauricio Pochettino, will start him at Saturday’s EPL clash against Crystal Palace.

“I’m doing well at Southampton. We have been doing badly of late  but hopefully we will win over the weekend. It will take time to recover fully but I’m good to go since last weekend I played 15 minutes against Liverpool and I can say I’m doing great.”

His elder brother Mariga, who was making a comeback to the national team for the first time in two years, expressed his disappointment terming organisers of the match amateurs.

“I was not happy with how things happened in Sudan because I was eager to play for Harambee Stars especially after being out for a long period.

“For now I’m happy to make a come back to the national team so when I’m called once again I will come but I hope next time it will not be like this since its very sad for a player to travel all the way and not play,” the 2010 UEFA champions league winner with Nerazzuri stated.

Stars assistant coach and AFC Leopards tactician James Nandwa, who accompanied the team cut a forlorn figure lamenting the trip disrupted his CAF Confederations Cup first round return leg preparations against South Africa’s SuperSport United.

“I went to Sudan because I knew we were to come back today (Thursday) and as per the information given to us the match was to be staged in Khartoum and when they changed the venue we decided that we are not playing.

“I did not want to travel it’s just the pressure from FKF and it was a FIFA calendar otherwise I could have not gone since we have a difficult continental match that we must qualify.”

Nandwa who traveled along with five of his key charges; custodian Wycliffe Kasaya, defender James Situma, midfielder Peter Opiyo, forwards Paul Were and Jacob Keli, urged FKF to be specific on terms next time.

FKF technical Committee chairman Elly Mukholwe, who was the leader of delegation told Capital Sport they were forced to call off the match after SFA pushed the tie to Thursday which was impossible to them since it was inconveniencing with Gor Mahia and Leopards who have continental assignments this weekend.

“Despite the problem that occurred, SFA did not want to tell us the truth because we had agreed on playing in Khartoum but when we reached there they said the match will be played in AL Fashar Stadium which is in the northern city of Darfur.

“We would have not mind going in Darfur but the problem occurred when they said we play today (Thursday) and that could have affected the two clubs that are participating in the continental competition this weekend since most of their players were in the squad.

“It could have been very unfortunate as a federation to inconvenience the two clubs and that’s why we said we can rather do without it since it’s a friendly match which we can organise other day.”

Asking Mukholwe on the whereabouts of head coach, Adel Amrouche, who was not in the trip, he disclosed, “The coach missed the flight from Belgium but he is already in the country.”

K’Ogalo dependable players defenders David ‘Calabar’ Owino and Musa Mohamed, holding midfielder Anthony Akumu and forward Timona Wanyonyi will depart tonight for their CAF Champions League first round return leg in Tunis Friday morning to join the first batch that left the country Thursday morning.

The fixture was to have an impact on FIFA rankings with Kenya currently placed at 108, 25 places above Sudan.

NAIROBI, Kenya, March 7 – AFC Leopards forward Jacob Keli, is upbeat his side will overturn the 2-0 deficit when they welcome Premier Soccer League (PSL) side SuperSport United for their CAF Confederations Cup first round return leg on Sunday at Nairobi’s Nyayo National Stadium.

“We have a difficult match ahead on Sunday, so I’m urging my colleagues to work hard and I’m certain we will qualify for the second round since we have a formidable team.

“From what I observed in our first leg, they are not a strong team, they only overpowered us since most of our key players were missing out with injuries, but I’m happy they will be available this weekend,” last season’s league top scorer told Capital Sport.

Matatsantsa arrived on Friday with Leopards resolving the February salaries non-payment issue with Secretary General, George Aladwa, confirming money has been disbursed to their bank accounts.

He explained the delay was due to change of signatory after the death of their treasure Remi Mudi, that saw assistant Esther Luvembe, inherit on acting capacity.

“The process had to be delayed because we had to counter check the balance sheet since Luvembe, had to know where the late Mudi had reached for the purpose of accountability.

“But as we are speaking each of them have received their dues, it will depend on where they bank, some got earlier and others my delay,” Ingwe spokesperson confirmed on Friday.

Aladwa however, urged fans to turn up in large numbers and rally behind their team since that’s the only way they can beat SuperSport.

“This is the time that our players need us more. We should give them morale and I’m sure they will do us proud.”

Coach James Nandwa, will have all his key charges at his disposal for the first time since they launched their continental campaign after injured forward Noah Wafula and midfielder Peter Opiyo, who missed the first leg since his travel documents were being held by the embassy of the country he had gone for trials, will be available on Sunday.

“Wanga is still struggling with his knee injury. We will have to examine him on Saturday to see if he will be able to play.

“We will approach the game with attacking mind, opening the game and at the same be conscious not to concede,” Nandwa stated.

On the other hand the visitors have their full squad that did duty in the first leg led by danger man, Senegalese forward Mame Niang, Bafana Bafana keeper Williams Ronwen, and midfielder David Mathebula.

Ingwe have an up hill task ahead since they need to score three goals and keep a clean sheet in order to progress to the second round.

NAIROBI, Kenya, March 8- Greg Snow and the impressive Dismas Indiza carry the hopes of a nation at the Barclays Kenya Open as they aim to produce the first home winner in the tournament’s long history after moving to within a shot and two shots off the lead on day three at Karen Country Club.

Spaniard Alvaro Velasco held on to the lead after posting level par on the day to maintain the advantage on top of the leader board with a total of 208 for the tournament, level with South Africa’s Jake Roos and compatriot Pedro Oriol.

But the sight of 23 year old Nairobi native Snow, who plays out of Muthaiga Golf Club – one of the traditional venues on this tournament’s roster – who carded 71 on Saturday which moved him to seven under par alongside five others, a single shot off the summit stirred expectations.

Compatriot Indiza, the long hitting Mumias based golfer, moved into contention after firing a storming four under 68 on the penultimate day to move to two shots off the lead at the congested summit of leader board to liven the Kenyan dream further.

There will undoubtedly be much excitement over Snow and Indiza’s hopes at a tournament which always attracts big crowds but may well see a spike in attendance on what will be a dramatic final day on Sunday.

While he has been in a similar position before in this tournament, Snow admitted that he has not always handled the pressure too well, but thinks those experiences will stand to him this weekend as he chases down Velasco’s lead.

“I didn’t deal with the pressure very well last year but this year I’m just going to try and block out everything and just enjoy it.

“At your home tournament they fans are all going to come out if you play well so it’s very encouraging.

“I played really good today, he continued. “I gave myself chances and I made a few more putts today. I had a couple of bogeys in there but I played really solid from tee to green,” Snow said.

He added on Friday: “I held a few putts and the greens were quite receptive this morning. It was a bit easier today, especially on the greens because of the rain last night, they were a bit softer so I could go for some pins
that I didn’t go for in the first day.

“I think it’s going to firm up tomorrow and play like it did the first day. I had to take advantage of the better conditions today to try and get up the leader board so I’m delighted I did just that.”

Snow and Indiza were the only Kenyans to make the cut and their day with destiny in what could be the day when the duck is finally broken.

A nation waits.

-Additional material from europetour.com

DAY 3 LEADER BOARD

T1 VELASCO, Alvaro ESP 12:18 -8
T1 ROOS, Jake RSA 12:27 -8
T1 ORIOL, Pedro ESP 12:27 -8
T4 SNOW, Greg KEN 11:51 -7
T4 VAN TONDER, Danie RSA 12:00 -7
T4 JENSEN, Lasse DEN 12:00 -7
T4 BERNADET, Adrien FRA 12:09 -7
T4 HUTSBY, Sam ENG 12:09 -7
T4 BEKKER, Oliver RSA 12:18 -7
T10 HULDAHL, Jeppe DEN 11:42 -6

NAIROBI, Kenya, March 9 – Hillary Kiprono and Leonida Mosop, are the winners of the inaugural First Lady Half Marathon that run Sunday at Nairobi’s Uhuru Gardens.

The event that attracted a mammoth crowd of 30,000 marked history as Margaret Kenyatta became the first First Lady to complete the full 21Km course in 3:46:00 in her preparations to compete at the April 19′s London Marathon to raise funds for her charity Beyond Zero that benefited from all proceeds from Sunday’s race.

Running alongside former world marathon record holders, two-time World champion Charity Ndereba and Tegla Loroupe who gave her star studded company, her coach and 1987 World Champion, Douglas Wakiihuri with a medical team and ten elite Recce Unit officers, Ms Kenyatta was warmly hugged by her spouse, President Uhuru Kenyatta, when she arrived at the finish in an enduring moment that brought cheers from those present.

The first couple’s moment of affection was buried under a surging crowd of enthusiastic supporters, creating a security nightmare as people, security officers top Government officials and a battery of local and international media scrambled to witness the rare spectacle.

Rachel Ruto, the spouse of Deputy President, William Ruto, also finished the race much later with eight Cabinet Secretaries, a similar number of envoys and other high ranking officials of the Jubilee Government also taking part in the 21Km, 10Km and 2Km races of the day in support of the First Lady’s charity.

In the business end of the activities, Kiprono who hails from Uasin Gishu and is preparing to run Prague Half Marathon in May clocked 1:03:02 to register personal history as the first male winner of the race prepped to be an annual affair nine seconds ahead of Declerk Onari (1:03:11) with Kevin Kochei (1:03:14)to complete the podium after taking control from the 11km mark.

Overcast conditions opened up to bright sunshine as the field tackled the course that started at Uhuru Gardens before heading down Nairobi’s Lang’ata and Mombasa roads before looping back to the start as thousands of professional athletes and fun runners put their best foot forward for the cause seeking to equip all 47 Counties in Kenya with mobile ambulances to stem mortality among child bearing mothers.

“The race was good since the course was superb. We ran as a pack until 11km then I realized they don’t have strength and I decided to open the gap.

“I ran last at Eldoret’s Discovery marathon where I did not perform well so I’m very happy to win this race its means a lot to me,” Kiprono who trains in Uasin Gishu stated after finishing the race.

The corresponding women’s race was so close but Mosop recorded 1:13:40 to claim top spot, four seconds ahead of last year’s Nairobi international Standard Chartered Marathon winner and Kenya Defence Forces runner, Winfridah Kwamboka, with hard chasing Mary Wangui settling for third, stopping the clock at 1:13:55.

“I thank God for emerging victorious today. I didn’t know I was at the leading group until we covered at 10km where I turned back and saw only men were coming through and four of us (Ladies).

“At 17km I decided to take over the race since I knew they could get tired following me. The race was a little bit difficult since I was affected by stomach upsets because I did not warm up for the race,” the 22 years old, who trains in Iten alongside world marathon record holder, Wilson Kipsang explained.

Both winners in each categories received Sh200, 000 (USD 2,312.14) as second placed received Sh100, 000 (USD 1,156.1) while third place walked away with Sh75, 000 (USD 867.052).

“You came and ran because you believe in this dream. We ran for elimination of HIV transmission from mother to child. We must run until we go Beyond Zero and run until there are no more preventable deaths of mothers and children.”

Ndereba who clocked 2:18:47 to break the women’s Chicago marathon in 2001 said she was not surprised after finishing more than one hour of her usual in First Lady’s Marathon.

“To have that company of running with the First Lady it means a lot and how supportive our leaders are. She knows the pride of being a woman and a mother. I know what it means to hold a healthy baby after delivery and as long as this initiative will be there I will continue supporting it.

“It was nice pacing here and giving here morale. She is so energetic and has a lot of passion and I can say she is a marathoner coming up. What stood out today is when I saw our President waiting the First lady at the finishing line, it reminded me the way my husband used to wait me in front of the finish line of Chicago or Boston Marathon,” the four-time Boston Marathon winner told of the experience with running with the First Lady.

Corporate citizens came forth in might to support the initiative, some 45 sponsors and partners in total, with Equity Bank presenting a cheque of Sh50m (USD 578,034.7) and car manufacturer General Motors donating a mobile clinic worth Sh10m (USD 115,606.94) to support the beyond zero campaign.

Athletics Kenya (AK) Isaiah Kiplagat, said the event was one of the most successful in the field of sports and called for more of such events.

“We need to organize more events of this nature in all parts of our country to help in peace building and ensure tranquility amongst all Kenyans,” the AK chief stated.

Leading results:

1. Hillary Kiprono 1:03:02
2. De Clerk Onari 1:03:11
3. Kevin Kochei 1:03:14
4. Paul Matheka 1:03:16
5. Peter Mwololo 1:03:40
6. Joel Melly 1:03:44
7. Kipkemoi Langat 1:03:51
8. Daniel Limo 1:03:58
9. Mathew Rotich 1:03:59
10. Hosea Mailel 1:04:90

Women

1. Leonida Mosop 1:13:40
2. Winfidah Kwamboka 1:13:44
3. Mary Wangui 1:13:55
4. Margaret Waithera 1:13:04
5. Monicah Wangari 1:15:15
6. Nancy Kamaiyo 1:15:17
7. Ruth Nundu 1:15:33
8. Dorcus Nzembi 1:15:43
9. Mary Njoki 1:15:57
10. Janet Jeruto 1:16:19

NAIROBI, Kenya, March 10 – Haythem Goeini notched a hat-trick as Kenyan Premier League (KPL) champions Gor Mahia crashed out of the CAF Champions League with a 5-0 spanking to Esperance Spotive de Tunis in the return leg of their first round tie at Rades Stadium on Monday.

The two-time winners progressed to the second round with 8-2 aggregate win after making light weather of the match postponed due to heavy downpour on Sunday to leave Gor wishing the game could have ended much sooner.

Gor coach Bobby Williamson in a bid to chase an unlikely victory since his side were trailing 3-2 from the first leg in Nairobi, started with Timonah Wanyonyi, Kevin Oluoch and George ‘Blackberry’ Odhiambo, to hunt for early goals.

But in the end, Esperance enjoyed a stroll at the Rades turf as Gor capitulated in the second half after Goeini opened the scoring a minute to the break with a close range volley following calamitous defending with Dan Sserunkuma who netted the opening goal in Nairobi seeing his shot saved by the keeper in their attack of note in the early exchanges.

At that stage, Ahmed Akakhi had missed a penalty mid first half when his strike came off the post but despite failing to score on the night, the number nine took Gor, particularly Musa Mohammed, to the clinic on the left flank which he tore into with the freedom of the city, almost at will.

Esperance ruthlessly exposed Mohammed’s weakness on the left to score all their goals as Goeini notched his double three minutes after the break for 2-0 and 5-2 on aggregate after being fed by the marauding Akakhi to slot in past replacement keeper, David Juma.

Deflated, Gor soaked in two sucker-punch goals, with Juma, who had kept his side in the game with three first half saves the culprit. On 55 minutes, Juma, punched the ball back to the feet of Ghanaian forward Harrison Aful for 3-0 and two minutes later, gifted the grateful Goeini his hat-trick when he once again parried a shot to his path.

Bouba Aminoo almost apologetically slotted the ball in with 74 minutes gone to complete the rout and five minutes from the end, Williamson hauled off Mohammed to spare him further embarrassment as Esperance turned the contest that was on a knife edge at the start to a training ground match.

Esperance engaged in a spot of Tiki-Taka as the board went up for two minutes added time to complete the harsh lesson as Gor return to pick up the pieces of a title defence with the motivation of returning to the completion next season.

Times have changed since 87′ when Gor beat Esperance to the Africa Cup Winners Cup and Williamson has the task of bringing the side back to the Champions League to make up for the lost time.

Esperance advance to face Real Bamako of Mali in the second round having made a bold statement of intent.

NAIROBI, Kenya, March 11 – National team Tusker Simba XV will take on South Africa titans Western Province on June 7 in a glamour friendly ahead of their Confederation of African Rugby (CAR) Cup that will also serve as 2015 rugby World Cup qualifiers.

Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) chairman, Mwangi Muthee, the national team that is currently on tour for the Vodacom Cup will take on one of South Africa’s most popular sides and previous champions Province, who have won a record 33 Currie Cups, the Absa Nite Series and the Lions Cup in what will be a huge test to their development.

He was speaking Tuesday during the launch of this year’s Bamburi Rugby Super Series that will run on the weekend of April 26.

Tusker Simba XV opened their Vodacom campaign in dream fashion by holding on to floor Eastern Province Kings 17-10 in their opener last Saturday.

“Once we are through with Vodacom our ambition is to play in the senior CAR Cup and finally become a test playing nation since we have what it takes to beat big teams in Africa.

“Western Province has been very instrumental in development of 15s rugby in our country. They donated the head coach Jerome Paarwatar to us and were very instrumental to our negotiations with South African Union to have our team play in Vodacom Cup,” he underlined.

“Kenyans need to see their own team in action against a first class team and that’s why we have organized the test match since it will be a rehearsal for the World Cup qualifiers,” the KRU boss declared.

Kenya will be seeking to defend her continental title when they take on host Madagascar, Namibia and Zimbabwe in a round robin format and also qualify for the global showpiece for the first time ever.

England will host 2015 World Cup from September 18 to October 31.

The 11th Super Series will see the franchises reduced to six, with Kenya producing four (Ndovu, Kifaru, Chui and Papa) while Uganda will be presented by two (Victoria and Ruwenzori)

Tournament director, Godwin Karuga, said they considered to work with fewer teams so that they can stage a professional competition.

“We want to have elite rugby this season and that’s why we have condensed the franchise. Every team that consists of a squad of 25 will have opportunity of selecting top 100 players from their regions.

“Our 15s national team is three games away to the World Cup and it’s our strong believe they will qualify. The format has changed because we want to run a competitive tournament.”

Commenting on this year’s tournament, Muthee said the competition will be rotating in all the Counties to make Kenya a rugby playing nation.

“The Super Series started with the intention of developing about 100 players across the country. The players are under the watchful eye of scouts so they should take this competition seriously.

“We want to spread rugby all over the country to develop at tap talent at the grassroots.”

Ndovu will incorporate Nakuru RFC, Eldoret, Kisumu and Western Bulls while Chui will consist of Nondescript, Lunch Bar Quins and Impala with Papa featuring KCB, Homeboyz and Mwamba.

Kifaru will see all the universities form a team.

Defending champions Ndovu are in Pool A alongside Chui and Victoria while last year’s runners up Ruwenzori headline Pool B alongside Papa and Kifaru.

Victoria will open the tournament against Chui in Kampala before Ruwenzori welcomes Papa.

The May 3 fixtures will additionally see Papa play Kifaru while Ndovu host Victoria in Kakamega County. Nakuru will host May 17 fixture where Kifaru invites Ruwenzori before Ndovu takes on Chui.

The semifinals are slotted for May 24 in Machakos with the finals scheduled for June 7 at RFUEA Grounds.

Bamburi Cement Limited sponsored this year’s event to a tune of Sh20m (USD 231, 080.4).