NAIROBI, Kenya, September 9- Tributes continue to pour for one of Kenya’s most revered sports writers, Oscar Pilipili, who penned his final byline in the early hours of Tuesday morning at a Nairobi hospital.

If Oscars were awarded for sports writing in Kenya, he would undoubtedly be among the multiple Academy Award winners.

Pilipili, a veteran of over a decade and a half in the trade, made his name in The Standard newspaper where he distinguished himself as a prolific writer especially in reportage of so called fringe sports, volleyball, hockey and school games.

His last assignment was the Brookside sponsored East Africa School Games in Tanzania that concluded recently where once again, he kept his audience abreast with the action on and off the pitch.

“Upon his return, he was admitted to hospital last week and he looked to be on the path to recovery and this news is not only shocking but unbelievable,” his contemporary at The Standard, Gilbert Wandera, told Capital Sport as the news of his untimely demise added the chill on a cold Tuesday morning in the Kenyan capital where he was based.

Throughout the day, media colleagues and others paid homage to the fallen writer who went about his duties quietly; a trait that perhaps saw him celebrated less in a profession that he leaves a large void to fill.

“My first ever contact with The Standard Newspaper when I was tarmacking, Oscar Pilipili, is no more. He was such a graceful and humble character. Sadly, he passed away this Tuesday morning at Jamaa Mission Hospital at 8:15am.

“Together with his lovely family and relatives, we have removed his body to Chiromo Parlour. The Standard Group is in touch with the family while Sports Journalists Association of Kenya (SJAK) is also in touch. May God rest his soul in eternal peace. More info to follow,” the Associate Editor of Game Yetu, a Standard Group sports’ weekly Robin Toskin, wrote on his Facebook wall.

His colleague, Jonathan Komen, added: “It sad day for me to lose a colleague and a friend Oscar Pilipili. He taught me how to cover volley when we covered the Kenya Volleyball Federation League in Eldoret in 2009.

“He then guided me into covering the national secondary schools games that year. By then, he was in Standard and I worked for Daily Nation. In 2012, he welcomed me to the Standard Group in Nairobi. It’s sad that Oscar passed on when I still needed him most -to help me in a number of sports disciplines including cricket and golf. Rest in peace Oscar.”

The official SJAK Facebook page was turned into a tribute wall with hundreds of messages for Oscar or as he was better known in his circles, ‘Kaos’ or ‘Lipilipi’.

“R.I.P Oscar Pilipili. On many occasions we covered volleyball together, and you were so helpful. Fare thee well my brother,” Steve Mudiari wrote.

“Like the ripples in a pond, the work of one man can spread out and touch the lives of many others. RIP Oscar Pilipili,” added Edith Ochoa while Isaac Swila posted; “May Oscar Pilipili’s soul rest in Eternal Peace. Fare Thee Well.”

“He was humble, quiet, never shouted and always listened…then his infectious smile. He must be with angels,” Evelyne Ogutu offered as former Standard photographer now with the Nation, Martin Mukangu eulogized, “A dedicated sports journalist. I have covered numerous assignments with him a humble gentleman. Rip brother.”

Former Gor Mahia secretary general, George Bwana wrote, “Rest In Peace Oscar Pilipili…May God console your family,” while Football Kenya Federation sent a statement from their president, Sam Nyamweya.

“I learnt of his demise with profound shock. I knew Pilipili was a very dedicated sports Journalist who adhered to professional ethics in the career.

“Pilipili’s death has robbed the sports fraternity a dedicated servant and called on the Almighty God to give his family strength in this trying time. May his soul rest in eternal peace,” Nyamweya said.

Others shared moving anecdotes they shared with the veteran journalist including the Sports Editor of Nation, Allan Buluku, another former colleague at The Standard.

“When I started editing eight years ago, the first volleyball story Murithi Mutiga (former Standard Editor) gave me to sub at The Standard was by Oscar Pilipili. He was a polished writer and a quiet, hardworking man. He never raised his voice. Till we meet again, RIP,” Buluku wrote.

Pilipili was also a long-serving Public Relations Officer of the Kenyan Volleyball Federation.

RIP soldier, life can be so mean but we’re all heading towards that journey. An era in sport journalism has written its final byline. Though not universally acclaimed as he should, the quiet gentle man was a titan in sports writing.

GENEVA, September 9- Former Formula One champion Michael Schumacher has left a Swiss hospital and will continue his treatment at home after a devastating ski accident in December, his family said Tuesday.

In a surprise announcement, a spokeswoman for the family of the retired German racing star said he was being moved from a top-notch hospital in the Swiss city of Lausanne to his home in nearby Gland.

“Henceforth Michael’s rehabilitation will take place at his home,” Sabine Kehm said, stressing that “considering the severe injuries he suffered, progress has been made in the past weeks and months”.

Asked when Schumacher had moved from the hospital, she told AFP in an email that “Michael is home since today”.

Kehm stressed though that the racing star was still facing “a long and difficult road ahead”.

Schumacher’s move should not be interpreted as a sign of massive changes in his health status, the statement said without providing further details.

The 45-year-old slammed his head on a rock while skiing with his son and friends at Meribel in the French Alps on December 29.

The seven-time world champion underwent two operations to remove life-threatening blood clots after the freak accident that shocked the world, before being plunged into a medically induced coma.

Schumacher, long a resident of Switzerland, emerged from the coma in June and was transferred from a French hospital to the University Hospital of Lausanne (CHUV), renowned for it neurology experts.

“We would like extend our gratitude to the entire team at CHUV Lausanne for their thorough and competent work,” Tuesday’s statement said.

- Respect family’s privacy -

“We ask that the privacy of Michael’s family continue to be respected, and that speculations about his state of health are avoided,” it added.

Amid a dearth of information about Schumacher’s condition and prospects, media speculation has been rampant.

The former champion driver’s move to Lausanne in June was marred by the theft of his medical file by an employee of the Swiss company organising the transfer.

The suspected thief, who attempted in vain to sell the documents to different media for 50,000 euros ($65,000), committed suicide in detention last month.

Tuesday’s statement also dismissed Swiss media speculation that Schumacher’s wife Corinne had their expansive property in Gland, idyllically set on the shores of Lake Geneva, adapted for Schumacher’s care.

Known as the “Red Baron” in reference to an ace World War I German fighter pilot, Schumacher made his debut in 1991 and dominated Formula One not long after.

A ruthless and at times controversial competitor, the German won an unprecedented 91 races, and seven world titles including five in a row with Ferrari from 2000 to 2004.

He first retired aged 37 but was unable to resist the lure of the track. In 2010, he came out of retirement but failed to re-enact his previous performances, and he quit for good in 2012.

Retirement did not dull his relish for adrenaline, however, and he kept pursuing thrill-seeking hobbies as the holder of a pilot’s licence, an accomplished motorbike rider, parachutist, skier and mountain climber.

He survived a motorbike accident in Spain in 2009, during which he suffered head and neck injuries but was released from hospital after just five hours.

LONDON, September 9-Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko believes that Chelsea will pose the biggest obstacle in the Citizens’ efforts to retain their Premier League title, but concedes that a number of teams could be in the running.

The Blues are many pundits’ favourites to claim top-flight glory this season, with the addition of Diego Costa and Cesc Fabregas only enhancing an already powerful squad.

Dzeko is well aware of the threat that Jose Mourinho’s side carry, as City look to claim their third title in four seasons.

“It will be difficult, but I’m an optimist,” the striker told City’s official website of their title bid.

“As with every season, there are several teams that will battle for the title of champions in England.

“This season Chelsea might be the most serious challenger, but we mustn’t ignore Liverpool, Tottenham, Arsenal, or United, who will certainly be much stronger than last year.

“After all, everyone has gotten stronger, and everyone wants to be first.

“The past season was one of the best in my career, and in the end we reached the title of champions of England, the second in the past three seasons.

“We succeeded in winning the Capital One Cup and I am really happy how everything played out in the past season, both for the club and for myself.”

Prior to last season the 28-year-old recently put pen to a new long-term contract with the club, and admits that he’s very happy at the Etihad.

“As far as the contract, in general I had no dilemma around an extension,” he explained.

“I am happy at City, the manager believes in me, which is certainly important, and I give my all on the pitch and altogether it means quite a lot to me, because Manchester is a club with great ambitions and I easily decided to stay put.”

BALTIMORE, September 10 – The wife of disgraced NFL star Ray Rice defended her embattled husband saying their lives were ruined by the release of a video showing him savagely knocking her out as President Barrack Obama waded into the saga by condemning domestic violence.

Rice was fired by the Baltimore Ravens and hit with an indefinite suspension by the league after a new video released Monday by celebrity website TMZ showed him punching his then-fiancee in the face and knocking her unconscious.

But Janay Rice said Tuesday in an Instagram posting that the extreme public attention was adding to her misery.

“I woke up this morning feeling like I had a horrible nightmare, feeling like I’m mourning the death of my closest friend,” she wrote.

“But to have to accept the fact that it’s reality is a nightmare in itself. No one knows the pain that the media and unwanted (opinions) from the public has caused my family.”

The Ravens were to pay Rice $10 million over the next three years while the league, which had only banned from two games based on prior evidence, now requires any team wishing to hire him to obtain approval from NFL commissioner Roger Goodell.

“To take something away from the man I love that he has worked his ass off for all his life just to gain ratings is horrific,” Janay Rice said.

“THIS IS OUR LIFE! What don’t you all get. If your intentions were to hurt us, embarrass us, make us feel alone, take all happiness away, you’ve succeeded on so many levels. Just know we will continue to grow & show the world what real love is!”

Even with his wife’s support, Rice was in disgraced exile and his career prospects dim.

The White House released a statement strongly condemning domestic violence after NFL running back Ray Rice was cut by the Baltimore Ravens for an act of domestic violence.

The statement, released by Press Secretary Josh Earnest, said: “The President is the father of two daughters. And like any American, he believes that domestic violence is contemptible and unacceptable in a civilized society.

“Hitting a woman is not something a real man does, and that’s true whether or not an act of violence happens in the public eye, or, far too often, behind closed doors. Stopping domestic violence is something that’s bigger than football – and all of us have a responsibility to put a stop to it.”

The statement did not mention Rice by name, but came in response to a question from Fox News reporter Ed Henry earlier in the day. At the time, Rice had just been cut by the Ravens, and Earnest said he hadn’t had the chance to speak with the president about it. That conversation happened Monday night, the White House said.

Obama greeted Rice and his teammates at the White House last year after the Ravens won Super Bowl XLVII.

ANDORRA LA VELLA, September 10 – Real Madrid star Gareth Bale’s double saved Wales’s blushes as they came from 1-0 down to beat minnows Andorra 2-1 in their opening Euro 2016 qualifier on Tuesday.

Andorra — who had not won in 51 competitive fixtures since beating Macedonia in October 2004 — had taken a shock lead early in the qualifying Group B encounter in Andorra la Vella as Ildefons Lima converted a sixth-minute penalty after Neil Taylor pulled back Ivan Lorenzo.

It was Lima’s eighth international goal and ended an Andorran goal drought in competitive matches stretching back 18 games.

The Welsh found it difficult coping with the physical game of their hosts but Bale finally got them on level terms with a header in the 22nd minute.

However, if the Welsh fans thought that would ease their side’s nerves and a goal glut would ensue they were to be disappointed as they failed to convert their chances.

Manager Chris Coleman was booed off at half-time by the 1500 or so Welsh supporters who had travelled to the Pyrenees for the game and with 10 minutes remaining and the sides all square there was every chance of a repeat performance at the final whistle.

Bale, though, spared him that as he scored with a superb free-kick to give the visitors a scarcely deserved victory.

The hardly inauspicious start to their campaign doesn’t augur well with a group consisting of World Cup quarter-finalists Belgium, Israel, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Cyprus, who beat the Bosnians 2-1 away on Tuesday.

pi/as

LONDON, September 10 – Football giants Manchester United are set to announce record revenues of around £420 million ($676 million, 523 million euros) for last season when they publish their annual results on Wednesday.

Figures are also expected to include £25m in profit, aided by worldwide sales of two million replica shirts.

The results should also include details if the pay-off to former manager David Moyes, sacked less than one season after succeeding long-serving and multiple trophy-winning boss Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford.

However, this set of accounts is not expected to include the scale of losses incurred as a result by the club’s failure to qualify for lucrative European tournaments as a result of finishing an unusually lowly seventh in the English Premier League last season.

Forecasts for the headline figures have already been published in a prospectus published in August for a new release of shares on the New York Stock Exchange, with the US-based Glazer family the majority stakeholders in the English football institution.

The prospectus states that total revenue is expected to be between £429 million to £434 million, an increase of 18 to 19 percent.

Profit for the year is expected to be £23 million to £25million – down from the £146.4 million for 2012/13 but that was mainly due to a one-off tax credit.

Approximately five million Manchester United-branded licensed products were sold last year including two million replica shirts.

The prospectus said: “The Manchester United jersey and training wear are completely redesigned for each season. The annual launch of the new jersey is always a much-anticipated day for our global community of followers.

“The result is a robust wholesale apparel business that sold approximately five million items of Manchester United branded licensed products, including approximately two million replica jerseys, around the world in the last year.”

LONDON, England, September 10- Aaron Ramsey limped off during Wales’ narrow Euro 2016 qualifying victory against Andorra and could be now be a doubt for Saturday’s Premier League clash with Manchester City while winger Theo Walcott reveals it will be “only a matter of weeks” before he is makes his return from a knee ligament injury that has sidelined him since last January.

After turning smartly on the ball, Ramsey appeared to be caught on the back of his Achilles by a defender. The 23-year-old was brought off by manager Chris Coleman in added time and Arsenal fans will have been worried by the sight of Ramsey’s limping departure.

He was later seen getting his right foot strapped by the physio and also had ice-pack treatment.

Ramsey, who suffered an injury-hit campaign last year, has enjoyed a fine start to Arsenal’s new season.

“He got a kick and there was a twist in his ankle,” Coleman said. “It was coming to the end of the game and it was pointless taking a risk with him.
“Hopefully he’ll be OK for Arsenal at the weekend but we’ll have to see what the next 24 to 48 hours hold.”

Meanwhile, some reports had suggested Walcott was targeting this weekend’s Premier League clash against Manchester City to make a comeback, but those rumours were dismissed by Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger two weeks ago and the 25-year-old England winger admits he is still some way off a first team return.

“We’re not setting specific comeback matches, but I’m just pleased it’s hopefully now only a matter of weeks before I’ll be back playing,” Walcott told the Arsenal website.

“There may be one or two under-21s matches I’ll be involved in first. I’m just looking forward to getting out there and playing again.

Theo Walcott celebrates after doubling Arsenal’s lead against Cardiff.The return of Theo Walcott in upcoming weeks, combined with the additions of Danny Welbeck and Alexis Sanchez for Arsenal, should add up to a potent attack.

-Life is good-

“Life’s very good actually. I know it’s a bit different to say that, and of course injuries always get people down, but the way I look at it, is you can’t change the fact that you’re injured.”

Walcott said he’s poured his energy into rehab and is concentrating on the future, adding that the downtime had a silver lining in that he was able to spend more time with his family.

“The time has seemed to fly by and there have been other things going on in my life, like a new baby boy, which makes time go quickly. It’s a cliché, but it’s true.

“I knew how long the rehab would be, it was always going to be around nine months, but I approached it that I had to enjoy it, and that’s what I have done. It’s given me the opportunity to work on my legs and build up the muscle strength. If anything, I hope to come back stronger and quicker.”

Walcott is relishing the chance to link up with summer signings Alexis Sanchez and Danny Welbeck, in what he is predicting will be a dynamic forward line.

“I hope we’ll have the fastest forward line in the Premier League,” he went on to tell the Daily Mirror.

“What we can do is build on from the FA Cup and attract these great players to the club. It will hopefully put Arsenal where we should be: winning trophies.

“These players are very, very fast. They will fit the bill perfectly. Alexis has settled in very quickly and Danny is a good guy. I have worked with him with England. Danny is a hard worker. He always puts his heart on the line.

“When you see the amount of money that has been spent. It’s a massive buzz around the club. It has been well documented over the years that we haven’t spent as much, but Arsenal are doing it the right way and spending it wisely.”

-ESPN FC

TOKYO, September 10- Japanese tennis sensation Kei Nishikori may have lost the US Open final, but he has won a $940,000 special bonus from a sponsor delighted about seeing its brand splashed across screens worldwide.

Fast Retailing and its charismatic President Tadashi Yanai will each give 50 million yen to the 24-year-old tournament runner-up, who lost in straight sets to Croatian giant Marin Cilic.

The casual-clothing firm, which operates the Uniqlo brand, saw a run on shirts worn by Japan’s best male tennis star during the tournament at Flushing Meadows, which feature the cheap-chic brand’s logo.

The firm wanted to congratulate the athlete and celebrate his achievement, and to reward him for boosting both Uniqlo’s brand image and the morale of its workers, a company spokesman said.

“We wanted to celebrate his historic achievement,” he said.

The bonus “was also meant to show our continued support as he aims to be the world’s number one,” he said.

The bonus comes on top of a runner-up’s purse of $1.45 million.

Fast Retailing has been working to make itself a top global brand to rival Zara and H&M, and has opened flagship stores at prestigious addresses in London, New York and Shanghai, as well as at home in Tokyo.

Nishikori became the first Japanese and the first Asian man to play in a Gland Slam singles final, after defeating world number-one Novak Djokovic, who is also sponsored by Uniqlo.

Nishikori’s performance in New York led the news in Japan for days and dominated all sorts of television programmes and newspapers, with the semifinal between Nishikori and Djokovic touted as a showdown between two Uniqlo players.

Even after the youngster came undone in the final, crushed by Cilic 6-3, 6-3, 6-3, his cheerful but humble demeanour further endeared him to Japanese fans.

The final between the two younger stars was also seen as a possible signal of the end of dominance by the Big 4 — Djokovic, Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Andy Murray.

It also showcased a possible future without established sports brands like Nike or Adidas, with Cilic wearing shirts from China’s Li-Ning sport brand.

ROME, September 10- Ferrari, a byword for flashy sports cars, hit rough ground Wednesday with the shock announcement that its president of 23 years, Luca Cordero di Montezemolo, has been pushed out after a boardroom split.

Just days after saying he wanted to stay, Montezemolo — who has been dogged by six years of Formula One racing failure — announced he will be stepping down on October 13.

The top job at the Italian Ferrari luxury sports car company will be taken over by the head of parent group Fiat, Sergio Marchionne.

A press conference held by Montezemolo and Marchionne was announced for Wednesday afternoon.

Ferrari is the biggest and most glamourous name in Formula One racing, competing on the Grand Prix circuit with huge success since it started in 1950, and the team’s logo of a black stallion against a red background is instantly recognised by motorsport fans around the world.

But the brand’s poor performance over the past six years, combined with recent clashes in strategy between Montezemolo and Fiat, had led racing watchers to tip his likely exit.

The decision not to appoint Montezemolo to the new board of the merged Fiat Chrysler Automobiles also suggested the Italian businessman was on the way out.

“Our desire to see Ferrari express its full potential on the track led to certain mutual misunderstandings that were voiced publicly this weekend,” Marchionne said in a statement Wednesday.

“I want to personally thank Luca for everything he has done for Fiat, for Ferrari, and for myself,” he said.

Ferrari is a subsidiary of the Fiat Group which Montezemolo, aged 67, chaired from 2004 until 2010.

His 23 years at the wheel of Ferrari saw the team’s drivers win the Formula One title six times, but the last title came in 2007 and the team has struggled since then to compete on the track with the likes of Red Bull and Mercedes.

- ‘No-one is indispensable’ -

On Saturday, Montezemolo had publicly stated he wanted to spend another three years in the job.

Marchionne was also quoted at the weekend saying no changes in Ferrari’s management were planned while adding, “No-one is indispensable”.

“Montezemolo’s business record is very good but in the case of Ferrari, a leader must also be judged on sporting results,” he had said.

Concerns over Ferrari’s future under the Italian aristocrat were also raised in June after he said he may pull his team out of Formula One because it “isn’t working”, and suggested the firm may switch to sports-car competition.

Scuderia Ferrari has longstanding disputes with Formula One governing body the Federation International d’Automobile (FIA), and Montezemolo expressed frustration with recent changes in F1 rules, saying new environmentally friendly policies were taking the excitement out of the sport.

His suggestion that the most iconic brand in motorsport could leave Formula One sent shockwaves through the sport.

He was also said to have clashed with Marchionne over sales strategies.

While Montezemolo reportedly hoped to keep the red and black brand exclusive by limiting sales to some 7,000 cars a year, Marchionne has been pushing for Ferrari to help Fiat Chrysler move into the premium end of the car market.

On Monday Montezemolo was quoted by Italy’s best-selling daily Il Corriere della Sera telling aides that “Ferrari is now American”, which meant “the end of an era.”

At midday trading, Fiat shares were up 2.08 percent to 7.85 euros on the Milan stock market.

Fiat said Montezemolo would leave the job at his own request at the end of celebrations marking the 60th anniversary of the company’s presence in the United States.

“An era is ending, and I have decided to leave the presidency after 23 marvelous and unforgettable years,” Montezemolo said in a separate statement.

MOSCOW, September 10- The head of Russia’s athletics federation has issued a call for the naturalization of black athletes to maintain the country’s leading position in the sport, local media reported Wednesday.

“The results of the recent European athletics championships in Zurich, where Great Britain and France dominated the event, leave us no other choice,” the Novye Izvestia daily quoted Valentin Balakhnichev as saying.

“Black athletes, who form the backbone of the British team, won 14 of their squad’s 23 overall medals at the event.

“Meanwhile, we’re currently doing almost nothing to bring young black talents into our squad to help us stay at a leading position in Europe and the world.

“Moreover, I was repeatedly criticised for my efforts to bring black athletes into the country’s squad.”

At the European championships in Zurich, Russia finished fourth in the event’s medal table winning only three golds and 22 medals overall.

Earlier this year Kenyan long distance runners, who had expressed their desire to receive Russian citizenship, competed in the Russian national athletics championships in Kazan at 5000 metres and in the 3000m steeplechase.

However, none of them managed to win a place on the championship podiums.

Balakhniches said that almost 100 foreigners had expressed the desire to become students at the Volga physical culture academy in the Russian Republic of Tatarstan after the university administration had announced a possibility of openings.

NAIROBI, Kenya, September 10- The toll to the 2014 Stanchart Nairobi International Marathon officially started Wednesday with a declaration from organizers they were out to hit the 25,000 participants mark.

At the first of the two launch events, organisers also announced, MicroChip timing will be used in both men and women 10Km races for the first time in a reflection of the growing popularity of the category.

And in an attempt to solve one of the biggest causes of confusion during the running of the event that marks its 12th edition on October 26, the finishing points of the 21km half and 42km full marathons have been set apart although they will both end inside Nyayo National Stadium as is traditional.

Stanchart CEO, Lamin Manjang, added more local and international elite athletes are expected as they hope to beat last year’s record numbers of 23,000 participants from 68 countries.

“This race has become very popular attracting more than 45% of the participants. We want to enhance professionalism in the management of the race.

“In the next two years with the help of the government, Athletics Kenya, willing sponsors, we want to push up the status of the marathon because we believe that this event has what it takes to rival other big marathons including London, New York, Boston and the like,” he told.

Registration opens on Monday after the second launch that will be held at Nairobi’s Mathare Slums where the event’s flagship ‘Seeing is Believing’ charity is hoping to treat over 3000 people where Nairobi Governor, Evans Kidero, is expected.

AK president, Isaiah Kiplagat, recounted how the event that ran for the first time in 2003 has weathered opposition to become the blue-riband athletics in the country’s calendar.

“We need to analyse what this marathon has done in the promotion of athletics and to see how many of its participants have moved on to be the champions of the world,” he added.

Registration opens Monday at Standard Chartered branches countrywide, select supermarkets and Health Clubs at a fee of Sh2,000 (USD22.56).

Online registration via the marathon’s website www.nairobimarathon.com will be operational at a discounted rate of Sh1,500 (USD16.92) with fees for the Family Fun Run and Corporate Challenge pegged at Sh1,500 and Sh150,000 (USD1,692.05).

NAIROBI, Kenya, September 10 – Ivorian Gary Chaynes is poised to inch closer to the African Rally Championship (ARC) title after closest challenger; Zambian Mohammed Essa, pulled out of the penultimate round of the competition, the KCB Safari Rally that gets underway this weekend in Nanyuki.

Kenyan Stanley Thuo also dropped out of the competition leaving 63 crew to battle it out for honours in the 62nd edition that is also the sixth round of the Kenya National Rally championship (KNRC).

Confirming the development Wednesday during the scrutineering, organising committee vice chairman, Ashok Bhalla said Essa’s absence will give Chaynes, who is leading the ARC standings on 101 points eight ahead of the Zambian, the chance to open an unassailable lead ahead of the last round in Madagascar in November.

“I don’t know the reason why Essa has backed out because he is second on the ARC table. Thuo is the only local driver who has not picked his documents and that’s rules him out.

“We will know if there are other withdrawals when scrutineering ends tomorrow (Thursday),” Bhalla stated.

With drivers concluding their route recce on Tuesday, the vice chairman said the course is in good condition and they will not make adjustments to Kisima section that was earlier shortened due to heavy down pour witnessed last week.

“I have talked with the clerk of the course in Nanyuki and he has assured me the roads are in good shape because it has not rained for the last four days the route has dried up but unfortunately the section of Kisima that we shortened will remain that way because it’s too late to make changes.”

Ahead of the highly anticipated event that has attracted four foreign drivers, the battle in the 2WD competition will be a mouth watering battle that features current KNRC leader and two-time winner Leonardo Varese, defending champion Dennis Mwenda as well as Volkswagen Golf’s Gurmit Thethy.

Varese who will be making his seventh Safari Rally appearance, is geared up to win his maiden title but acknowledged the race will be tough and that will see the KNRC go down to the wire.

“Everything is okay. We have done testing and so far so good, we are looking forward to day one. Hopefully it doesn’t rain because if it does it will become tricky since anything can happen.

“The competition is stiff because we have Mwenda and Thethy in the race but we just need to finish in the podium and see where it will take us because nobody will give you something for free you have to go there and take it,” Varese who leads the KNRC standings on 51 points told Capital Sport.

However he said it will be a challenge if it rains despite returning to a venue where he won the fifth round, “We have always enjoyed in Nanyuki because sections are not rough and we are running in closed roads considering we want Safari Rally back in WRC it’s a good thing.

His closest rival Mwenda on the other hand was confident he will have a good outing but said the winner of the event will determine if he will retain the title.

“The condition of the car is perfect we have done some work on the car, the pick and speed is good. We had drift shaft issues but we have sorted that out and we are good to go.

“I’m not feeling any pressure because in rally sometimes luck eludes you and by having winning the Perl of Africa in Uganda three weeks ago I’m sure our luck is back and we will be strong contenders.The route is tough we did the recce over the weekend and realised its long so we are going to take it easy and hope to get good results.

“With the rain it will be more interesting because like in Uganda I competed in a muddy course and we managed to go through without being pushed so we have done enough training in the mud and I can confidently say even with the rain we are not worried. Where the 4 wheel drive will go we will also go.”

LONDON, August 11- Ryan Giggs re-assured Manchester United fans on Wednesday that the club’s commitment to youth development remains intact.

New United manager Louis van Gaal’s recent spending-spree of more than £150 million in the transfer window, culminating in the British record capture of Angel di Maria for £59.7 million ($98 million, 75 million euros, was followed by the sale of Academy graduate Danny Welbeck, the England forward, to Arsenal suggested a change of priorities.

United have fielded at least one homegrown player in every matchday squad since 1937 but that record may be threatened under Dutch boss van Gaal.

However, Giggs, one of the greatest players ever to emerge from a United youth system that became famous under then-manager Matt Busby in the 1950s before being revived by Alex Ferguson, the boss who oversaw the celebrated Wales star’s career in the 1980s and 1990s, said the commitment to homegrown talent was woven into the fabric of Old Trafford.

“The club will never change,” Giggs, now assistant to van Gaal, told the Soccerex conference in Manchester on Wednesday.

“The history of the club is to play exciting football, always give youngsters a chance, keep to the traditions of the club,” he added.

“Okay Danny has left, which is obviously disappointing because you never want to see a homegrown player leave, but this is a manager (van Gaal) who gave (Clarence) Seedorf his chance, (Patrick) Kluivert his chance, (Andres) Iniesta his chance, Xavi, Thomas Muller — he has got a track record of giving youngsters a chance.

“Tyler Blackett has played every game this season. Underneath (Robin) Van Persie and (Wayne) Rooney you have got (Adnan) Januzaj, James Wilson.

“Players will leave but we have got to make sure young players come through because United fans demand it. I want to see young players come through.

“That has been (the case) right through the history of Manchester United and we never want to lose that.”

- ‘All clubs are changing’ -

But with the club having finished a lowly seventh in the Premier League last season and so failed to qualify for Europe, a performance that led to the sacking of the retired Ferguson’s handpicked successor David Moyes and his replacement by van Gaal, former United midfielder Nicky Butt said a fresh influx of talent was inevitable.

“I think all clubs are changing,” Butt said. “I think Man Utd was probably one of the last outstanding ones that had the connection between youth and the first team — to be fair to Liverpool now they are doing that very well — but we are still trying to do that.

“The Danny thing is just something that has come at a certain time in the club’s history.

“Danny wasn’t playing in the position he wanted to play in, the club now only has so many games, we’re not in Europe,” Butt added.

“I think it is a case of being fair to the player and fair to the club, with someone with Danny’s ability who has international credentials and wants his England place.

“It is not a case of giving up on youngsters, giving up on the Academy.
“It is a case of getting the club back to where it needs to be. That is the first priority, to get back to winning ways.”

MADRID, August 11- Luis Suarez will be available to make his Barcelona debut in the first La Liga clasico of the 2014-15 season at Real Madrid on Oct. 25, the Catalan club has confirmed.

Suarez is serving a four-month ban imposed for biting Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini when playing for Uruguay at the 2014 World Cup.

That game took place on June 24, with FIFA announcing the punishment two days later. That led to reports that the ban would be enforced until Oct. 26, thereby ruling the player out of the first clasico of the season.

However, Barca say the subsequent ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport, which lessened the punishment by allowing Suarez to train and play in friendly games during his timeout, mandated that the ban was to run from the day of the Italy vs. Uruguay game — and therefore end on Oct. 24.

A club statement released soon after La Liga authorities had set the kickoff times for that weekend’s action said there was no doubt over the availability of the 80 million euro summer signing from Liverpool.

“Luis Suarez can play the clasico which will be played at the [Estadio] Santiago Bernabeu on Oct. 25 at 18:00,” the statement said.

“The Court of Arbitration for Sport [CAS] confirmed to FC Barcelona that the Uruguay forward’s ban ends the day before, at midnight on Friday Oct. 24. Therefore Suarez can make his official debut as a Blaugrana player in the game against Real Madrid, should Luis Enrique decide to do so.”

Barca also said on Wednesday that new centre-back Jeremy Mathieu had missed training with an ankle injury, making the France international doubtful for Saturday’s La Liga game at home vs. Athletic Bilbao.

Lionel Messi, Gerard Pique and Andres Iniesta, who missed matches for Argentina and Spain during the recent international break, are all expected to be fit for the game at the Camp Nou.

-ESPN FC

NAIROBI, Kenya, September 11 –National rugby under-19 head coach Paul Murunga, has challenged Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) to invest in the junior teams if the country is to qualify for 2019 World Cup.

Murunga, who managed both the under-18 sevens team that finished fourth at the Youth Olympic Games in China and 15s who lost to hosts Namibia in the finals of the Confederation of African Rugby Division 1 A Championships, says it has been difficult tracing players once the games conclude since there is no systematic database.

“KRU needs to invest in juniors just as they have done with the 7s and 15s because nothing has been done at grassroots where most of the talent comes from. It’s a challenge for the Union to put money in the development of youth.

“The 7s and 15s teams that we took in China and Namibia are the best crop of talent we can get at the moment because looking at the 15s it was our first time to win in Windhoek when we beat Zimbabwe and if we are able to put them in academies then we will have a future sevens and 15s team,” Murunga told Capital Sport.

The Homeboyz head coach said he was yet to meet national 15s boss, Jerome Paarwater and his South African compatriot, Paul Treu who is in charge of the 7s side to chart a way forward as he called on KRU to facilitate training for local coaches to pass on knowledge to their clubs.

“I might not know their plans but we need to see how to lift the juniors and have a good team for Kenya. If we decide to work separately during World Cup qualifiers in 2018, we will go nowhere.

“To be honest there are no youth structures, that’s why we struggle in assembling a strong squad because some of the players disappear to clubs while others might not even play for the rest of their lives.”

When Mwangi Muthee was elected KRU chairman in 2011, one of his key agenda in his manifesto was to develop youth structures and women rugby but according to Murunga, a former international, nothing has been done forcing them to depend on Kenya Secondary School Games to pick their squad whenever there is a major tournament.

“It’s hard to raise a national team without funds; we operate on zero budget and that’s why our players are inexperienced compared to other teams like Namibia and Zimbabwe,” the coach concluded.

The team only managed to win one trophy this season after edging out neighbours Uganda 37-27 on aggregate to lift the Elgon Cup.

PRETORIA, September 11- “Blade Runner” Oscar Pistorius was found not guilty of murdering his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp Thursday, a shock decision that left the South African celebrity athlete sobbing with emotion in the dock.

“The state clearly has not proved beyond reasonable doubt that the accused is guilty of premeditated murder,” Thokozile Masipa told the High Court in Pretoria.

“Viewed in its totality the evidence failed to establish that the accused had the requisite intention to kill the deceased let alone with premeditation,” she said.

Pistorius could still be found guilty of culpable homicide, carrying anything from a suspended sentence to a lengthy prison stretch, or he could be acquitted.

Judge Masipa was expected to disclose her verdict on this charge after the lunch break.

When he heard the judgement, the 27-year-old Pistorius, a double-amputee Paralympian sprinter, sat in the dock bowed and burying his head in his hands.

After court adjourned for lunch, his sister Aimee rushed from the first row of the public gallery to hug her older brother, who was wiping tears from his eyes with a handkerchief.

The victim’s parents, Barry and June Steenkamp, left the courtroom with stony faces.

When asked if this is good news for Pistorius, his Aunt Lois replied, “It’s not the end you know, we’re still listening.”

- ‘Evasive’ -

Legal experts voiced shock at the dismissal of murder charges, and predicted the case that has gripped South Africans for a year would not rest with the verdict.

Both defence and prosecution agree that Pistorius killed Steenkamp a law graduate and fashion model, when he fired four shots through a locked toilet door in his upmarket Pretoria home.

But the sprinter says he thought he was shooting at an intruder while Steenkamp was safely in bed.

The prosecution says he killed her in a fit of rage after an argument.
Judge Masipa moved quickly through her judgement, rejecting state evidence that pointed to an argument between the couple.

“Neither the evidence of the loving relationship or a relationship turned sour can assist this court to determine whether the accused had the requisite intention to kill the deceased,” she said.

The judge also reviewed evidence by neighbours who testified to hearing shots and screams, saying many “had their facts wrong”.

She said the huge media coverage of the case could have affected some witnesses.

“I am of the view that they failed to separate what they knew personally or what they heard from other people or what they gathered from the media,” she said.

- ‘Reality show’ -

But Masipa also said Pistorius himself was “evasive” on the stand, and that his evidence showed “a number of defences, or apparent defences”.
“The accused was a very poor witness,” she said.

The verdict is the climax of a six-month murder trial that has cast a harsh spotlight on the fallen hero’s private life.

Full of high drama, the trial has fed intense media interest worldwide, with live broadcasts veering into the realm of TV reality shows.

During proceedings Pistorius has broken down, weeping and at times vomiting as he heard how the 29-year-old blonde’s head “exploded” like a watermelon under the impact of his hollow-point bullets.

Thursday’s verdict, also broadcast live to audiences worldwide, is unlikely to be the end of the case.

There will be more courtroom arguments before a sentence is handed down and, most likely, an appeal to a higher court.

“I’m shocked,” said Martin Hood, a Johannesburg-based criminal lawyer. “I think she’s going to get quite a lot of criticism from the judiciary and the legal system.”

“The consensus among the legal community was that he is guilty of murder. This could really open the door to systematic abuse of our legal system by people who shoot their partners and claim self-defence.”

Whatever happens, Pistorius’s glittering sporting career is likely to be over.

Once a poster boy for disabled sport, he has been stripped of lucrative endorsement deals by global brands and has withdrawn from all competition.

LONDON, September 11- Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers criticised the England set-up on Thursday after striker Daniel Sturridge injured himself while on international duty.

Sturridge, 25, strained his thigh in a training session last Friday, forcing him to miss England’s 2-0 win over Switzerland in their opening Euro 2016 qualifier on Monday. He is likely to be sidelined for around two weeks.

The training session took place around 36 hours after Sturridge had played for 89 minutes in England’s 1-0 friendly win over Norway and Rodgers believes the player should have been given more time to recover.

“We’re obviously disappointed because we feel it was an injury which could have been prevented,” Rodgers told talkSPORT radio station.

“I think clubs work differently at times to international teams. It’s more the recovery strategy. When we look at our players here, we look at them individually in terms of what their needs are.

“Fast players would have a second day recovery, while other players can work on that day. When you are that type of quick player like Daniel Sturridge, Raheem Sterling and boys like Danny Welbeck, you need to recover them.

“He (Sturridge) has worked so hard over pre-season and looked very fit and strong in our last game against Tottenham.”

Sturridge’s injury means he will miss Liverpool’s game against Aston Villa on Saturday, in which new signing Mario Balotelli is expected to make his home debut.

LONDON, September 11- Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said on Thursday that Danny Welbeck’s versatility made him a good fit for his new club.

“Danny Welbeck is an ideal signing for us because he can play through the middle, where I think is his best position, but as well on the flanks,” the Frenchman told his weekly press conference.

“His qualities are his team attitude and his pace. As well, as you could see with England, his goalscoring.”

With French striker Olivier Giroud sidelined by a broken tibia, Welbeck appears set to be given an extended opportunity to play in the central attacking role that he prefers.

The 23-year-old scored twice as England beat Switzerland 2-0 in their opening 2016 European Championship qualifying match on Monday and he believes the performance proved he can thrive at centre-forward.

“It is well known I prefer to play through the middle, so when I get my opportunity, I just want to show what I can do,” Welbeck said, in comments reported in the British media on Thursday.

“Once I get into the box and get the opportunities, I have got faith in my ability. Before I wasn’t getting into the box because I wasn’t playing too much as a striker and I had to worry about my defensive work.”

Wenger refused to confirm whether Welbeck will be handed his full debut in Saturday’s Premier League showdown with champions City, saying only that it was a “possibility”.

He also revealed that midfielder Aaron Ramsey had “a little chance” of playing after twisting his ankle while playing for Wales in their 1-0 win over Andorra on Tuesday.

“He had an ankle sprain. It is a minor one, that is for sure,” Wenger said.

“I am relieved because I had been haunted in my head by last year’s injury that was much more serious than expected. At the start it was a little muscular injury and then it was three months.”

Welbeck’s former Manchester United team-mate Gary Neville on expressed incredulity over the club’s decision to sell the England forward to rivals Arsenal for a relatively low fee.

Welbeck joined Arsenal from United on transfer deadline day in a £16 million ($26.6 million, 20.2 million euros) deal and is in line to make his debut for his new club against Manchester City on Saturday.

“I can’t work it out,” Neville, now a television pundit and member of England manager Roy Hodgson’s back-room staff, told talkSPORT radio station.

“After all the prices I’ve seen paid this summer, and obviously I’ve been working with him the last week, I’m thinking how is it just £16 million?
“It really does feel strange that it’s a centre-forward and actually it’s helped out a competitor, someone who will be vying for those third and fourth places with United this season.”

Figures associated with United have expressed dismay over the club’s decision to sell a young home-grown player such as Welbeck, with former assistant manager Mike Phelan claiming their identity had been “broken”.
But current assistant manager Ryan Giggs has insisted that United will never betray their commitment to giving young players a chance.

“The club will never change,” he said at the Soccerex conference in Manchester. “The history of the club is to play exciting football, always give youngsters a chance, keep to the traditions of the club.

“OK, Danny has left, which is obviously disappointing, because you never want to see a home-grown player leave, but this is a manager (Louis van Gaal) who gave (Clarence) Seedorf his chance, (Patrick) Kluivert his chance, (Andres) Iniesta his chance, Xavi, Thomas Muller. He has got a track record of giving young players a chance.”

LONDON, England, September 11-Tottenham Hotspur released a statement on Thursday denying reports in the British media that the club are in talks over a £1 billion ($1.6 billion, 1.3 billion euros) sale.

“Contrary to recent press speculation, neither the club, nor its majority shareholder, are in any takeover discussions and the focus of the club is fully on delivering the new stadium project,” the club said.

A report in British newspaper the Daily Mirror on Thursday claimed that Tottenham owner Joe Lewis had decided to sell the club and had set an asking price of £1 billion.

The report followed Tottenham’s announcement on Wednesday that they will have to leave White Hart Lane for a season after a legal challenge caused a delay in the construction of their new stadium.

The owners of an area of the site where the new arena is due to be built have launched a challenge at Britain’s High Court after being issued with a compulsory purchase order by the British government.

As a result, Tottenham have had to revise their construction programme for the stadium, which had been due to be completed in 2017.

But Spurs said discussions over investment to fund the construction of the new stadium did not mean the club was for sale.

“The stadium redevelopment plans are a significant part of the future for both our club and the local area and represent a complex infrastructure project that requires funding,” the club’s statement added.

“Accordingly, we are at a stage where we are starting to engage with a number of financing institutions and potential funders in respect of the new stadium development project.”

Meanwhile, Spurs coach Mauricio Pochettino has confirmed that Stadium MK, home of third-tier Milton Keynes Dons, is one of the stadiums being considered as a potential temporary home during the club’s temporary exile from White Hart Lane.

“It is a very good stadium with very good facilities, but nothing more. It’s a possibility,” he told a press conference on Thursday.

“We need to speak a lot about this decision because we need all the information about the club, the supporters and the team, but at the moment we are not talking about this.”

MUNICH, September 11- Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has labelled recent criticism of Bayern Munich’s transfer policy a form of “racism” in an editorial for the club’s matchday magazine ahead of their Bundesliga clash against Stuttgart on Saturday.

Bayern’s signing of Xabi Alonso from Real Madrid last month failed to impress the German media, who criticised the club for slowly turning into an “FC Bayern Espanol.”

Some 10 Spaniards, including players and staff, are currently employed by the German champions.

Bayern president Karl Hopfner told kicker he is tired of the criticism and said that such talk is “nonsense.”

And in the club’s latest matchday magazine for the upcoming Stuttgart game, CEO Rummenigge has also hit out at the detractors.

“This shabby campaign is in conflict with values such as respect, tolerance and diversity, which are socially consented to in Germany. The DFB [German Football Association], UEFA, and FIFA have committed themselves for the fight against xenophobia and racism for years,” he wrote.

Rummenigge cited the “charter of diversity,” recently signed by German foreign minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, which binds 1,850 public institutions and companies to offer a working surrounding free of prejudice, regardless of sex, nationality, ethnical background, religion, age, sexual orientation and identity.

“We all want an open-minded, colourful and diverse Germany. But at some desks this insight has seemingly not arrived yet — diversity ends at the sidelines of a football pitch there. Instead they continue to wave the national flag,” Rummenigge added.

“And after the World Cup win some appear to understand Germany as the centre of football again, which does not need influences from the outside. We have to put a stop to such dim and provincial thinking.”

“The quality of a player matters for FC Bayern, not the nationality,” he wrote. “FC Bayern are proud of their World Cup winners, but also proud of all foreign players. We strongly distance ourselves from racism, and demand and promote respect. I show the red card to all xenophobic and racism-associated problems.”

-ESPN FC