NAIROBI, Kenya, July 11- Harambee Stars crashed out of the Cosafa Castle Cup on Thursday after a last-gasp 2-1 loss to Botswana at Nkana Stadium in Kitwe, Zambia.

Poor marking allowed substitute Jerome Ramatlhakwana to sink in the winner in the fourth minute of added time after an own goal by Edwin Olerile levelled matters in the 87th minute.

In truth, Stars deserved what they got in a limp display in a match where Lemponye Tshireletso put Botswana ahead with a brilliantly floated free-kick in the 12th minute.

Needing victory to advance to the quarterfinals against regional giants Angola, Stars coach Adel Amrouche made two changes to the line-up that beat Swaziland 2-0 bringing on Andrew Murunga and Musa Mohammed to start.

With Stars struggling to establish any rhythm in the opening minutes, Botswana went ahead when Tshireletso curled the ball past Jerim Onyago in the Stars goal for the opener.

Amrouche made a tactical switch minutes afterwards bringing on AFC Leopards’ Edwin Seda for Mohammed but the substitituion failed to spark his team as they went in to the break trailing 1-0.

The Belgian coach then turned to Gor Mahia’s Paul Mungai Kiongera, who has been in a rich vein of form of late and Leopards winger Paul Were in the second half in a bid to refresh his sides’ attack in the second half.

Although Stars improved as a forward going force, it was Botswana who looked comfortable with few chances on the break as Were, Kiongera, Francis Kahata and Edwin Lavatsa upfront failed to string together cohesive movement.

With time running out, Kenya got a lifeline when Olerile headed the ball into his own net in almost comical fashion under pressure from defender David Owino who was chasing down a long punt from defence.

Stars needed another goal to advance since Lesotho were leading Swaziland 2-0 but instead of a late flourish, they were hit by a sucker punch winner when the defence stood still as a long free-kick was floated in the box from the left.

Ramatlhakwana, unmarked, headed the ball past Onyango to confirm Stars exit but victory was hollow for Botswana since they also lost to Lesotho in the race to top Group B on goal difference.

It was the first time for Stars to feature in the Southern African regional showpiece on invitation and are expected back home from Friday.

LONDON, England, July 12- Harambee Stars captain Victor Wanyama expressed his delight at joining Southampton FC as he made history as the first Kenyan to be signed by an English Premier League side two seasons after his elder brother, MacDonald Mariga’s switch to Manchester City fell through.

Wanyama’s rumoured record move from Glasgow Celtic culminated last evening and the player was officially unveiled by the club in a deal worth a reported 12.5 million pounds.

“Southampton Football Club is delighted to announce the signing of Kenya captain Victor Wanyama on a four-year contract,” the Saints website stated.

The industrious midfielder moves for an undisclosed fee from Scottish Premier League side Glasgow Celtic, where he won the title in 2011/12 and 2012/13 as well as last season’s Scottish Cup.

Wanyama was crowned as the SPL Young Player of the Year at the end of last season, during which he made 49 appearances and scored nine goals.

One of those goals came in the Hoops’ memorable win over Spanish giants FC Barcelona in the UEFA Champions League last November.

Wanyama’s signing is the latest demonstration of the Club’s plan to recruit young and talented players on long-term contracts, and follows on from the arrival of Croatia international Dejan Lovren last month.

“It feels great and I am happy to be here,” Wanyama said immediately after putting pen-to-paper at St Mary’s this evening.

“Finally it has happened and we’ve come to the end [of negotiations], so I am delighted. There were other options, but Southampton is a club with ambitions so I chose to came here.

“Southampton is a good club and it has good players, so I just want to train hard and work hard to be a part of the starting XI. We’ll see where that will take me.

“I’m very grateful to be here and I’m looking forward to playing in the Premier League.

“I’ve seen that the stadium is great and the dressing room is looking good, and I know some of the players. I hope they will help me and I think I will get along with the others, so it will be good.

“I am happy to be a part of Southampton’s squad. It means a lot because because it has been my dream to play in the Premier League and now I am here.”

First Team Manager Mauricio Pochettino was on hand to watch as his latest acquisition completed his transfer, and quickly expressed his happiness with the deal.

He said: “I am very pleased to have secured the signing of Victor because we are a big admirer of his talents and he will fit in well to the team here at Southampton.

“I want to stress that the deal could have been done sooner, but this shows that we do business on our terms. The most important thing that ourselves, Celtic and the player are all happy with the way it has all gone.

“The fact that a lot of top European clubs were also keen to sign him shows what an attractive prospect Southampton Football Club is to a player who had his pick of the teams in England and abroad.

“I’ve watched him perform at the top level in the Champions League, and I believe that he will be a valuable addition to our Premier League squad for the season ahead.”

-Southampton FC website

NAIROBI, Kenya, Jul 13- The remaining pieces to the Kenyan Moscow World Championships jigsaw puzzle were filled on Saturday when the East African athletics giant held their selection event for the August 10 to 18 global showpiece in Nairobi on Saturday.

At the end of what proved to be an enthralling race for tickets to don the famed red, green and black strip, a cocktail of experience and youth provisionally numbering 49 will carry the country’s torch in Russia.

From men Javelin star, Julius Yego once again stealing the headlines with an African record of 82.09m* to Olympics and world steeplechase champion, Ezekiel Kemboi who was assured of his place in the squad lazing about to finish sixth, the event was packed with action from the starting gun.

“I don’t know how it happened but to do it here with the crowd well behind me is fantastic. My aim is to reach the finals of Moscow then from there, aim at getting 85m or above,” Yego stated.

In front of the country’s deputy president William Ruto and a packed stadium, elation at bagging coveted places in the team was interlaced with the utter dejection of joining the scrap heap as youthful runners jostled to topple the old order.

Beijing Olympics and 2007 world steeple champion, Brimin Kipruto, fellow Commonwealth titleholder, Richard Mateelong, Olympics men 800m bronze winner, Timothy Kitum, 2007 World men 800m champion, Alfred Kirwa and women 5000m silver winner, Sylvia Kibet are among the established stars who will watch Moscow from the sidelines after being forced to withdraw due to injury, being humbled on the field or the panel of selectors overlooking them.

For others such as Diamond League steeplechase men winner, Paul Kipsiele who finished 12th at the Trial and former World Junior men 5000m silver winner, John Kipkoech, fortune smiled on them when they were granted outside selection.

Athletics Kenya (AK) used the world governing body IAAF discretion to enter world and Diamond League champions to expand the team in various distances.

Kenya is still sweating over the fitness of world 800m record holder, David Rudisha, Kenya’s marquee athlete who has both Olympics and World titles as he recovers slowly from the knee injury that forced him out of the Trials although a slot is still reserved for him.

The earlier announced marathon team of eight that is training in Iten will link up with the team during the August 5 departure.

*Pending ratification procedures

Kenya Moscow Worlds Team

MEN

200m: Mike Mokamba
800m: Anthony Chemut, Ferguson Rotich, Jeremiah Mutai
1500m: Silas Kiplagat, Asbel Kiprop, Nixon Chepseba, Bethwell Birgen
5000m: Isaiah Kiplangat, Thomas Longosiwa, Edwin Soi, John Kipkoech
10000m: Bedan Karoki, Paul Tanui, Kenneth Kiprop
3000mS: Conseslus Kipruto, Abel Kiprop, Ezekiel Kemboi, Paul Kipsiele Koech
4X400m Relay: Alphas Kishoiyan, Moses Kertich, Boniface Mweresa, Mike Mokamba, Vincent Koskei
Marathon: Bernard Koech, Bernard Kipyego, Mike Kipyego, Peter Some, Nicholas Kipkemboi.
Javelin: Julius Yego

WOMEN

400m: Maureen Jelagat
800m: Eunice Sum, Janeth Jepkosgei, Winny Chebet
1500m: Hellen Obiri, Faith Chepng’etich, Nancy Jebet Langat
5000m: Mercy Cherono, Viola Kibiwott, Margaret Wangare
10000m: Gladys Cherono, Emily Chebet, Sally Kaptich Chepyego
3000m S: Milcah Chemos, Lydia Chebet Rotich, Hyvin Kiyeng, Lydia Chepkurui
Marathon: Lucy Kabuu, Edna Kiplagat, Agnes Barsosio, Margaret Akai, Eunice Kirwa

Coaches: Sammy Rono (head), Boniface Tiren and Richard Meto (Marathon)

SELECT RESULTS

Men

800m: 1. Anthony Chemut 1:44.33, 2. Ferguson Rotich 1:44.38, 3. Jeremiah Mutai 1:44.59

1500m: 1. Silas Kiplagat 3:33.70, 2. Asbel Kiprop 3:33.80, 3. Nixon Kiplimo Chepseba 3:33.9

5,000m: 1. Isaiah Kiplangat Koech 13:35.12, 2. Thomas Pkemei Longosiwa 3:36.82, 3. Edwin Soi 13:39.49

10,000m: 1. Bedan Karoki 27:31.61, 2. Paul Tanui 27:32.76, 3. Kenneth Kipkemboi 27:41.28

3,000m Steeplechase: 1. Conseslus kipruto 8:13.50, 2. Abel mutai 8:14.00, 3. Brimin Kipruto 8:14.90

Women

800m: 1. Eunice Sum 1:59.30, 2. Janeth Jepkosgei 1:59.70, 3. Winnie Chebet 2:00.00

1500m: Hellen Obiri 4:06.91, 2. Faith Chepngetich 4:07.00, 3. Nancy Jebet Langat 4:07.23

5,000m: 1. Mercy Cherono 15:58.39, 2. Viola Kibiwott 15:59.20, 3. Margaret Wangari 16:01.88

10,000m: 1. Gladys Cherono 33:43.03, 2. Emily Chebet 33:43.78, 3. Sally kaptich Chepyego 33:45.81

3,000m Steeplechase: 1. milcah Chemos cheywa 9:38.60, 2. Gladys kipkemoi 9:39.70, 3. Hyvin Jepkemoi 9:40.50

NAIROBI, Kenya, July 14- Kenya are the Confederation of African Rugby Division 1A champions after stopping hard fighting Zimbabwe 29-17 in Madagascar on Sunday to reclaim the crown they last held in 2011.

The national 15s side got off to a great start with Joseph Kangethe scoring the opening try with barely a minute into the contest but Kenny Andola missed the conversion.

Nick Barasa extended Kenya’s lead for a 12-0 advantage as they continued to pressure their opponents but they were caught flat footed Tafadzwa Chitokwindo reduced the arrears to 12-5 by touching down on the corner flag.

The game settled down after a frenetic start but a Lenience Tambwera penalty brought scores down to 12-8 and after Andola missed from his boot, the same player would float another penalty between the sticks for 12-11.

A drop goal from Andola and a third penalty success from Tambwera took Kenya to the breather with a slim 15-14 advantage.

After failing to make their forays to Zimbabwe territory count at the start of the second, Kenya’s coach Jerome Paarwater brought on, Andrew Amonde for Joshua Chisanga, a move that saw Brian Nyikuli go to number eight with the national sevens captain taking up the blindside flank.

Oscar Ayodi was replaced by Fabian Olando with Ronnie Mwenesi coming on for Oliver Mang’eni.

Zimbabwe who were dominant at this point went ahead after a Kenyan infringement, Tambwera scoring his fourth penalty to put the Sables 17-15 up.

Kenya’s response was immediate, gaining possession and territory. They drove Zimbabwe back and Edwin Achayo was on the end of a rolling maul, touching down with Andola converting for a 22-17 Kenya lead.

The Rugby Lions would remain with the impetus, they looked to build on their lead and Barasa consequently landed his brace after a great retrieval from Mike Agevi who passed the ball on to Vincent Mose who beat the gain line before off loading to the try scorer.

Andola’s boot did the rest for a full time score of 29-17 with the side scheduled to arrive back home on Monday morning to a breakfast reception at a Nairobi hotel.

“We came here on a mission. We believed and we achieved. This is a victory not only for us, but for the entire Kenyan nation. We are thankful to the Kenya Rugby Union for their support and the belief in the team. Rest assured that this is just the beginning of a great time for Kenyan fifteens rugby.

“Head Coach Paarwater has worked wonders with the boys and Kudos to him. Beating Zimbabwe is no easy feat, and as we approach next year’s championships, we must keep the vision and the focus, the 2015 RWC is attainable,” team manager Wangila Simiyu said after the tie.

-Material sourced from Kenya Rugby Union

LOS ANGELES, July 15 – USA Tyson Gay and Asafa Powell, two of the four fastest men in history, sent shockwaves through the blue riband 100m when both men failed drug tests.

Gay, the 30-year-old American who was world champion in 2007 and the fastest man in the world this year, tested positive for a banned substance and immediately withdrew from next month’s world championships in Moscow.

Jamaican sprint star Powell, a former 100m world record holder, confirmed that he had tested positive for a banned stimulant at his country’s national trials for Moscow.

But the 30-year-old strenuously denied any wrong doing.

Only Olympic champion and world record holder Usain Bolt (9.58sec) has gone faster than Gay, whose best of 9.69sec he shares with Yohan Blake of Jamaica. Powell is the fourth fastest man of all time with 9.72sec.

Gay was informed by the United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) on Friday of his failed test and on Sunday the USA Track & Field (USATF) said he had pulled out of the world championships.

“He stated he is withdrawing,” said USATF spokesperson Jill Geer.

USADA said Sunday that the 30-year-old’s B sample has yet to be tested so they would not confirm or deny the failed test.

“In response to Mr. Gay’s statements, USADA appreciates his approach to handling this situation and his choice to voluntarily remove himself from competition while the full facts surrounding his test are evaluated,” USADA media relations manager Annie Skinner told AFP.

“The B sample will be processed shortly, and as in all cases all athletes are innocent unless or until proven otherwise through the established legal process, and any attempt to sensationalize or speculate is a disservice to due process, fair play, and to those who love clean sport.”

Gay told US media he had made a mistake and been let down by someone else.

USATF said they would continue to look towards USADA to help them weed out drug cheats in the sport.

“USA Track & Field is strongly opposed to doping, and we respect the work that USADA has done as a leading agency globally in the fight against drugs in sport,” USATF chief executive Max Siegel said.

Gay had run the fastest time in the world this year at June’s US trials for the world championships in Iowa. His 9.75sec was the 10th fastest 100m of all time.

World record holder Bolt’s best time over 100m this season is 9.94sec set in Kingston in June.

Gay won the triple of 100m, 200m and 4x100m relay in Osaka at the 2007 world championships while also claiming a 4x100m silver medal at the London Olympics last year.

Powell, also 30, took to Twitter to confirm his dope test failure.

“I will confirm that a sample I gave at the National Trials in June has returned ‘adverse findings’,” he said.

“The substance oxilofrine was found, which is considered by the authorities to be a banned stimulant.

“I want to be clear that I have never knowingly or wilfully taken any supplements or substances that break any rules. I am not now nor have I ever been a cheat.”

Powell held the 100m world record between June 2005 and May 2008.

He won two bronze medals in the 100 metres at the 2007 and 2009 world championships. He also had one gold in the 4×100 metre relay in 2009.

But he has never managed an individual sprint medal at the Olympics, finishing fifth in the 2004 Athens and 2008 Beijing Olympic 100 metre finals and limping home in eighth place in the final in London last summer.

According to media reports, Powell was one of five athletes who failed drug tests at the national trials last month in Kingston.

Sherone Simpson, a silver medallist in the women’s 100m at the 2008 Olympics, was one of them, according to a report in Britain’s Daily Telegraph.

The Jamaica Gleaner newspaper claimed the substance taken may have been contained in a food supplement.

“My team and I will try to do everything we can to get this issue dealt with as best as we can,” Simpson told the Gleaner.

“Thanks to all who have been supporting me, I really appreciate it at this time.”

Later Sunday, Powell’s agent, Tara Playfair-Scott, revealed on Twitter that a man who allegedly supplied the supplements had been arrested in Italy.

“He has been detained by Italian Law Enforcement in conjunction with this matter. The investigations continue,” she wrote.

Monday 15 July 2013 – A triumphant National rugby 15’s team the Kenya Lions arrived on Monday a day after their stunning win of the Confederation of African Rugby’s Division 1A championships title at the Stade Municipal de Mahamasina in Antananaravivo, Madagascar.

Kenya who beat defending champions Zimbabwe 29-17 in the final, were hosted to a grand breakfast in their honor at the Sarova Panafric by Migaa.

Migaa rewarded the victorious Kenyan team with a Ksh 500,000 cash award that they had promised the team prior to their departure to Madagascar.

Migaa Director Mike Karanja said, “We at Migaa believe in living up to our promise and that is why we hand over this cash reward to the victorious side. Our association with this team is certainly bearing fruits. They were crowned Elgon Cup champions last month, and have now been crowned champions of Africa. This certainly proves that there is so much that this team can attain and we would like to assure all and sundry that we will help Kenya attain its 2015 Rugby World Cup dream.”

The new Africa champions are now slated to play Namibia in the Africa Zone of the International Rugby Board World Cup qualifiers after their title win.

In the RWC qualifiers, the winner of the CAR trophy plays the fourth team. Namibia has been promoted to the top tier while the second-placed team, Zimbabwe will battle it out with Madagascar who finished third.

Kenya Rugby Union Chairman Mwangi Muthee paid tribute to the side.

“The team goes into a two week break before resuming training ahead of upcoming assignments. We have big plans for this team, including lobbying to ensure that the team plays in the Vodacom Cup very soon. Argentina and Namibia have previously played in this competition and look at what it has done for them in terms of performance. It is a stepping stone for greatness.”

Muthee added, ” We want to build a world beating Kenya fifteens squad. This is an accomplished side and we at the KRU will stop at nothing in ensuring that this squad qualifies for the 2015 Rugby World Cup.”

At the same function Sports Commissioner Gordon Oluoch assured the Kenya Rugby Union of continued government support.

“Our fifteens team is finally emerging from the shadows of the sevens team and I want to assure you that the government will offer financial and material support in ensuring that the side remains at the top. We will offer you the necessary assistance as you pursue your 2015 Rugby World Cup dream.”

Kenya’s Results in Madagascar

Semi Final

Kenya 52 Uganda 11

Final

Kenya 29 Zimbabwe 17

NAIROBI, Kenya, July 16- World 800m Champion David Rudisha will not recover in time to defend his title at the World Championships, in Moscow next month.

The Olympic champion wrote to Athletics Kenya on Monday ending any doubts about his chances of defending his title in Moscow.

“I regret that I will not be able to defend my 800m title at the World Championships next month in Moscow,” said Rudisha.

“My knee problem is progressing well but unfortunately not fast enough to enable me recover in time for the said championships. I therefore take this opportunity to wish my colleagues success during the occasion of the World Championships,” he said.

David Okeyo, Athletics Kenya (AK) vice president, confirmed that Rudisha had withdrawn from the World Championships, which means Kenya will have to depend on Anthony Chemut, Ferguson Rotich and Timothy Kitum, the Olympic 800m bronze medalist.

“Having talked to Rudisha on Monday, July 15, it is now official that Mr. Rudisha will not participate in the forthcoming IAAF World Championships in Athletics scheduled for Moscow next month,” said Okeyo.

Rudisha injured his knee in June while training in New York. His coach Colm O’Connell had said a week ago that they were monitoring his progress hoping he will recover for the Moscow World Championships, which start on August 10.

The withdrawal of the Olympic champion means Ezekiel Kemboi (men’s steeple), Asbel Kiprop (men 1500m) and Edna Kiplagat (women marathon) are the only Kenyan titleholders from Daegu who will compete in Moscow.

Rudisha had a slot available for him in the Kenyan team as a titleholder despite the fact that he was not named in the squad of 49 that was named on Saturday after the Trials

NAIROBI, Kenya, July 18- With the country still reeling from the withdrawal of the ‘Pride of Africa’ David Rudisha from the Moscow World Championships, Friday’s Monaco leg of the IAAF Diamond League offers Kenyan medal hopefuls a platform to deliver a roaring statement of intent.

As their team mates continue trickling to Nairobi’s Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, for residential training, local fans will be keenly following developments at the Herculis meet in the French Principality to get a rough idea of whether their athletes are anywhere close to emulating the seven gold and 17 medals in total record performance in Daegu, South Korea, two years ago.

Members of the 49-strong Moscow national squad competing in Monaco had already cleared with Athletics Kenya (AK) well before Saturday’s National Trials and are expected to join their colleagues in camp by Monday.

Here are expected Kenyan highlights to look forward to in Monaco.

How fast will Kiprop run?

As the defending men 1500m champion, Kiprop delivered a tacit warning at the Kenyan National Championships in June he would seek to lower his 3:28.77 career best at the distance in Monaco.

“I cancelled running in Oslo (June 13) in order to prepare for Monaco. When I’m looking forward to trying and break my personal best. I went there and did 3:28 and it was exciting, I was happy to have run the fastest time since 2004,” he told Xinhua at the time.

Although he was coy about the prospects of putting together such an attack in Monaco after finishing second at the Moscow Trials, saying, “We shall see,” wistfully, the assembled field may compel him to bring out his best even though London Olympics team mates, Silas Kiplagat and Nixon Chepseba who will join him in Moscow and provide his stiffest internal competition are missing.

Britain’s double Olympics champion, Mo Farah is in the field and nothing would give him better motivation than to beat one of the poster boys of London where Kiprop’s dream to hold on to his title crushed despite the fact his star rival will be competing in his first 1500m race since 2008.

The 2011 World bronze medallist Matthew Centrowitz and 2012 Olympic silver medallist Leo Manzano from the United States are also in the field seeking his scalp to give their own Russia medal prospects a boost, something the lanky Kenyan will be keen to avoid.

Bethwell Birgen, the fourth Kenyan in the Russia Worlds squad is another out to prove a point in Monaco.

How will the 800m hopefuls fare?

Without Rudisha, it is assumed that Kenya has all but surrendered the men 800m world crown.

However, the gaze will fall on newcomers to the Kenyan team in Ferguson Cheruiyot and Jeremiah Mutai to see whether they have the credentials to pose a podium challenge.

Mutai, 20, was the 2009 world Youth silver medallist in the 400 Hurdles, and he came home way down the order in seventh at the Ostrava Golden Spike last month while there is no information available on Cheruiyot who is 28 presenting the X-factor on his capabilities after finishing second to Anthony Chemut at the Kenya Trials.

Elsewhere, the men 5000m will give Olympics bronze winner, Thomas Longosiwa and his Kenyan team mates for Moscow, Isaiah Kiplangat and Edwin Soi a chance to spur against their expected rivals for gold in Russia, Bernard Lagat and Galen Rupp from the United States.

Women 3000m steeplechase frontrunner, Milcah Chemos who has won three Diamond League meetings on the bounce is seeking to continue her momentum in her speciality.

Having punched their Moscow tickets, World Indoor titleholder, Helen Obiri and Beijing 2008 gold winner, Nancy Jebet Langat, will have a taste of what to expect in Russia when they line-up for the start of the women 1500m race.

Among those they will take on include former world champion, Maryam Yusuf Jamal (Bahrain) and American trio of Jenny Simpson, Gabriele Anderson and Shannon Rowbury with compatriot Viola Kibiwott who made the women 5000m squad also stepping down the distance to gain speed.

NAIROBI, Kenya, Jul 19- So, who is fooling who? Is Kenyan football headed back to the mid 2000s when the country was suspended by FIFA twice over corruption, mismanagement and government interference?

It has taken only a week since Victor Wanyama signed for English Premiership side, Southampton in a move hailed by all and sundry as the beginning of the Kenyan football renaissance for the pungent smell of wrangles at Football Kenya Federation (FKF) to fill the air.

Those familiar with the progression of the Kenyan game in the last decade and a half are aware of the script.

Accusations and counter-accusations, attempts to muzzle those who dare publish the allegations and now, the Government which had largely sat and watched wading into the saga and we all know what is going to happen next.

On Thursday, Cabinet Secretary in charge of Sports, Arts and Culture, Dr. Hassan Wario told FKF’s top brass led by their overlord, Sam Nyamweya, to put their house to order or he would risk another FIFA ban to place the country’s football back on track.

Wario’s declaration comes after a fortnight where a series of incriminating documents produced by suspended FKF National Executive Committee (NEC) members, Sam Shollei, Tom Alila and Hussein Terry have surfaced with Nyamweya engaged in a robust riposte to defend his innocence, including threats of litigation against any media house that publishes the damning claims.

Beneath the table, Nyamweya has been lobbying media managers to sack journalists who have dared to report on the claims using the same handbook of intimidation he employed in the mid 2000s when he was the leader of the defunct Kenya Football Federation.

Without revealing details, Capital Sport is in the know of a number of reporters who are in his crosshairs for simply giving Nyamweya’s critics a platform to air their claims.

As highlighted in a previous article highlighting the rot in FKF, a list of journalists thought to be on his payroll or have received kick-backs is still doing the rounds.

”I’m ready to take any risk that will improve Kenyan football, and take it back to glory days. If we have the best player in East Africa that comes from Kenya then why not be the best in region by winning titles,” Wario said whilst addressing Nyamweya and Co when they paid him a courtesy call at his office.

“We are aware there are dissenting voices out to tarnish the image of football, but Kenyans know the true reflection.

“We laud the Government for its support and funding towards our National teams and we are happy that our parent Ministry has again given us their commitment to continue funding our programmes,” was Nyamweya’s take on the same meeting.

The allegations said to be a hot potato for any journalist who dare print them centre on some Sh35m given to FKF between November 2011 and December 2012 that ‘cannot be traced’ in the audited accounts presented during their AGM last month.

Further claims of Nyamweya ‘loaning’ FKF Sh27m from his own pocket have also surfaced with a number of support documents from the federation bankers, Family Bank being dispatched to newsrooms.

As expected the federation boss has hit back hard on the claims and in one of the many press statements fired from his canon, stated thus.

“We wish to inform you all that the federation, after perusing the documents established that they are not authentic and has therefore referred the matter to the anti fraud unit.

“The individuals, who were suspended by NEC due to gross violation of rules governing football, have ganged up to wage war against the current office with the aim of discrediting the gains made so far by FKF.”

A letter written to FIFA over the matter is yet to be responded to and with the government now entering the fray; it will interesting to watch what becomes of the country’s football in the coming days.

In the interim, some journalists continue operating under uncertainty over whether their reputations will be tarnished when the ‘Nyamweya M-Pesa list’ is made public or whether their managers will succumb from lobbying and to borrow a phrase popularised by website owner Bogoko Bosire, ‘send them to inflation.’

NAIROBI, Kenya, July 20- He promised it at the Kenyan National Championships last month and boy, didn’t he deliver! On a magical night of athletics at the Herculis Diamond League meet in Monaco, world men 1500m champion, Asbel Kiprop, blasted to a huge 3:27.72 lifetime best to become the fourth fastest runner of all time at the distance.

With the sport reeling from the positive drug busts of leading sprinters, Tyson Gay (America) and Asafa Powell (Jamaica) among others, Kiprop delivered one of the seven world leading performances registered in Monaco to underline why athletics is loved in the first place and most importantly, deliver the most telling of cautions to pretenders to his world title in Moscow next month.

If only he did not spectacularly bomb at the London Olympics last year when he set his then career best of 3:28.77 at the same meeting three weeks to the finals, there would have been no doubt that the lanky Kenyan would collect gold in Russia early next month.

However, Kiprop is a man on a mission this time around and he did not mince his words when he said this at the Nationals on June 23.

“I cancelled running in Oslo (June 13) in order to prepare for Monaco. When I’m looking forward to trying and break my personal best. I went there and did 3:28 and it was exciting, I was happy to have run the fastest time since 2004.”

It may not have been a Diamond Race event here, but the men’s 1500m was a diamond of a race. Kiprop had been effectively launched into a last-lap lead as his fellow Kenyan pacer, James Magut, dropped off shortly after the bell, and he had a 20-metre lead over the rest of the field, led by the smaller figure of Farah, as he came around the final bend.

But the Briton closed up in the finishing straight to finish only a few strides adrift of the tall and upright Kenyan, thus breaking the European record of 3:28.95 set by Spain’s Fermin Cacho in 1997, and the British record of 3:29.67 set just along the coast in Nice in 1985 by Steve Cram – commentating here for BBC TV.

For Farah, who had been hoping to match or narrowly better the 1500m best of 3:33.98 he set on this track in 2009, it was an astonishing result – and one which will give his potential rivals in Moscow more to worry about.

Kiprop, meanwhile, was “happy and excited” about his performance, adding: “I’m very surprised about Mo Farah and his mark of 3:28.81 – that’s crazy! Now I want to give my best in Moscow.”

On a night to savour for Kenya, Beijing Olympics 5000m bronze winner, Edwin Soi, who also punched his ticket for Moscow rocketed to the world leading time in the 12 and a half lap-race.

The men’s 5000m was won in dramatic style by Soi, who passed Bahraini junior Albert Rop as they came into the final straight and maintained his lead under heavy pressure to cross in 12:51.34, the best in the world this year and a meeting record.

Rop’s reward for his persistence was a senior Asian record of 12:51.96 as he finished more than four seconds clear of Soi’s Moscow teammates Isiah Koech, who ran a season’s best of 12:56.08 ahead of countryman Thomas Longosiwa, who clocked 12:59.81, also a season’s best.

Lawi Lalang ran a personal best of 13:00.95 for fifth place, and Farah’s training partner Galen Rupp took sixth in a season’s best of 13:05.17.

The Monaco good times did not end there for Kenya.

As expected, the women’s 3000m Steeplechase came down to a battle between the two Kenyans currently setting the pace in the Diamond Race, and on this occasion it was Milcah Chemos who came through in a meeting record of 9:14.17 as she held off the challenge of the woman who had come into this competition two points ahead of her in the Race, Lydia Chepkurui, who finished in 9:15.18 for silver with both in the national team for Moscow worlds.

In a week when it was finally confirmed world 800m record holder, David Rudisha will miss Moscow, the country can dare to dream.

RESULTS

Men

100 m (wind: -0.4 m/s):

1. Justin Gatlin (USA) 9.94

2. Dentarius Locke (USA) 9.96

3. Jimmy Vicaut (FRA) 9.99

4. Michael Rodgers (USA) 10.07

5. Kim Collins (SKN) 10.08

6. Kemar Bailey-Cole (JAM) 10.10

7. Nickel Ashmeade (JAM) 10.13

8. Charles Silmon (USA) 10.20

800 m:

1. Duane Solomon (USA) 1:43.72

2. Pierre-Ambroise Bosse (FRA) 1:43.76

3. Kevin Lpez (ESP) 1:43.93

4. Marcin Lewandowski (POL) 1:44.20

5. Rafith Rodríguez (COL) 1:44.33

6. Tyler Mulder (USA) 1:44.34

1500 m:

1. Asbel Kiprop (KEN) 3:27.72

2. Mohamed Farah (GBR) 3:28.81

3. Caleb Mwangangi Ndiku (KEN) 3:29.50

4. Bethwell Birgen (KEN) 3:30.77

5. Ilham Tanui Özbilen (TUR) 3:31.30

6. Collins Cheboi (KEN) 3:31.53

7. Bouabdellah Tahri (FRA) 3:32.73

8. Matthew Centrowitz (USA) 3:33.58

5000 m:

1. Edwin Cheruiyot Soi (KEN) 12:51.34

2. Albert Rop (KEN) 12:51.96

3. Isiah Kiplangat Koech (KEN) 12:56.08

4. Thomas Pkemei Longosiwa (KEN) 12:59.81

5. Lawi Lalang (KEN) 13:00.95

6. Galen Rupp (USA) 13:05.17

7. Augustine Kiprono Choge (KEN) 13:11.02

8. Ben True (USA) 13:13.98

400 m hurdles:

1. Jehue Gordon (TRI) 48.00

2. Johnny Dutch (USA) 48.20

3. Javier Culson (PUR) 48.35

4. Mamadou Kasse Hane (SEN) 48.50

5. Justin Gaymon (USA) 48.64

6. Felix Sanchez (DOM) 48.83

7. Kerron Clement (USA) 48.93

8. Mickal Franois (FRA) 51.61

Triple jump:

1. Christian Taylor (USA) 17.30 m

2. Daniele Greco (ITA) 17.25

3. Pedro Pichardo (CUB) 16.94

4. Fabrizio Donato (ITA) 16.84

5. Aleksey Fedorov (RUS) 16.72

6. Yoann Rapinier (FRA) 16.57

Polevault:

1. Renaud Lavillenie (FRA) 5.96 m

2. Brad Walker (USA) 5.78

3. Björn Otto (GER) 5.70

4. Lázaro Borges (CUB) 5.70

5. Jan Kudlicka (CZE) 5.70

6. Steven Lewis (GBR) 5.70

Javelin:

1. Vitezalav Vesely (CZE) 87.68 m

2. Dmitri Tarabin (RUS) 84.33

3. Andreas Thorkildsen (NOR) 83.71

4. Roman Avramenko (UKR) 83.52

5. Kim Amb (SWE) 80.71

Women

200 m (wind: -0.5 m/s):

1. Murielle Ahoure (CIV) 22.24

2. Tiffany Townsend (USA) 22.26

3. Shelly-Ann Fraser (JAM) 22.28

4. Kimberlyn Duncan (USA) 22.46

5. Jeneba Tarmoh (USA) 22.72

6. ChaRonda Williams (USA) 22.77

400 m:

1. Amantle Montsho (BOT) 49.33

2. Stephanie McPherson (JAM) 49.92

3. Francena McCorory (USA) 49.96

4. Rosemarie Whyte (JAM) 50.86

5. Floria Guei (FRA) 51.58

6. Anyika Onuora (GBR) 51.63

1500 m:

1. Jennifer Barringer (USA) 4:00.48

2. Hellen Onsando Obiri (KEN) 4:00.93

3. Brenda Martinez (USA) 4:00.94

4. Shannon Rowbury (USA) 4:01.28

5. Gabrielle Anderson (USA) 4:01.48

100 m hurdles (wind: -0.5 m/s):

1. Queen Harrison (USA) 12.64

2. Yvette Lewis (USA) 12.69

3. Kellie Wells (USA) 12.70

4. Tiffany Porter (GBR) 12.70

5. Sally Pearson (AUS) 12.75

6. Nia Ali (USA) 12.79

7. Cindy Billaud (FRA) 12.91

3000 m steeple:

1. Milkah Chenos (KEN) 9:14.17

2. Ludia Chepkurui (KEN) 9:15.18

3. Fancy Cherotich (KEN) 9:36.82

High jump:

1. Brigetta Barrett (USA) 2.01 m

2. Anna Chicherova (RUS) 1.98

3. Blanka Vlasic (CRO) 1.98

4. Emma Green Tregaro (SWE) 1.95

5. Ruth Beitia (ESP) 1.92

6. Ana Simic (CRO) 1.92

Long jump:

1. Blessing Akagbare (NGR) 7.04 m

2. Darya Klishina (RUS) 6.98

3. Shara Proctor (GBR) 6.74

4. Lauma Griva (LAT) 6.64

Discus:

1. Sandra Perkovic (CRO) 65.30 m

2. Yarelis Barrios (CUB) 64.24

3. Gia Lewis (USA) 63.63

4. Zinaida Sendriute (LTU) 61.67

5. Dani Samuels (AUS) 61.32

PARIS, France, July 22 – When Chris Froome stepped down from top of the the Tour de France podium on Sunday, there was no plan for a lavish ceremony befitting of the most recent winner of the race’s fabled yellow jersey.

For Froome, the celebrations would amount to “an unforgettable night in Paris with some school friends” who had made the trip from Africa to witness the climax of his amazing journey from the dirt roads of Kenya to success in the world’s greatest bike race.

Born in Kenya, Froome’s love affair with cycling began shortly after his mother asked former elite mountain biker David Kinjah to coach her dreamy 11-year-old son, the youngest of three.

“She needed somebody to tap his prodigious energy, and somebody had told her that I could handle him,” said Kinjah, who remembers Froome fondly.

“The first time Chris came here with his BMX bike he was very shy…but he was also a very determined young boy.”

Froome, who speaks several languages including Swahili and used to sport an array of coloured Kenyan clothes and bracelets, remains shy and is still quietly-spoken.

And while resolutely British, he is still not quite sure which country to love most.

“I really do feel divided amongst those places” that you mentioned now, he told media on Saturday.

“When I go back to Kenya, even going through customs control, when the customs guys give you that big smile, that always makes me really happy.”

But the determination Froome showed during his early cycling days, when 100 km training rides with Kinjah were the norm, remains one of his overriding attributes.

Froome’s journey to cycling stardom continued apace when, following his parents’ divorce, he was sent to boarding school in South Africa.

Although rugby and cricket were the top sports in Bloemfontein, Froome soon found a channel for his passion in the many road races in the country.

Froome would often awake at 5am to beat the traffic and cycle for two hours before heading off to university, where he studied economics.

He soon came to the attention of Robbie Nilsen, who ran a local cycling academy, and progressed further thanks to his keen interest in nutrition, training and the science of sport.

Having competed for Kenya as an under-23 year old at the world road race championships in Salzburg, Austria, opportunity knocked for Froome when, aged 22, he was offered the chance to race for the Konica-Minolta team while training at the International Cycling Union (UCI) academy in Aigle, Switzerland.

“I made the decision then to put my studies on hold,” Froome said.

“I thought, I’m going to give this cycling a go. I put the studies on hold and gave it everything.”

Froome virtually sealed a move to the Barloworld team with victory on a mountaintop during the Giro delle Regione in 2007.

A year later, Froome paved the way towards representing Britain when he took a British racing licence, and his move to Barloworld gave him a taste of prestigious races like Paris-Roubaix, Fleche-Wallone and Liege-Bastogne-Liege.

The same year, Froome lined up for his maiden Tour de France despite having lost his mother Jane to illness only weeks earlier.

Froome finished 84th overall and 11th in the young rider’s classification, a result which, among others, prompted the interest of coaches at British cycling on the lookout for fresh, raw talent for the future Sky team.

Since his move to Sky in 2010, Froome has gone from strength to strength, benefiting from the world’s best coaches and methods.

From being “a rough diamond, in need of shaping and polishing”, according to his team, he has emerged into what experts believe is the perfect rider for the gruelling three-week Grand Tours.

Froome’s first major breakthrough was his second-place finish, ahead of Bradley Wiggins, on the 2011 Tour of Spain — a result which equalled Robert Millar’s second place in the 1987 Giro d’Italia as the highest placed British rider in a Grand Tour.

Having finished runner-up on the Tour de France in 2012, when his help in the mountains proved crucial for Wiggins’ victory, Froome made the most of his opportunity to lead Team Sky on his own this year.

He claimed two mountaintop stage wins and victory in an individual time trial to finish with an impressive winning margin of 4:20 — the biggest on the race since disgraced American Lance Armstrong won the 2004 edition with a six-minute lead on Andreas Kloden.

For Sky chief Dave Brailsford, it could be the start of the Froome era.

“Our team won’t be built around one person, but there’s no doubt about it,” Brailsford said Saturday. “He’s one of, if not the best rider in the world right now and there’s no reason to think that couldn’t continue.”

NAIROBI, Kenya, July 22- When he speaks about Chris Froome, it is evident this is not a man out to gatecrash on the glory of the Kenyan born British rider who now stands on top of the world’s cycling tree following his Tour De France victory.

David Kinjah voice trails sometimes into a shadow of gloom when he knows the glory being painted across Britain would easily been Kenya’s had the country’s administrators offered the budding rider who switched nationality in 2008 more support.

As he sat down to one of the countless interviews he has been through since it became apparent that his protégée was pedalling his way to the Tour de France Yellow Jersey on Monday, Kinjah told of how Froome was discouraged out of Kenyan citizenship by Kenya Cycling Federation (KCF) officials.

“His last assignment for Kenya was in 2007 when he won the silver medal at the All Africa Games in Algiers. There was already a lot of frustration and a lot of politics in the federation.

“All his friends in the Kenya team, including myself and other top riders had been disqualified from the selection event and we could not support Chris and it was frustrating for him,” Kinjah, who was spotting the riding shoes Froome competed at last years Tour de France where he finished second to Bradley Wiggins said.

“He was a sharp guy, he always wanted to look out for chances and in 2007, he joined a big team in South Africa and decided he did want to participate in the politics, he wanted to go ahead and realise his dreams and goals,” Kinjah added.

“In 2008, he changed his citizenship to Britain. His mother passed away and the little bit of hope left for him disappeared. Politics are there, its part of life but here in Kenya, the cycling federation has outlived its time.

“I don’t believe they understand very well what happens in the cycling world and even though they are a few of them who are willing but when you put little issues and make them big politics, you lose friends with the riders,” he explained further.

“For Chris, it was most important that what he has built with a lot of challenges does not disappear and the British were already knocking on the door. They had already seen the problems, frustrations and mismanagement here and they showed Chris his future is not here.

“It was up to Chris to make up his mind and they asked him do you want to stay a Kenyan and lose it all or do you want to go ahead and get support? He chose the B option and to me, he made a good choice, he had nothing to lose.

“Even after that, we stayed in contact and he visits Kenyan often and even now that he is on top of the world and he still embraces Kenya and that is huge respect,” the mentor disclosed.

While the case of Froome is not unique in a country where sporting administrators are often at a loss on how to deal with latent talent, Kinjah, the country’s foremost indigenous rider is calling for a chance in management of budding sports personalities.

“The sports authorities should respect their athletes, it doesn’t matter what sport it is. Champions are not necessarily born, they don’t just happen, there is a lot of hard work, persistence, patience and love and if that is missing out, sports will remain politics.”

“Winning the Tour de France is beyond what words can say. Growing up, I could only idolise and look at then magazines and stories on TV and imagine myself, a Kenyan or just meeting the Tour greats.

“Seeing it now it is somebody we know, somebody we nurtured when he was young and he is like my brother is unbelievable that what I used to dream as a young rider, the Yellow Jersey is in our hands, it’s amazing.”

Kinjah wishes that Froome can have time away from the bicycles and the press with his fiancée after his epic victory although he admits that will be a tad bit impossible after his achievement.

NAIROBI, Kenya, July 24- After underlining his credentials by finishing fifth at the London Olympics last year, Bedan Karoki is itching to deploy a ‘Charles Kamathi’ at the Moscow Worlds and gift Kenya the elusive top medal in the men 10,000m.

At 35, Kamathi remains the last Kenyan to win the men 25-lap world title and it’s been a dozen years of waiting since he achieved that feat at the 2001 edition in Edmonton, Canada.

Just like Kamathi did then when he left Ethiopian legend and overwhelming favourite, Haile Gebrsellasie for dead in the last lap for the glory, Karoki is out to mow double Olympic champion from Britain, Mo Farah, the man to beat at the distance today in similar fashion to ascend to the men 10,000m throne.

“I did not have good finishing power in London and this time, I will collect the mistakes I did last year. I had not trained for the finish but this year, I have done that and I know I can do well.

“Farah offers great competition but if I compete to my full potential, I’m confident I can top him,” Karoki, the winner of the Kenyan 10,000m Moscow Trials said at the team’s training camp in Nairobi.

“Farah is a human being just like I and I can run just like him and he does not unsettle me at all. Recently, Kamathi called me and urged me to not be afraid of him since I can do as well as he can.

“To be honest, he is in top shape and it will require a lot of effort to best him in his current form,” Karoki added of the Somali born British runner who broke the European 1500m record by running a barnstorming 3:28.81 in Monaco last week to deliver a telling message to those out to outsmart him.

The Japan-based African silver winner, who was selected for the continental event after failing to nail a place in the Kenyan team for the 2011 Worlds in Daegu despite leading the Trial for long spells, declared himself fit for his debut at the biennial IAAF track and field showpiece.

“The training I have been doing in Japan has mainly focused on endurance and what is remaining now is to sharpen on my finishing. I was not expecting to win the Trial; I was targeting a top-three finish,” Karoki, who bagged the Kenyan selection race for Moscow in 27:31.61.

The athlete, who has a 27:13.12 season’s best from a fourth finish at the Pre Fontaine Diamond League race on May 31, explained what he and team mates, Paul Tanui and Kenneth Kiptanui have in store to break the 25-lap race gold duck.

“(In Moscow) we shall work with my team mates maybe up to the 8000m mark then from there, it will be every man to chase their own target.”

“If we start slowly, we do not have a chance to medal. At the Olympics, the first 5000m was slow contrary to what we expected and by the time we had 3000m left, the Mo Farahs were already in position. We miscalculated,” he added as he reflected on what did not work at the London Olympics final.

However, his personal ambition remains to ellipse his compatriots and the assembled finalists.

“I’m in top shape now and the only thing left is to maintain that for Moscow. This year, I will try all my best to finish in the medal bracket at least; either I take the gold or the silver.

And why has his nation continued to find the top medal elusive?

“As Kenyans, we do well in training as a team but I don’t know what happens at the event itself. If we can repeat what we are doing here in Moscow, the country will be in a good position to medal and that is our aim this time around,” the athlete who ran 27:32.94 for fifth on his Olympics debut clarified.

Now a marathoner, Kamathi, who like Karoki, has his athletics roots in the Kenyan Rift Valley town of Nyahururu, will be eagerly watching to see whether his status in the men 10,000m at the worlds will survive Moscow.

NAIROBI, Kenya, July 24- In the end, the cruel lottery of penalties was called upon to separate seasoned domestic league champions, Tusker FC and spirited challengers, Thika United who were seeking their first trophy in their pulsating Wednesday KPL Top 8 Cup final at City Stadium.

Records will indicate Tusker won the breathtaking decider 5-3 on penalties but this was a fixture that kept all those fortunate to witness it on the pitch and live on television glued until the winning spot-kick was dispatched with panache by Khalid Aucho when the see-saw encounter ended in a 2-2 stalemate after extra-time.

In summary, it started as a tale of Thika’s David Kingatua who opened the scoring with a picturesque strike on 16 minutes and Tusker’s Ismail Dunga who levelled from the spot four minutes later.

Dunga notched his double with a delicate lob past Lucas Indeche in the Thika goal after lashing on to a fine Aucho lifted central pass before Kingatua matched his feat by sweeping in the equaliser with four minutes left to full time after connecting perfectly with a drag back cross in the box.

The double actors traded opportunities in the extra period before penalties were called upon to decide the destination of the Cup and the Sh1m, winner-takes-it-all cash prize.

Dunga led again from the front when he stroked the first penalty past a listless Indeche before Vincent Omumbo made it 1-1. Tusker goalie, Sammy Odhiambo made a fool of his opposite number for 2-1 to usher in the final twist in the plot.

Substitute forward, Ezekiel Odera’s indecisive long run-up alerted Odhiambo to his intent, the Tusker keeper diving to his right to smoulder his feeble effort. It was an advantage the Brewers never relinquished, with Ali Abondo, Collins Okoth and Aucho completing the business after Sammy Meja and Simon Mbugua kept Thika in it with successful conversions.

“We were just unlucky, penalties you never know, you have to accept, we are disappointed but we can only move forward in our next league match. We have to pull ourselves in the league,” a crest-fallen Kingatua who was voted man-of-the-match rued as the milkmen continued their poor run of results that have seen them relinquish the leadership of the league to Gor Mahia in the past fortnight.

For Tusker and their beleaguered coach, Robert Matano, succeeding Ulinzi and Gor as Top 8 champions brought much respite after coming to the final at the back of two morale sapping KPL defeats to Mathare United and Muhoroni Youth that has derailed their title defence, leaving them languishing in ninth.

“It’s a good start, we have been performing poorly and we needed a good performance. It was tough since Thika wanted to win their first trophy and we had to rise to the occasion.

“I worked on the mentality of the players that was not right and we have to pick ourselves now. I’m happy for this trophy and I want to win more,” the relieved Brewers’ tactician told after coming through the sternest of tests.

“When it comes to penalties, it is a tricky situation, I’m happy with the boys, we basically have to keep on working, we dominated the game but football is a game of chances.

“It came to a situation of penalties and that chance we lost cost us the Cup. At one point our keeper made good saves, I’m not blaming my goalkeeper, he has brought us far,” Thika’s head coach, John Kamau offered on the morale sapping defeat, refusing to blame Indeche for not turning up during the spot-kicks.

His side enjoyed the better start, tormenting Tusker from the left flank where Meja and Kingatua found much joy and it was thoroughly deserved when they nosed ahead.

Meja’s cross from that wing was cushioned by Harambee Stars midfielder, Francis Kahata for Kingatua to apply the most exquisite of finishes; thumping the ball past Odhiambo who dived full-length but he stood no chance.

Tusker pressed forward wounded and in the 20th, they had their equaliser after Dunga kept his cool to beat Indeche from the spot after Thika were penalised for handball.

Striker Kepha Awani should have restored Thika’s lead on 23 after being worked into space by the mercurial Kingatua but the Harambee Stars man fired well over when a simpler finish would have sufficed.

In the second half, Kingatua stinging effort on the hour mark forced Odhiambo to punch it back to play before Dunga applied the finish from Aucho’s inch-perfect delivery to give the Brewers a 2-1 lead on 79 minutes.

Thika continued with their eye-catching wing play and again, their second goal came from a sweeping interchange of passing from the left, Kingatua side-footing it to the bottom corner to take the game to extra-time.

Dunga’s bicycle kick three minutes into the added period flashed just wide after ping-pong in the Thika box before Kingatua sent a free-kick wide with the two players chasing the hat-trick with intent.

Tusker sub Kennedy Opiyo then took over, forcing Indeche to double-fist his ferocious rising shot from close range away before Kahata came even closer when Odhiambo parried his thumping strike out for a fruitless corner ten minutes to the end of extra-time.

NAIROBI, Kenya, July 25- Football Kenya Federation (FKF) boss, Sam Nyamweya, has filed an intention to sue local daily, Nation, for defamation over a story the mass circulation publication printed over alleged corruption in the governing body on Thursday.

In a notice to sue through his lawyer Evans Ondieki released later in the day, Nyamweya has enjoined FKF Coast Branch National Executive Committee (NEC) member, Hussein Swaleh Hussein, popularly known as Hussein Terry and the article’s author, Aggrey Mutambo as joint respondents with the Managing Editor of the daily.

Nyamweya has given the publication seven days to retract the article and issue an unreserved apology failure to which he will institute full legal proceedings.

It is not clear why Nyamweya has set his sights on the Nation since the story that details investigations of Sh34.8million missing from the federation coffers being taken up by the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) has been run by other media outlets.

The piece titled Football federation under probe over ‘missing’ Sh34.8m detailed confirmation from the EACC that they were investigating claims that FKF could not account for Sh34.8 million it received between November 2011 and December 2012 among other allegations of impropriety.

“We have received instructions from Mr. Sam Nyamweya, the president of FKF and the instructions we have are to address you as follows,” the notice states in its opening paragraph.

After listing the alleged libellous headlines and paragraphs, the lawyers wrote that the claims were likely to tarnish Nyamweya’s reputation as a sitting member of continental body, CAF and world governing body FIFA.

“These words are totally untrue and you were reckless and indifferent to their falsehoods. These words are innuendo that football chiefs are corrupt and not fit to hold public office,” part of the notice read.

Additionally, the lawyer stated that the publication of the story in the print and online versions of the paper exposed the football boss to international ridicule.

“This is to demand from you, which we hereby do the immediate withdrawal of the false allegations and the defamatory article through unconditional apology in a strategic page highlighting the intended apology within seven days.

“Failure to which we have strict instructions to institute legal proceedings to protect the rights of our client with all the attendant consequences as to the costs and other incidentals pertaining to litigation,” Nyamweya’s legal team demanded from the publication that is part of the largest media outlet in the East African region.

The football boss has been on the warpath to clear his name from the allegations pedalled by Terry and former NEC members, suspended pair vice-chairman, Sammy Sholei and Tom Alila.

Last weekend, Terry alleged he was assaulted by hooligans purportedly hired by Nyamweya after airing his claims at QTV, a sister television station to the newspaper on his way out of their Nairobi headquarters for an interview, a case that has been reported to police.

NAIROBI, Kenya, July 27- A career threatening knee injury almost forced early retirement for the Beijing 2008 gold medallist, Nancy Jebet Langat two years ago.

But after several visits to specialists both in Kenya and Germany, the double women 800m and 1500m Commonwealth titleholder, who does not turn 32 until August 22, is on a comeback trail ready to pick up the pieces and take the war to her rivals at the World Championships, which starts in Moscow on Aug. 10.

“I have always played the underdog status in major championships. The world championships will not be any different, I have to fight my way up there and hope to curve my niche and win something.

“It is too early to think of the medals, though. I have to qualify to the next stage and that is the most important aspect,” she said Saturday in Nairobi.

Langat, a Kenya Air Force officer, is not afraid if she will remain the last soldier standing in the line of battle in Moscow.

“I have fought many battles, both on track and in my career as a soldier. The World Championships is another front where I will be lining up to exploit on the chink in the armory of my opponents. It is always good to exploit on areas not many people think there is a chance,” she added.

Yet, Lagat is not even the polished gem that she was five years ago in Beijing, when termed as the lone wolf in a pride of lions she had enough strength to bite and win the gold medal at the Birds Nest Stadium.

During the Kenyan trials, she finished third behind World Indoor champion Helen Obiri, whom she has introduced to the four- lap race and world junior champion Faith Chepng’etich.

The 1,500m race, though an event many Kenyans have staked claim to, they have failed to win a gold medal at the World Championships.

And now despite basking in the glory of her unprecedented triumph at the Beijing Olympics Lagat is keen to have her name entered in the annals of history as the first Kenyan to win women’ s Olympic and Worlds women’s 1,500m gold medals.

“I will be yearning to impress in Moscow for it will serve a perfect gift for my birthday (August 22).

“I am still rusty coming from my injury, but again, it will be hard to everyone. The most important thing is to remain focused and hope my teammates, — Helen Obiri (4:01.41) and Faith Chepng’ etich (3:56.98) — will provide the cover to cushion me from the opponents so that I can prevail,” she said.

“I am grateful this year that I can afford a smile after injury ruled me out for two-and-half years. We can deliver the medal but there is serious challenge from Diamond League winner Abeba Aregawi of Sweden,” said Lagat.

She needs to be at her best to stop a stellar line up, which comprises season leader. This season Aregawi has the fastest time of 3:56.60 with Ethiopia’s Genzebe Dibaba (3:57.54) and American Gabrielle Anderson (4:01.48) in toe.

They will all be in Moscow.
Kenya has not won a medal in women’s 1,500m since IAAF World Championships began in 1983 as Russia, USA, Bahrain and Ethiopia runners have dominated the event.
“I do not look at other runners as I prepare for a race. That will mean you will not be focusing on your strength. I plan my own race and I believe the wide experience I have had in the race will be quite helpful,” Lagat said.
“It motivates and means a lot to me because I know very well that many wanted to make the Kenya team. I have my chance now and I will make maximum use of it. To recover the two and half years I lost through injury.”
Lagat, who was the 2010 Kenyan Sports Woman of the Year, did not look outside home for inspiration, as her father Joseph Lagat was an international long distance runner. Lagat is a cousin of former Amsterdam Marathon winner Alice Timbilili.

LONDON, England 30 July – Mo Farah, Kenenisa Bekele and Haile Gebrselassie are to race in this year’s Great North Run in northeast England, organisers said on Tuesday, calling the line-up the “greatest head-to-head in half-marathon history”.

“We’ve had many fantastic races down the Newcastle to South Shields course in past years but this will be a competition everyone in the athletics world will want to watch,” said race founder Brendan Foster.

“No one could ask for a better ‘dream team’ to participate in their event and we are delighted they will feature in what has the makings of the greatest head-to-head in half marathon history,” the 1976 Olympic 10,000m bronze medallist added.

The Great North Run, to be held this year on September 15, began as a local fun run in 1981 and has grown to become one of the world’s biggest mass participation road races.

Farah, the reigning 5,000m and 10,000m Olympic champion, has a personal best in the half-marathon of 1hr 00.23secs and will be aiming to be the first home-grown winner of the Great North Run since Steve Kenyon in 1985.

The 30-year-old Farah, who is targeting a marathon debut in London next year, has only ever raced twice over 13.1 miles (21.1 kilometres), winning both times.

Ethiopian distance legend Gerbselassie is a two-time Olympic 10,000m gold medallist (1996, 2000) and won the World Championships at the distance four times from 1993 to 1999.

He held the marathon world record and has a personal half-marathon best of 58.55mins.

The 40-year-old won the Great North Run three years ago in 59.33mins.

His compatriot Bekele won 10,000m gold at the 2004 Athens Olympics and Beijing four years later, where he also did the double at the 5,000m.

He also won world championship gold at 10,000m four times (2003, 2005, 2007, 2009) and was world cross country champion six times between 2002 and 2008.

Like Farah, Bekele, 31, is now making the transition to road-running and plans to step up to the marathon.

Nairobi, Kenya 31 July – The tenth edition of the annual UAP Ndakaini Marathon is expected to be a star studded event as renowned athletes take the track to mark its special anniversary. Among the leading lights are former world champions are gold medalist Douglas Wakiihuri, world marathon record holder Patrick Makau and pace maker Peter Kirui, Abel brother.

Others are Golden League jackpot winner Pamela Jelimo, Dubai Marathon Champion Lucy Kabuu and steeplechase Africa record holder Milcah Chemos.

Other former stars include previous world half marathon champion, Paul Koech, Daniel Komen, Matthew Birir, William Tanui, Limo Benjamin, and Johnah Birir.

UAP Ndakaini Half Marathon ambassador and 2012 Olympic Silver Medalist Abel Kirui also confirmed he will participate. The athletes’ inclusion is in support of the marathon cause and fundraising in a unique concept dubbed ‘Ten for Ten’ where interested corporate teams will sponsor any one athlete at Ksh 500,000 to run as a member of their group at the half marathon.

UAP Insurance who are title sponsors of the half marathon have set this year’s event for Saturday September 14th with the headline 21 kilometer event around the scenic Ndakaini dam which located about 70 kilometers from Nairobi in Muranga County. Other races lined up are the 10 kilometer corporate and 5 kilometer fun one respectively. Corporate teams of 10 runners each will be required to pay Ksh 50,000 each.

The firm’s Head of Marketing and Distribution Joseph Kamiri announced that registration for the half marathon had kicked off and listed the registration centers as all UAP offices across the country, selected Uchumi Supermarkets outlets including Aga Khan Walk, Langata, Sarit, Westlands, Buru Buru, Ngong Road, Capital Centre, Taj Mall and Rongai.

Parklands Sports Club and Innscor outlets in Westlands Oilibya, Thika Road Mall and Langata Kobil will also have registration points. The individual registration fee is pegged at Ksh 500 for which the entrant will receive a t- shirt and a running number for the choice race. Registration will close on September 7th to allow for one week of compiling the entries.

He explained that the inclusion of the athletic champions was in line with the tenth anniversary of the half marathon as a tribute to its rising status as a training ground for emerging world -beaters. “Our marathon ambassador Abel Kirui and Lucy Kabuu who has won in Ndakaini in the past are examples of athletic talent that the half marathon has helped nurture,” said Kamiri.

He added that the event had grown from its inception where the first run attracted 300 athletes compared to last year when more than 2,500 runners participated. In addition, the prize money had grown to match the Athletics Kenya guidelines with the winners this year expected to take home Ksh 150,000 each.
Now in its tenth year, the UAP Ndakaini Half Marathon has over the years served to highlight the state of the Ndakaini dam and the environment around it as a key catchment and water source. And with the way it nestles in the bosom of the hills surrounding it, the dam presents an ideal tourist attraction and family getaway.

Working in close partnership with the community based organization Ndakaini Environmental Conservation Association (NDEKA), UAP Insurance pursues a sustainability program aimed at planting indigenous trees in the catchment region serving the Ndakaini dam. So far the company has planted 80,000 trees of the targeted 250,000.

NAIROBI, Kenya 1st August – After the exit of Kenya’s most successful 7’s rugby coach Mike Friday, Kenya Rugby Union is reported to be in talks with 3 foreign coaches to take over the role.

The new coach may be named within one or two weeks to take charge of the national sevens team as they prepare for the Safaricom Sevens slated for 20th to 22nd of September.

Friday finally called it a day Wednesday resigning from the role that saw him take the national team to unprecedented heights.

Friday, who guided the 7’s squad to reach the semi-finals of the recent World Cup, cited dissatisfaction with some directors of the KRU as one of the reason for him to call it quits.

Also resigning was the team’s strength and body conditioning coach Newzelander Chris Brown.

Unconfirmed reports indicate that Friday and Brown could be heading to the USA.

Fridays Statement

The Englishman, wrote officially jointly with Brown to the KRU chairman, Mwangi Muthee and spelt out detailed reasons as to why he resigned saying that “with heart,” he and “They [Kenya Sevens team] are a fantastic group of players and it has been a privilege for both Chris and me to have worked with them all. They are precious assets that need to be given the support and direction by Kenyan Rugby in order to maximize their potential.”

In regards to the team that he leaves behind after the commendable run, Friday said the team was in the good hands of majority of the KRU board: “With [especially] yourself [Chairman] and Gabi [Gabriel Ouko, Treasurer and Former Director of national squads] involved they are very fortunate.”

Of those Friday deemed not to have pulled together with the aspirations of the country he said:

“The interference from certain individuals have made it impossible for Chris and I to run a professional performance programme. Our view is that they have continually sabotaged and compromised our strategy and planning; this has not been in the best interests of Kenya 7s Rugby.”

Friday said among the contributing factors leading to his decision was, leading up to the Sevens Rugby World Cup, contentious issues and false promises he had to endure throughout the season, “particularly with [a named KRU director] which are well documented.”

He added: “It is clear to me that, throughout the RWC, and subsequently, actions taken by certain individuals in key positions have undermined the squad’s strategy, preparation and ultimately performance. Planning and running a truly professional performance programme is impossible to do with the constant compromises, interference and sabotage that occur.

“I will not outline specifics around the poor professional behavior towards me personally, but clearly this just adds further to my concerns.

“It is a matter of regret and disappointment that we have felt it necessary to take this decision.
“In accordance with my contract under clause 14, I will be exercising my right to terminate my agreement with a one month’s notice. Accordingly, KRU can determine whether they wish me to work the month of August in accordance with the contract, or pay me the equivalent of one month’s honorarium.”

The KRU chairman received Friday’s resignation note while on business trip to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and said his board would react quickly to the circumstances.

“Mike is a thoroughly professional man and his decision is based on a sound argument. In order for the team to achieve all its goals, his program required a total budget of Sh80 million annually and indeed that would have been worth every cent.
“Unfortunately, our total cash sponsorship for the Sevens’ team was Sh40 million annually and in order to close the deficit gap we had to forage for money from other vital programmes.

“However, we had kept our part of the bargain in his contract which still had a long time to run. There is no gainsaying that Mike lifted the country beyond wildest dreams and we shall miss him.”

Friday posted a candid letter of resignation to the KRU chairman and said he was “more than happy to agree to a joint Press statement.

“Out of courtesy I attach a release that Chris and I will be releasing to the Press if the KRU choose not to work jointly with us.”

Consider many progressive suggestions

He also said: “For good governance I have informed the IRB [International Rugby Board] of my decision and the situation.”

As well as looking to find an immediate replacement for Friday, Muthee said the KRU will be paying attention to many progressive suggestions contained in Friday’s resignation letter.

The title sponsors Kenya Airways are finalizing the new 2 year contract which has addressed most of the issues Mike has raised. “We shall be in a healthier financial position to negotiate with a suitable coach to replace Mike. With the promise of our team, we shall not lack top class coaches interested in the job. But, again, finances may dictate the choice,” Muthee said.

Friday said he and Brown provided the planning and season plan for the KRU over the last month and it was now up to the KRU “so that our successors can continue with the journey of Kenya 7s and build on the performance and respect gained from last season.”

The coach also said he believed in a drastic revolutionary method to spur Kenya rugby further and that the KRU chairman was up to the task to maintain the impetus.

“My counsel to you is, either to identify more individuals with your thinking, or find a way to reconfigure the board so that Kenya can continue to evolve and grow as a rugby nation and a commercial business.”

Professional foray in Sri Lanka

Interestingly, Friday said that in terms of the Kenya 7s technical bench evolution, he believed the country had the coaching assets already within the squad [which he singled out] ready and able to take up that mantle with the help of current assistants Felix Ochieng’ and Michael Owino.

Addressing the KRU chairman, Friday concluded: “With your consistent support and autonomy, they [men in the suggested structure] will flourish and Kenya 7s will grow. I genuinely wish you and Gabi [Ouko] good luck.”

Friday and a number of leading Kenya Sevens players were in the news last week when they undertook a tour of Sri Lanka.

In some quarters much was made out of debate that the Kenyan players’ involvement was unauthorized and that Friday had acted unilaterally in recruiting them for various invitational teams.

But the KRU chairman said he supported such engagements.

“Our players have the freedom to pursue professional earnings or education study abroad utilizing their rugby talent; as long as they are not exploited and it does not lead to physical harm, but wherever our talent goes they should always be available for national duty and be good ambassadors for their country Kenya and role models for our young ones.”

Statement from KRU

NAIROBI, Kenya 2 August – Expansion of sports facilities to increase the country’s capacity to accommodate more disciplines is one of the major plans the government has in store to improve sports in the country.

Speaking Friday at State House Nairobi gardens, when he hosted the Kenya Rugby Sevens team and Kenya’s team to the World Athletics Championships in Moscow, Russia, President Kenyatta added the Government intends to diversify sporting disciplines that the country can excel at to avoid over-reliance on traditional disciplines.

The President also said the national Government will fully support County governments to develop sporting facilities within their jurisdiction to accelerate the growth of sports at grass-root level.

He supported Athletics Kenya’s proposal to bid for the hosting of a world sports event in the country in two or three years time.

In this connection, President Kenyatta acknowledged the support extended by various corporate institutions to sports programmes in the country and invited other public and private enterprises to support the initiatives.

“Sport brands us as a people in a way we love to be seen. Therefore, our sportsmen and women are our blessing as a people.” he added.

The Rugby Sevens team was the fourth best team worldwide at the Moscow International Rugby Board World Cup, while the 15s gave an equally outstanding performance in Madagascar with both sides emerged the best in the continent The President congratulated both teams and urged them to work hard as they prepare for the next encounters so as to sustain the collective journey to the very pinnacle of excellence in rugby.

On the national Athletics team heading to Moscow for the IAAF World Athletics Championship, President Kenyatta said their sterling performance at Daegu, South Korea, edition of the Championship raised national expectations.

He regretted the absence of some of the country’s defending champions, including World Record holder David Rudisha who are out of the competition due to injury and wished them quick recovery.