KBC Channel 1

Author: Bernard Okumu

  • Loader Jackson Mutiso wins Ksh.20 million Sportpesa Jackpot

    Loader Jackson Mutiso wins Ksh.20 million Sportpesa Jackpot

     

    Jackson Mutiso Muli is the latest multi-millionaire in town after bagging the SportPesa Midweek Jackpot.

    The 42-year-old landed the fortune after correctly predicting the outcome of the 13 games’ midweek jackpot, taking home 20, 892,489 shillings.

    The father of three who hails from Machakos County noted that he has been placing bets with the gambling company for a while and had not been so lucky like this time round.

    The jackpot win will see him accomplish some of his dreams including purchasing a plot to put up rental units.

    Mr. Mutiso who works as a wheel loader at a batteries manufacturing company in Athi River confesses that his story and journey spanning 20 years has been marked with putting in the hard work, dedication at work and patience.

    “Patience pays. With just the 99 shillings stake that I used last week to play the Midweek Jackpot, my 5 years of being a customer of SportPesa has borne fruits. I have been patient and have always played very responsibly – you’ll never see me use a single coin from my salary to bet nor see me use company time on analyzing my bets. I do all that at home,” remarked Mutiso.

    Speaking during the unveiling, SportPesa’s Chief Operations Officer, Bernard Chauro remarked that the company advocates for responsible gaming.

    “We are proud to see that Mutiso and Nyaga take back home their millions and have good plans to make good of their winnings. We advocate for responsible gaming and will always be available to link our customers with financial advisors,” said Mr. Chauro.

  • Kenyan boxers set to benefit from Cuba training

    Kenyan boxers set to benefit from Cuba training

     

    The State Department for Sports has a signed a deal with the government of Cuba to offer specialized training to Kenyan boxers.

    Through the deal, talented Kenyan boxers will train in Cuba to horn their skills as Kenya moves to regain her foothold in the sport.

    Sports Cabinet Secretary, Ababu Namwamba said the first cohort to benefit from the deal is the national team with the specialized training expected to be rolled out before the end of the year.

    The national boxing team famously known as ‘The Hit-Squad’ are expected to undergo training ahead of the Olympic games in Paris next year.

    Boxing, he added was one of the sports that put Kenya on the international map but the fortunes have dwindled over the years.

    “Kenya used to be incredibly strong in boxing. We were the first African country to win a gold medal in boxing at the Olympics but we have since regressed,” he said.

    The government’s renewed commitment on the sport, he added will see an aggressive recruitment drive and rehabilitation of facilities across the country.

    This, he said will culminate in the selection of a strong team to represent Kenya at the Olympics.

    Speaking at Jomo Kenyatta Sports Grounds in Kisumu during the first edition of Kisumu Arts and Culture Festival, Namwamba said his ministry was in the process of rehabilitating and establishing new boxing facilities in the country to support growth of the sport.

    “For you to be selected to join the national team you must train well in your locality,” he said.

    To actualize the plan, the ministry, he said, will work with county governments to make use of social centers which are lying idle and convert them into academies to regenerate interest in the sport.

    First among the projects, he disclosed was the construction of a modern boxing ring in Kisumu to tap and nurture talent.

    “Kisumu is a home of serious boxers and I have tasked the county executive in charge of sports to bring this to my desk so that we can start the construction of a boxing ring in this city,” he said.

  • West ham and Fiorentina ready for battle in the Europa Conference League Final

    West ham and Fiorentina ready for battle in the Europa Conference League Final

     

    West Ham is bidding for their first trophy against Fiorentina in the Europa Conference League Final.

    The West Ham boss David Moyes who has never won a major competition since the 1980 FA Cup hopes that this will be a start for them.

    “Whether you’re an experienced manager or a young one, sitting here for a final is the pinnacle,” said Moyes.

    The Fortuna Arena in Prague with a capacity of 19,370 will host about 4,890 West Ham fans. Moyes who has been a manager since 1998 and his main achievement being steering Preston into the Division One Playoffs between 1999-2000.

    He also won his only trophy with Manchester United against Wigan Athletic in the 2013 FA Community cup.

    “There are a lot of very good coaches out there but for these young coaches, they have to see if they can do 20 or 25 years in the business.”said Moyes.

    West Ham finished 14th in the Premier League and have won many games in the Europa Conference League and if they beat Fiorentina they will be in next seasons Europa League.

    “It’s a big achievement to get through to a European final. It’s not easy to get all the way through and we’ve been competitive .It’s a great achievement for all the players and the next part is to see if we can go on and win it” He added.

    Fiorentina finished eighth in Serie A and lost the Coppa Italia final to Inter Milan.

  • Ndege injects new blood in national women’s cricket team ahead of Kwibuka

    Ndege injects new blood in national women’s cricket team ahead of Kwibuka

     

    The national women’s cricket team head coach Francis Ndege has named five debutants in the squad that’s set to feature in this years edition of Kwibuka T20 Cricket tournament scheduled 10-18th June in Kigali Rwanda.

    Ndege has included Spin Bowler Judith Ojiambo,batter Marion Juma,bowlers Anna Wanjera and Linz Nabwire and Wicket keeper Charity Muthoni in the 14 member team.

    The five are in line to earning their first caps in Rwanda as Kenya plots to recapture the title they last won in 2021.

    ‘’We do have a very young side and we are only trying to get them more playing time and maybe in future we will be going for the trophy,we are looking to improve on our last outing in Uganda during the Victoria series’’ remarked Francis.

    The squad has also been boosted by the return of former captain Quinter Abel, medium pacer Mary Wambui and Moi Girls Nairobi form three student and all rounder Melvin Kagoiza.

    ’’We do have have Quinter {Abel} coming back from disciplinary issues and also have Mary Wambui and Melvin {Kagaiza} from school engagement. They are very crucial to the team because one of them has been newly elected as the teams vice captain. They are all very good players and both are all rounders so them coming in and hoping that they stay consistent to the team it will be very important to our performance’’,Ndege added.

    Team Captain Esther Wachira reiterated the teams ambition to lift the trophy this year.

    ‘’We have no pressure because we believe we can,we fell short last time and we correct the mistakes we made last time’’

    Kenya has triumphed four times of the tournament staged in remembrance of the victims of 1994 genocide in the east African nation.

    Kenya will face Nigeria,hosts Rwanda,Uganda and Botswana in the round robbin matches with two top teams facing off in the final.

    The team is set to leave the country on Thursday.

  • Tottenham: Ange Postecoglou leaves Celtic to become new Spurs manager

    Tottenham: Ange Postecoglou leaves Celtic to become new Spurs manager

     

    Tottenham Hotspur have appointed Ange Postecoglou as their new manager on a four-year contract.

    The 57-year-old leaves Celtic after winning successive Scottish Premiership titles in his two seasons in charge.

    He is Spurs’ fourth permanent manager since Mauricio Pochettino led them to the Champions League final in 2018-19, following Jose Mourinho, Nuno Espirito Santo and Antonio Conte.

    “We are excited to have Ange join us,” said Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy.

    “Ange brings a positive mentality and a fast, attacking style of play. He has a strong track record of developing players and an understanding of the importance of the link from the academy – everything that is important to our club,” he added.

    Spurs have been searching for a new manager since Conte’s departure in March, with Cristian Stellini and then Ryan Mason taking charge on an interim basis.

    Postecoglou – the first Australian to manage in the Premier League – arrives at Tottenham after winning a domestic treble in Scotland, where he has claimed five of the six trophies available to Celtic during his two campaigns with the club.

    He is one of only five managers – along with Jock Stein, Martin O’Neill, Brendan Rodgers and Neil Lennon – to secure a domestic clean sweep with Celtic.

    “It has been a pleasure working with Ange, a great football manager and a good man. He has served the club with such energy and determination and delivered a phenomenal level of success,” Celtic chief executive Michael Nicholson said.

    “Of course, we wanted Ange to stay at Celtic and while there is real disappointment we are losing him, he has decided he wants to look at a new challenge, which we respect.”

  • U-18 Women’s provisional squad named ahead of cecafa championship

    U-18 Women’s provisional squad named ahead of cecafa championship

    The national Under 18 womens soccer team that will participate in the forthcoming Cecafa U-18 championship has been named.

    Headcoach Beldine Odemba released the 44-member provisional squad ahead of the regional cecefa tourney set to be held in Nairobi June 24th -July 11th.

    The squad features players majorly drawn  from secondary schools as well as lower tier league sides and  two from primary schools.

    “We are excited about the upcoming CECAFA U18 championships as this provides a great opportunity for our young talents to get exposure on an international stage,” said coach Beldine Odemba.

    Beldine has included FKF Women Premier League sides, Ulinzi Starlets and Zetech Sparks Fasila Adhiambo and Ivy Chepkirui.

    FKF Division One side, Soccer Assassins FC’s Rebecca Kwoba is also named in the squad.

    The team ia expected to report to camp on Thursday.

    Provisional Squad

    Goalkeepers

    Christine Omolo(Butere Girls), Scoria Awuor (Kobala Secondary), Terry Okova (Mogunga Girls), Velma Auma (Wiyeta Girls), Shihafu Askonotia (Dagoretti Mixed).

    Defenders

    Robai Nelma (Lwandeti D.E.B), Vidah Okeyo (Butere Girls), Judith Okumu (Butere Girls), Dorcas Glenda (Butere Girls), Beryl Achieng (Magunga Secondary), Sharlot Atieno Obondi (Kobala Secondary), Philomena Syombua (Kamkunji Secondary), Claire meris (Kobala Secondary), Junedezina Awino (Itigo Girls), Lorine Ilavunga (Wiyeta Girls), Sharon Omwangale (Wiyeta Girls), Ruth Akinyi (Nasokol Girls).

    Midfielders

    Rebecca Kwoba (Soccer Assasins FC), Jane Hato (Madira Girls), Lorna Faith (Butere Girls), Sheila Awuor Ouma (Kobala Secondary), Eunice Atieno Odemba (Kobala Secondary), Ephy Atieno Onyango (Kobala Secondary), Susan Akoth (Our Lady of Fatima), Jerrine Adhiambo (Madira Girls), Jane Njeri (Dandora Secondary), Velma Kaveza (Itigo Girls), Sheila Kaare Wanjiru (105 Nini Farm), Conny Anyego (Hoppy’s Girls Primary), Sheila Adongo (Wiyeta Girls), Erika Njeri (Kahuhia Girls), Rebecca Odato (Dagoretti Mixed).

    Forwards

    Mollviine Achieng Owour (Kobala Secondary), Elizabeth Mideva (Bishop Njenga), Fasila Adhiambo (Ulinzi Starlets FC), Immanuela Nafula (Sang’alo Institute), Valerie L Nekesa (Madira Girls), Ivy Chepkirui (Zetech FC), Winnie Wangeci (Moi Girls Nangili), Margaret Njeri (Falling Waters), Patience Kasichana (Dagoretti Mixed), Inna Akinyi (Fussball Naks Ladies), Margaret Aluoch Onyango (Kobala Secondary), Edna Wanda (Wiyeta Girls).

  • Daniel Kiragu wins Faldo Series Kenya Championship at Karen

    Daniel Kiragu wins Faldo Series Kenya Championship at Karen

     

    Daniel Kiragu emerged the winner of the  Faldo Series Kenya Golf Championship played at Karem Country Club.

    The three day championship attracted a total of 68 top junior players where winners in four categories won slots at  the Faldo Series European Grand Final scheduled at  Al Ain Equestrian, Shooting and Golf Club in the United Arab Emirates in November.

     A total of 49 players made the cut to feature in the final round which culminated with three players all tied at the top.

    Going to hole number 17, three players, Lee Kimathi, Krish Shah and Daniel Kiragu were all level with a score of plus 11. Kimathi dropped a shot at number 17, making it a two-man race to the finish. Kiragu and Shah both picked impressive birdies to finish at plus 10. It then called for a playoff at the par 4-hole number 12 to determine the winner. In all three rounds, Kiragu played level par at hole 12 while Shah had a bogey in round one and level pars in round two and three.

     This forced the play off with a passionate crowd at Karen folowing the action.

    First to tee off was Kiragu, his near perfect shot landing on the green, about 30 yards from the pin. Shah also returned the favour, his perfect swing landing five yards further from Kiragu’s. Shah’s putt was near perfect but it fell short by a meter. When Kiragu lined up his shot, it looked like the play off was heading to another hole.

     But like a script borrowed from the best PGA championship putting, Kiragu took his time, aimed perfectly and gave his shot the required weight. He was off celebrating even before the ball went in to wild celebrations from the spectators.

    “The last three holes is where the pressure was. That’s where the golf was played, I’m not gonna lie. In the playoff, I was a hundred percent sure (with the putt). I saw the ball was centre cup from six feet, and I just believed in myself,” said a beaming Kiragu after winning.

     Krish Shah came so close and was not disappointed in losing with a playoff.

    “When someone hits a perfect shot like that, all you can say is congratulations. When we started the day the three of us were almost even, just one shot difference between second and the leader. I played one under after the first nine and was leading by one shot. Second nine it got more tense as everyone got closer,” Observed Shah.

     21-year-old Daniel Kiragu was the overall winner with 16-year-old Krish Shah winning the boys 16 and under category. Shashwat Harish with scores of 80, 76 and 76 for 232 was the runners up in the category.

     14-year-old Bianca Ngecu amassed scores of 80, 84 and 88 for 252 to win the girls 16 and under. In second place was Audrey Gachora with scores of 87, 85 and 82 for a total of 254.

     For the boys 21 and under, 18-year-old Lee Kimathi who was third overall was the category winner with scores of 75, 79 and 74 for 228 total. 18-year-old Nathan Ngweno was second with a total of 233 that included an impressive 74 in round three and 82 and 77 in round one and two.

     21-year-old Ashley Awuor won the girls 21 years and under category with a total of 244. 19-year-old Faith Ontune was second with a total of 256.

     Daniel Kiragu, Krish Shah, Bianca Ngecu and Ashley Awuor all get tickets to the Faldo Series European Grand Final.

     Speaking at the end of competition, Junior Golf Foundation president Regina Gachora expressed the optimism of the championshi attaining its goal of grooming future Kenyan golfers. 

    “You have shown us the golf leaders in Kenya that the future is very bright. We are here to support you and guide you. It was a nail-biting tournament to the end, decided by a birdie and an eagle in the playoff. It means the game of golf has a new owner, you the juniors,” she said.

     The Kenya Golf Union through its treasurer Karugu Macharia  was elated at the chance the juniors have got to play their championship.

    “Sir Nick Faldo is a golfing legend and with this arrangement, our juniors get a chance to be exposed to top notch competition experience and coaching from Sir Nick Faldo himself.”

     He added “This is the kind of competition that we envision and trust to push our players to up their game and achieve great golfing fetes as individuals, national and global players.”

     

  • Zlatan Ibrahimovic retires: Swedish great ends football career at 41

    Zlatan Ibrahimovic retires: Swedish great ends football career at 41

    AC Milan’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic has retired from football at the age of 41, bringing to an end one of the modern era’s most glittering careers.

    “I say goodbye to football but not to you,” the Swede told the San Siro crowd after Sunday’s last game of the season.

    Ibrahimovic had already announced he would leave the Italian club.

    He scored 511 goals for clubs including Paris St-Germain, Manchester United and both AC and Inter Milan, winning league titles in four countries.

    Ibrahimovic began his second spell with AC Milan in early 2020, having won the Scudetto with them in 2011, and helped them win the title again last season.

    But he played only four times and started one match for the Serie A side this term – and scored one goal – following a series of injuries, and his contract was set to expire this month.

    “There are too many emotions for me right now. Forza Milan and goodbye,” an emotional Ibrahimovic said, holding back tears.

    “The first time I came here you gave me happiness, the second time you gave me love.

    “You welcomed me with open arms, you made me feel at home, I will be a Milanista for the rest of my life.”

    Ibrahimovic won 34 trophies – including 14 league titles – in a career that began in the last century, and was nominated for the Ballon d’Or 11 times.

    The one major club trophy that eluded him was the Champions League, with his only European title coming with Manchester United in the shape of the 2017 Europa League.

    The striker also retires as Sweden’s all-time top scorer with 62 international goals in 122 matches.

    He quit the national side after Euro 2016 but returned in 2021 for their unsuccessful World Cup qualifying campaign.

    “I used to be scared when journalists asked by about my future, but now I can accept it, I’m ready,” he told reporters after his announcement.

    “I’ve been doing this all my life. Football made me a man. It allowed me to know people I otherwise would never have known. I’ve travelled the world thanks to football. It’s all thanks to football.”

    A career laced with gold

    Ibrahimovic started his professional career with hometown side Malmo FF in 1999 before moving to Ajax in 2001 for a three-year spell in which he won three league titles.

    A move to Italy followed in 2004 with Juventus, where he won two league titles, both of which were later stripped from the club as a result of the Calciopoli scandal.

    However, the Swede won three more Serie A titles with his next club, Inter Milan, before a move to Barcelona in 2009.

    Ibrahimovic spent only one season at the Catalan club, winning a La Liga title before being loaned to AC Milan, a move which was made permanent in 2011.

    A year later, however, and Ibrahimovic was on the move again, signing for Paris St-Germain, where he scored 113 goals in 122 league appearances and won four Ligue 1 trophies.

    In July 2016, he signed for Manchester United for a two-year spell with the Premier League club that saw him win the League Cup and the Europa League.

    Ibrahimovic signed for MLS side LA Galaxy in 2018, spending two seasons in California before making his return to AC Milan.

  • NBA Finals:Miami Heat defeat Denver to level series

    NBA Finals:Miami Heat defeat Denver to level series

    The Miami Heat inflicted a first home defeat of the play-off series on the Denver Nuggets to level the NBA Finals at 1-1.

    Bam Adebayo sealed the 111-108 win with a pair of free throws with 48.3 seconds remaining.

    The Heat were 15 points down in the first half but outscored their opponents 36-25 in the final period.

    Miami host game three of the best-of-seven series on Wednesday.

    The Heat, who are aiming to become the first eighth-seeded team to win the title, were led by Gabe Vincent (23 points). Adebayo and Jimmy Butler scored 21 apiece in the win.

    Nikola Jokic top-scored with 41 points for the Nuggets, but the defeat – their first home loss since 30 March – left coach Michael Malone frustrated.

    “Let’s talk about effort,” said Malone. “I mean, this is the NBA Finals and we’re talking about effort. That’s a huge concern of mine.

    “We had guys out there that were just, whether feeling sorry for themselves for not making shots, or thinking they can just turn it on or off.

    “This is not the pre-season. This is not the regular season. This is the NBA Finals. That to me is really, really perplexing, disappointing.”

    The Heat, who lost the series opener 104-93 started game two strongly and led by 11 with less than five minutes to play in the first quarter but the Nuggets, with their bench players to the fore, battled back to lead 57-51 at the break.

    The Heat tied it up at 66-66 midway through the third quarter but were 83-75 down going in the deciding period.

    However, the visitors went on a 15-2 scoring run, taking the lead for the first time since the first quarter thanks to a Vincent three-pointer with 10:10 to play and never trailed again.

    “During the fourth quarter, our guys love to compete,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “They love to put themselves out there in those moments of truth.

    “Fortunately we were able to make a lot of big defensive plays down the stretch, and then we got a lot of contributions, which you’re going to need against a team like this.”

  • WRC Safari Rally greening project closes in on target

    WRC Safari Rally greening project closes in on target

    The WRC Safari Rally Greening legacy campaign has clocked the 8.2 million mark ahead of its 19 million mark. The campaign headed to Kakamega Forest over the weekend in a move that saw the reclamation of 15 acres.

    The CEO Phineas Kimathi announced that the organisation is running a 700,000 tree planting marathon as the Safari rally celebrates its 70th anniversary on June 21-25 2023.

    ”  Environmental Sustainability is very key for Motorsport, we are keen on supporting the President’s 15 billion initiative, This year we will engage the international officials and rally crews as well as our regional and local drivers in planting trees along the traditional Safari Rally routes”, said Phineas.

    Speaking during the Kakamega tree planting initiative, Kakamega Forest Heritage Foundation chairman Dr Johnson Murila lauded the WRC team for their 3 years of support in the reclamation of the remaining Rainforest in the region

    “ Safari Rally Kenya has been a great ally in environmental conservation over the last three years, their conservation agenda is well intertwined in our mission, and we look forward to seeing the team take over more acreage in the upcoming months”, said Murila.

     WRC Safari Rally  Kenya Head of Special Programs  Ivy Kaburu said they were pleased with the progress of the trees planted over the last two years.

    “As an organisation, we wish to laud the Kakamega Forest Heritage Foundation for post care of the trees grown over the years, In three run-ups to the WRC Safari Rally,  we are keen on rehabilitation of 13 more acres.

    More tree-planting activities will take place in Uasin Gishu, Kericho, Nakuru and Nairobi counties.