KBC Channel 1

Author: Dismas Otuke

  • FAR Rabat knock out defending champions Pyramids as Ahly are stunned too

    FAR Rabat knock out defending champions Pyramids as Ahly are stunned too

    Morocco’s FAR Rabat knocked out defending champions Pyramids FC of Egypt 2-1 in Cairo to reach the CAF Champions League semifinal on a 3-2 aggregate win on Saturday.

    The Egyptian side, held to a 1-1 draw in the first leg in Rabat, needed a strong response in Cairo but instead found themselves undone by a clinical and disciplined performance from the Moroccan military club.

    FAR Rabat struck early, through Youssef El Fahli and captain Rabie El Harimat, extending their advantage after the break.

    Despite Fiston Mayele pulling a goal back for the Egyptians, it was too little too late, as their reign ended abruptly.

    In another quarter-final, Esperance Sportive de Tunis produced a stunning performance in Cairo to eliminate Al Ahly, sealing a dramatic 3-2 victory on the night and a 4-2 aggregate triumph to reach the semi-finals.

     

  • Shujaa bounce back with convincing wins against Canada and Belgium in Uruguay

    Shujaa bounce back with convincing wins against Canada and Belgium in Uruguay

    The Kenya 7s rugby  national  team rebounded from their loss to the USA by securing  convincing wins against Canada and Belgium at the Montevideo HSBC SNVS Div 2.

    In their third pool game at Estadio Charrúa, Montevideo, Shujaa displayed their prowess with a decisive 20-0 victory over Belgium early on Sunday.

    Kevin Wekesa Nyongesa and Vincent Onyala Owino each scored a try, giving Kenya a 10-0 lead at halftime.

    After the break, Patrick Odongo Okong’o and Floyd Wabwire added tries, ensuring a comprehensive win over Belgium.

    Coached by Kevin Wambua, the team had narrowly lost 10-14 to the USA in their opening match on Saturday but showed determination by defeating Canada 19-5 in their second match of Day 1.

    Chrisant Ojwang, Floyd Wabwire, and Kevin Wekesa Nyongesa were the try scorers for Kenya, with Nygel Pettersan Amaitsa converting two tries, while Ian Jones scored Canada’s only try.

    Kenya is set to face group leaders Germany at 9:55 pm, followed by their final match against hosts Uruguay at 12:48 am tomorrow.

    Germany currently leads the group with 9 points, tied with the USA but with a better try difference, while Kenya is  third place with 7 points.

  • Kayole Starlets bolster squad by signing Safaricom Chapa Dimba All-Stars trio

    Kayole Starlets bolster squad by signing Safaricom Chapa Dimba All-Stars trio

    Kayole Starlets have bolstered their squad ahead of the second leg of the Kenya Premier League by signing three players from the Safaricom Chapa Dimba All-Stars team.

    The trio, Sonia Wambui (goalkeeper), Calta Nasambu (striker), and Naomi Nanjala (position), have already joined the team.

    The three previously featured for Barcelona Ladies SC from Laikipia, which currently competes in the National Super League (NSL).

    They were part of the Safaricom Chapa Dimba All-Stars group that traveled to Huesca, Spain, last September for a boot camp sponsored by Safaricom Chapa Dimba.

    Furthermore, they represented the Central Region at the national finals in Kisumu during Season Four of the tournament while playing for Barcelona Ladies SC.

    “I am thrilled to be part of Kayole Starlets. Playing in the Kenya Premier League has been my goal after my experience in the National Super League. Joining mid-season allows me to contribute to the team’s success in the upcoming matches. Safaricom Chapa Dimba has been instrumental in my football career. Thanks to this platform, I am now with Kayole Starlets,” expressed Naomi Wanjala.

    The trio joins Eunice ‘Bobi’ Nabwoba and Praxedes Shivikhwa, who represented Wiyeta Girls in Season Four of Chapa Dimba, showcasing their skills for the Rift Valley Region at the national finals. Before joining Kayole Starlets, Nabwoba was part of Amus College in Uganda.

    “Honestly, Chapa Dimba goes beyond a normal football tournament; it means a lot to young talents in this country. I want to thank Kayole Starlets for believing in me, and I promise to give my best. It has always been my dream to play in the Premier League and showcase my talent not just locally, but globally. This is a great platform and opportunity for me,” said Sonia Wambui.

    Safaricom Chapa Dimba continues to nurture and impact football talent across the country. Currently, more than 30 players from the most recent season have joined various clubs competing in both the National Super League and the Kenya Premier League.

    Some notable players include Emily Morang’a (Kenya Police), Duncan Omala (Nairobi United), Derick Okech (Shabana FC), Austine Odongo (Shabana FC), Stanley Waswa (Ulinzi Stars), Hamis Nyale (Ulinzi Stars), Bryton Otieno (Gor Mahia), Brian Aroko (Tusker Youth), Neddy Kithinji (3K FC), Lorrine Illavonga (Ulinzi Starlets), Mercy Akoth (Vihiga Queens), and Swaumu Masungo (Kibera Soccer Women), Marion Serenge ( St. Noa – Uganda) among others.

  • ‘There’s 75% chance of CAS upholding CAF ruling says’ Bizzini

    ‘There’s 75% chance of CAS upholding CAF ruling says’ Bizzini

    Romain Bizzini,a lawyer at the Paris Bar, has said the appeal filed by Senegal at the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS) challenging the CAF appeals committee decision to strip them of the 2025 AFCON title is likely to be dismissed.

    Bizzini views that there is a 75% chance that CAS is likely to uphold the CAF appeals committee ruling.

    “I would say there is a 75% chance that CAF’s decision will be upheld and Morocco will remain champion.The strictness of the regulations tends to favor a confirmation of the forfeit.”Bizzini stated

    https://x.com/OnzeMondial/status/2035020255462822073?s=20

    The CAF appeals committee ruling this week found Senegal to have committed an offence of walking off the pitch in the January 18th final and concluded it as a forfeiture.Morocco were handed a 3-0 win and declared champions as a result.

  • Okecth, Tinega and Krop in the hunt for medals in Poland

    Okecth, Tinega and Krop in the hunt for medals in Poland

    Three Kenyans;Brian Tinega,Mercy Oketch and Jacob Krop, will be in the hunt for the medals on day 2 of the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Kujawy Pomorze today.

    Tinega and Oketch will compete in the 400m finals at 6.34pm and 8.40pm Kenyan times, respectively, after successfully sailing through round 1 and the semis on Friday.

    2022 World silver medallist Krop will be eyeing his first indoor podium finish when he lines up in the 3000m final starting at 7.22pm.

    Noah Kibet, who bagged silver in 2022 in Belgrade, will also be in action for the 800m semi-final from 3.08pm.

    The USA leads the Championship medal table with 2 gold and 1 bronze, followed by Ukraine with 2 gold and a silver, while Italy is placed 3rd with 1 gold medal.

  • Oketch and Ejore advance to finals in World Indoors

    Oketch and Ejore advance to finals in World Indoors

    National 400m record holder Mercy Oketch and Brian Tinega are on course to rewrite history as the first Kenyan athletes to win a medal in 400m after they sailed through to the final at the ongoing World Athletics Indoor Championships in Poland on Friday night.

    Oketch qualified for today’s final being among the fastest 2nd-placed runners after clocking 51.90, in Heat 1 of the semi-final.

    Susan Ejore also made it to the 1500m final set for Sunday after she finished 3rd in heat 2 in 4:11.41, behind Ethiopian Byrke Haylom and Klaudia Kerzimieska from Poland, who finished 1st and 2nd, respectively.

    However, Festus Langat missed out on the men’s 1500m final after placing 7th in heat 3 of round 1.

  • Kibet, Okecth and Tinega cruise to World Indoor semis in Poland

    Kibet, Okecth and Tinega cruise to World Indoor semis in Poland

    Kenyans Noah Kibet, Mercy Oketch and Brian Tinega qualified for the semi-finals on the opening day of the World Athletics Indoor Championships in Poland on Friday.

    Kibet, who bagged silver in the race in 2022, won heat 6 of the first round in 1:45.84, to qualify for Saturday’s semi-final.

    National 400M record holder Oketch,clocked 51.57 seconds to place second in Heat 6, securing her spot in the semi-finals later tonight.

    Brian Tinega also sailed to semis in 400m after finishing 2nd in heat 2, posting 46.81 seconds.

    However, Gladys Ngetich and Rosemary missed out on the 800m semi-finals.

    Longisa finished last in heat 1 with a personal best time of 2:03.48, while Ngetich finished 5th in the 2nd heat.

    Kenya is represented by 8 athletes in the 3-day championship participating in 400m, 800m, 1500m and 3000m.

  • Olympic champion Katzberg to defend his Kip Keino Classic title next month

    Olympic champion Katzberg to defend his Kip Keino Classic title next month

    Canadian Olympic hammer throw champion Ethan Katzberg is set to make a return to Kenya for the Seventh Kip Keino Classic World Continental Tour, which will take place at Nyayo Stadium on the 24th of next month.

    Katzberg, who is also a two-time world champion, will be keen to defend his last year’s Kip Keino Classic title when he set a world lead of 82.73 m, at the Ulinzi Sports Complex before he successfully defended his world title in Tokyo, Japan.

    According to the meet director, Barnaba Korir, the event has attracted top track and field athletes, with more spectators expected to attend, as it returns to its traditional Nyayo Stadium, which has undergone a major overhaul.

    “The Kip Keino Classic continues to attract the very best athletes globally, with this year’s edition expected to deliver even stronger competition as international stars line up alongside Kenya’s finest in front of a home crowd. I would also like to announce the confirmation of one of the top athletes from Canada who has done so well before. He is an Olympic champion and also a world champion. Ethan Katzberg will be participating in Nairobi here. He is actually one of the best athletes so far to have confirmed, and we have half of the expected athletes confirmed.” said the meet director

    He also revealed that officials from the Inter continental Meet are expected in the country next week to assess the newly renovated Nyayo stadium in readiness for the one-day championship.

    “You know, last year we had a very difficult moment because there were no stadiums, and the government worked very closely with Athletics Kenya to make sure that we were successful using alternative sports grounds. However, we don’t want to go that route; that’s why we are starting early. And that’s why I went to Europe to go and pay this bill to come and survey and make sure that it is certified weeks before the championship.” Korir stated

    The Kip Keino Classic, which was incorporated in the World Athletics calendar as a gold label event in 2020, has also been a major promoter of sports tourism for the country.

    “We are all aware that the main selling point for Kenya originally was tourism. But along the line, the athletes have done more than even the tourism as far as enhancing the name of this country is concerned. Practically, across the globe, every human being understands where Kenya is and what Kenya does.” Korir continued.

    Athletics Kenya will also use the meet to prepare its athletes who will compete at the World Relays set for Gaborone, Botswana, between 2nd and 3rd May this year.

    Kenya’s meet will be the 2nd of the newly expanded 11 gold meets, which will open with the Maurie Plant event in Australia between the 27th and 28th this month.

  • Kenya risks losing AFCON 2027 unless it pays CAF Ksh 3.9 billion

    Kenya risks losing AFCON 2027 unless it pays CAF Ksh 3.9 billion

    Kenya may lose out on the hosting rights for the 2027 African Cup of Nations AFCON if the government does not pay the KSh 3.9 billion hosting fee by the end of this month.

    This was revealed by the Sports PS Elijah Mwangi when he appeared yesterday before the Parliamentary Committee for Sports led by Webuye East MP Dan Wanyama when presenting the 2025/2026 Supplementary Estimates 1.

    “We have received communication from CAF giving the timelines on the activities that should be done in readiness to host the CHAN. We appreciate the National Treasury because in the 2026/2027 BPS, there was an allocation of around Kshs 5 billion, 3.5 billion being the hosting fees. But in the light of the recent communication from CAF, we have been given up to the 30th of March to clear the payment of hosting fees,” the PS said.

    According to the PS, Tanzania and Uganda, who are also in the Pamoja hosting bid, have already paid their fees, and the gains made so far by Kenya towards hosting the games will go down the drain.

    “CAF are very particular that we must show commitment by paying the contribution. So I am seeking this committee to kindly consider this supplementary in conjunction with the National Treasury to have the 206/2027 budget brought forward. ”

    At the same time, he disclosed to the Committee that the infrastructure expected to host the games may also not be ready in six months’ time due to pending bills owed to the contractors engaged during the 2024 CHAN games.

    Wanyama, while reacting to the PS request, assured the State Department that the Committee will push the National Treasury to release the hosting funds.

    “We’ve heard you, and we will push the Treasury to release money for the hosting rights so that we do not get into the quagmire of us being denied the chance to host AFCON and then giving a chance to our neighbours to do so. It will be a big shame to Kenya, which has always been a big brother in the region,” the Chairperson said.

    Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania are set to host next year’s AFCON between June 19 and July 18th.

    The PAMOJA AFCON will be the last edition of the biennial AFCON tournament before switching to quadrennial from 2028.

    Kenya will participate in next year’s AFCON as hosts, making a return since 2019 in Egypt, while their co-hosts Uganda and Tanzania took part in last year’s edition in Morocco.

  • ‘There are rules, and rules have to be followed in football,’ says Broos on the CAF”s  verdict

    ‘There are rules, and rules have to be followed in football,’ says Broos on the CAF”s  verdict

    South African head coach Hugo Broos has defended the CAF appeal board decision to strip Senegal of the AFCON trophy and announced Morocco as winners for the 2025 edition.

    Speaking during a state TV interview, Broos said there are rules which govern the game, and they must be followed by all.

    “The only thing I can say is that CAF shows again that there is no consistency in their decisions. It’s very painful for Senegal to lose that CAF, but there is a rule, article 83 or something. So there is a rule: if you leave the pitch, it’s forfeit, done, finished. It’s very painful, but you could do it earlier and earlier and say, ‘Look, guys, you don’t even have to wait for the complaint of Morocco.’ “No, no, here, look, that’s a rule out.” He said

     

    Broos was speaking in regard to the early this week CAF appeal committee decision which ruled in favour of Morocco, declaring the AFCON hosts as the winners following Senegalese players walking off the pitch in the final played two months ago in Rabat.