KBC Channel 1

Author: Maxwell Wasike

  • Ingwe TM appointed Matungu Sports Coordinator

    Ingwe TM appointed Matungu Sports Coordinator

    The Kenya Premier League side AFC Leopards team manager Albert Wesonga has been appointed Matungu constituency Sports and Heritage Coordinator in a move aimed to see him use his experience towards talent development in the area.

    In a letter signed by area legislator Peter Oscar Nabulindo, Wesonga was considered for the position with the intention of helping push the growth of the game in a region which enjoys overwhelming passion for various sports disciplines.

    “The office of the Member of Parliament for Matungu Constituency hereby appoints Mr Albert Edson Wesonga of ID Number 14662891 to the position of the coordinator in the Sports and Heritage department with immediate effect” read MP Nabulindo’s letter dated 11th July 2023

    Wesonga,the current holder of the position of team manager in former Kenya Premier League giants AFC Leopards said he will use his experience in partnership with other stakeholders in putting mechanisms in place geared towards overall sports development in Matungu.

    “It is my utmost honour to be granted this prestigious opportunity by the area MP Peter Nabulindo.As a sports loving person with overwhelming passion for the game I want to reiterate my passionate commitment of advocating for the development of this robust industry which has proved to be a potential employer of  youth not only in Kenya but also beyond” read part of his statement.

    “I understand we got huge untapped potential in our constituency and will use my wealth of experience in seeking partnerships with the government, federations, clubs, coaches among others in laying structures aimed at unlocking various talents amongst our vibrant youthful population across both gender” he added

    Wesonga previously served as a team manager and Secretary General in the defunct KPL side and National Super League (NSL) team  Nakumatt FC and Mt Kenya United respectively.

    Matungu is one of the 12 constituencies in Kakamega County which forms the bedrock of Kenyan football having produced most players in local top flight as well as the national team Harambee Stars.

  • Kylian Mbappe calls PSG ‘divisive’ in magazine interview

    Kylian Mbappe calls PSG ‘divisive’ in magazine interview

    France striker Kylian Mbappe has called his club side Paris St-Germain “divisive” as doubts intensify over his future at the French champions.

    The 24-year-old, whose contract at PSG expires in 2024, made the comments to France Football magazine.

    PSG’s all-time leading scorer has told the club he will not sign a new deal.

    “I think that playing for PSG doesn’t help much because it’s a divisive team, a divisive club,” Mbappe is reported as saying.

    Paris St-Germain chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi said he would not allow Mbappe to leave on a free transfer when his contract expires next summer.

    Mbappe, who has won Ligue 1 five times with PSG since joining from Monaco in 2017, scored 41 goals in all competitions last season as he helped the club clinch an 11th league title.

    But they once again failed in their quest for Champions League success as they were knocked out in the last 16 by Bayern Munich.

    “We did what we could,” said Mbappe. “You have to talk to the people who make the team, who organise the squad, who build this club.”

    Luis Enrique was appointed head coach last week, replacing Christophe Galtier, and takes over a squad in transition.

    PSG have already allowed Argentine World Cup winner Lionel Messi, 36, to join MLS side Inter Miami, while the future of Brazil forward Neymar, 31, is also in doubt.

  • Lucas Hernandez moves from Bayern Munich to PSG on five-year deal

    Lucas Hernandez moves from Bayern Munich to PSG on five-year deal

    Paris St-Germain have signed 27-year-old defender Lucas Hernandez from Bayern Munich for a reported £34m.

    A 2018 World Cup winner with France, Hernandez won a treble with Bayern in 2019-20 – his first season at the club.

    After winning the domestic league and cup double, Hernandez helped Hansi Flick’s team defeat PSG to win the Champions League.

    Hernandez, who played 107 times for the Bundesliga champions and scored twice, has signed a five-year deal.

    “I’m really excited,” Hernandez said. “I’ve been waiting to join PSG for a long time, and it’s finally happened. It’s a very special day for me and I’m very happy to be here.”

    He played a key role in France’s 2018 World Cup win in Russia but, despite being selected for Les Bleus in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, a knee injury sustained in their third group game – the 4-1 win over against Australia – ruled him out for the remainder of the tournament.

    They reached the final for a second consecutive tournament, but were defeated by Argentina on penalties.

    His younger brother, Theo Hernandez, plays for AC Milan in Serie A.

  • Shabana win NSL title

    Shabana win NSL title

    National Super League (NSL) side Shabana FC have been crowned the second tier champions after overcoming Kisumu All Stars 2-0 courtesy of Nehemiah Onchiri’s brace in the 53rd and 83rd minutes in a highly packed and charged Gusii stadium on Saturday.

    Shabana who have finished with 73 points had already secured promotion to Kenya Premier League by the virtue of having finished within a 1-2 bracket in NSL which has also seen second-placed Murang’a Seal earn promotion to next season’s top flight 

    Team head coach Sammy Okoth was full of praise for the boys following the much and eagerly awaited triumph.

    “We have worked hard towards winning our matches. This was a must win game.”

    ‘Tore Bobe’ as Shabana is commonly known, once boasted some of the league’s best talents in the country, was relegated from top flight football in 2006, ending their 21-year stay in KPL.

    In 2006, the club had a dispute over its relegation from the Kenya Premier League. Later the club did not participate in any league in 2007.

    Shabana is one of the former powerful clubs in the country but have spent their time in the lower tiers for the better part of the last two decades.

    Having been one of the best feeder clubs to the national team Harambee Stars in the 1990s and 1980, Shabana have in the past revealed their pride for having the greatest players in the national team both in the early 90s and late 80s.

  • De Gea leaves Man United

    De Gea leaves Man United

    David De Gea has left Manchester United, the goalkeeper has announced.

    De Gea leaves United as a free agent after 12 seasons at Old Trafford.

    The 32-year-old’s contract with United expired at the end of June, with no new deal agreed despite talks that took place throughout the season.

    “I just wanted to send this farewell message to all Manchester United supporters,” De Gea wrote on social media.

    “I would like to express my unwavering gratitude and appreciation for the love from the last 12 years.

    “We’ve achieved a lot since my dear Sir Alex Ferguson brought me to this club. I took incredible pride every time I pulled on this shirt, to lead the team, to represent this institution, the biggest club in the world was an honour only bestowed upon a few lucky footballers.

    “It’s been an unforgettable and successful period since I came here.

    “I didn’t think from leaving Madrid as a young boy we would achieve what we did together. Now, it’s the right time to undertake a new challenge, to push myself again in new surroundings.

    “Manchester will always be in my heart, Manchester has shaped me and will never leave me. We’ve seen it all.”

    United boss Erik ten Hag said: “It takes great quality and character to reach the level of even playing one game for Manchester United. To do it 545 times over 12 years is a special achievement, particularly in the goalkeeping position
    where every game puts you in the spotlight.

    “To have won Player of the Year awards from both the fans and his team-mates, each on four occasions, shows the level of his performance and he will always be remembered as one of the very best goalkeepers in the history of the club.

    “I am personally grateful for the 25 clean sheets he helped provide last season and his overall contribution on the pitch during my first year at the club. All the players and staff send him our very best wishes for the next phase of his outstanding career.”

  • Obonyo awards Gor Mahia captain Phimemon Otieno

    Obonyo awards Gor Mahia captain Phimemon Otieno

    Two weeks after inspiring his side to win their 20th Premier League title,local giants Gor Mahia captain Philemon Otieno has received an award from Public Policy Expert Raphael Obonyo.

    Otieno who skippered the record top tier champions to lift this season’s title after overcoming Nairobi City Stars 4-1 at the Kasarani Stadium two weeks ago received the award worth undisclosed amount of money

    “Congratulations for the excellent performance with Gor Mahia. We are so proud of you and the team’s deserved victory.Winning a title is never easy. Your hard work and determination set an impressive example, and your victory reflects the character and resilience you continue to demonstrate.

    “As I said, you have made our community, KOCH, so proud. Your determination gives us great hope for the future. Because of you, kids growing up in our hoods, will believe again, that if you combine hard work, skill and determination, no matter where you come from, there is nothing you cannot achieve. I was delighted to be among the fans, especially to cheer for you, knowing well how far you have come. That was special, we appreciate you” Obonyo wrote

    Last week,Obonyo who has reiterated his commitment of massive investment in community development projects awarded the top-ranked African in the International Tennis Federation (ITF) junior star Angella Okutoyi following her heroic exploits that earned her Wimbledon Open doubles junior championship title.

    In February last year,Otieno who can play as a right back or as a defensive midfielder received captaincy armband taking over the reins from Kenneth Muguna who was out of favour with management before eventually sealing a move to Tanzania Mainland League side Azam FC.

    The national team Harambee Stars defender is the long-serving member of K’Ogalo having also served as an assistant to the towering centre back Harun Shakava who left the team last year for law enforcers  Kenya Police FC.

    Just like Otieno, Raphael Obonyo was raised in a low-income community in Korogocho in the city of Nairobi. Hailing from a low-income family, his parents and friends worked hard to get him the necessary education. Through the Ford Foundation International Fellowships Program (IFP) scholarship, he completed his Master’s in Public Policy at Duke University in 2013.

    “I want to say that I am a proud alumnus of IFP. I consider it to be a transformtive journey where I discovered myself and opened my eyes to enormous opportunism around me. It helped me in advancing my responsibility towards my community for social justice, reflecting on how I benefited from my community in turn and led me to work on social justice issues wherever I am.“ noted the a co-founder and a current board member of ‘The Youth Congress

    Korogocho is well known for football having produced the Acakoro Football project which was founded in 2013 and has been run by both the “Austrian ACAKORO” aid organization and the Kenyan association “ACAKORO NGO”.

    The goal of all these efforts is to grant academic as well as sports training to children who are socially strongly disadvantaged, by football serving as a life skill.

    Since its inception, ACAKORO has outdone itself and some of their notable achievements include their under 11 team winning the top spot in that age category in the “Donauauencup” tournament beating Atletico Madrid and FC Barcelona in 2016. One of their coaches, Jackline Akoth was appointed as coach of the under 20 women’s national football team. One of their co-founders, Stanley Okumbi was appointed head coach of the Kenyan national team in 2016.

  • Dr Owiti:We want to bring transparency and accountability back to swimming

    Dr Owiti:We want to bring transparency and accountability back to swimming

    Dr Maureen Owiti will be seeking to restore lost glory of swimming in the country if elected the president of the Kenya Swimming Federation (KSF) during the forthcoming polls set for  Saturday at Moi Stadium, Kasarani.

    Speaking to KBC Digital on Friday, Owiti -gynecologist by profession remained hopeful of winning the weekend exercise in a bid to bring back transparency and accountability at the federation which has experienced chaos in the last few years.

    “Once we get to the office we will restore transparency and accountability and ensure there’s always on open selection criteria of our swimmers to represent the country in major international championships. In the past it’s been haphazard because sometimes you’re told there’s a calendar which you ultimately need a rocket science to find on the website.We will bring everybody on board and have stakeholder involvement in running the game” she said

    Owiti who was team manager for the Cana Zone 3 Championship in Uganda in 2021 and Cana Zone Four Championships in Dar-es-Salaam last year said she will work with all branches who form an integral part of swimming discipline.

    “We will try our best to be present in what’s happening. We have counties that are coming up well like Kiambu and Uasin Gishu and as the national federation we will keep supporting their ambition and be present during their events.Generally no one will will be left behind including Nairobi, Mombasa counties which have done much to keep the sport alive and we’ll try do things differently and in open manner as we keep enjoying the sport we love” she added

    According to FINA  Kenya Stabilisation Secretariat team leader Michael Otieno,World Aquatics approved the election date giving the Stabilisation Committee a one-week extension from the earlier deadline of June 30.

    “World Aquatics has given us the go-ahead. Our mandate was to conclude at the end of the month of June and we hope that come early July, we will return the sport to its owners.The polls will be held under the new Constitution and my hope is that stakeholders, coaches, teachers parents, clubs, and counties can seize the moment and hold the elections so that sport can move forward,” said Otieno.

    The KSF has not held elections for several years, missing multiple deadlines to do so in the wake of the resignation of long-serving chairman Ben Ekumbo.

    FINA (now World Aquatics) first suspended the KSF in December 2019 on a temporary basis, but after multiple failures to conduct elections, the federation was banned indefinitely in May 2022, meaning Kenyan athletes would have to compete under a neutral flag.

    FINA then appointed a Stabilization Committee to run the KSF during the suspension, with the goal of leading the federation to conduct successful elections to ultimately get its sanctions lifted.

  • Kenneth Muguna joins Kenya Police FC

    Kenneth Muguna joins Kenya Police FC

    The national team Harambee Stars midfielder Kenneth Muguna has joined the Kenya Premier League side Kenya Police after signing a one-year deal with the law enforcers in a move that will see him become the highest local earner taking home  a monthly salary of Sh 250000.

    Muguna whose  contract with Tanzania’s giants  Azam FC ended in June after being with the club for two years has also featured for KPL sides among them record champions Gor Mahia where he scored five goals and assisted 13 times before seeking greener pastures.

    “There’s a new sheriff in town.Kenyan international Kenneth Muguna has officially penned down a contract with the biggest club in Africa after completing his medical,” the club wrote on Friday

    Police finished third last season despite investing heavily in players and will be seeking to continue with strengthening various departments in their team in a bid to win their first silverware two years after coming into the top flight.

    “I have joined Police because among other clubs, they explained their project better. I had a chat with both the CEO and the chairman and a further talk with coach Barry (Francis Baraza) whom Iv known for some time did the trick. I’m ready for the challenge and will do my best in ensuring that we achieve our goals collectively,” Muguna told local website Pepeta

    Head coach Francis Barasa charges will hope they can go a step further this season with the team already being linked with some of the best players in the top flight.

    Already the team has acquired the services of Nzoia Sugar FC head coach Salim Babu a few weeks after he led the Millers to a fourth-place finish in the FKF Premier League.

    According to Police FC team manager George Maelo, Babu will deputise Francis Barasa and he believes the new order will be a massive boost for the club as they plan to challenge for the league title next season.

    “It is true that he has joined us as the assistant coach to Baraza. He is an experienced coach and we feel he can add value to the team,” said Maelo.

    Muguna enjoyed a breakout season with Western Stima after which he earned a big move to Gor Mahia in 2017. He then flew to Europe for a stint with Albanian side FK Tirana before returning to Gor Mahia for another two seasons.

  • Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta ends 11-year spell at club

    Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta ends 11-year spell at club

    Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta has ended a trophy-laden 11 years at the club and is expected to join Atletico Madrid.

    The 33-year-old Spain defender won every available honour at Stamford Bridge, including two Premier League titles and the Champions League.

    Azpilicueta had a year left on his Chelsea contract.

    “It is difficult to express how I feel, it has been incredible,” he said.

    In a social media video posted by the club, a tearful Azpilicueta added: “I feel I gave everything. I love it.

    “I think it would be pretty obvious to pick the highest moment of my career, when we won the Champions League in Porto. It was my first trophy as captain.

    “Chelsea is my home, it always will be and hopefully I can come back in a different role.”

    Azpilicueta started out with boyhood club Osasuna and spent two years at Marseille before completing a £6.5m move to Chelsea in August 2012.

    The full-back went on to score 17 goals in 508 appearances for the west London club, and succeeded Gary Cahill as captain in 2019.

    Azpilicueta is one of just six players to have won the Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup, Champions League, Uefa Super Cup and Fifa Club World Cup, while his 13 cup final appearances are a club record.

    Capped 44 times by Spain, he has been a constant during a turbulent decade at Stamford Bridge that has seen 10 managers come and go, as well as a change in ownership.

    Azpilicueta won the Premier League under Jose Mourinho in 2015 and again with Antonio Conte in 2017, and became only the second Chelsea skipper to lift the Champions League.

    That was in 2021 when Thomas Tuchel’s side beat Manchester City in the final, while he also won the Europa League twice in 2013 and 2019.

    The Spaniard was linked with a move to Barcelona before signing a new two-year contract in August 2022, but has become the latest senior player to leave the club during what has been a transitional summer under new manager Mauricio Pochettino.

    Big-name departures have included Kai Havertz to Arsenal and Mateo Kovacic to Manchester City, while Manchester United have signed Mason Mount.

    Goalkeeper Edouard Mendy, centre-back Kalidou Koulibaly and French defensive midfielder N’Golo Kante have also left to play in the Saudi Pro League.

  • Elvis Muigua crowned overall winner of the Annual Goldfields Trophy

    Elvis Muigua crowned overall winner of the Annual Goldfields Trophy

    Elvis Muigua emerged as the triumphant champion of the annual Goldfields Trophy held this past weekend at the Kakamega Sports Club. The golf tournament which is part of the Kenya Amateur Golf Championships was organized by Kenya Golf Union and sponsored by NCBA.

    Muigua displayed exceptional skill and finesse, recording an impressive score of 6 over par gross to secure the overall victory. The tournament brought together a field of over 61 golfers who showcased impressive golfing talent.

    The Goldfields trophy has a rich history spanning across 91 years. Among the participants of this year’s tournament were defending champion John Lejirma and Nelson Koech from Nandi Bears Club, the reigning 2021 champion.

    In the fiercely contested ladies’ category, Lydia Oketh emerged as the overall winner with a score of 57 over par.

    Over the course of three days, participants navigated the challenging 54-hole competition, testing their skills and resilience. The initial two rounds, which took place on Friday and Saturday, featured all players in their quest to secure a coveted spot for the final round. A cut was implemented after the second round which set the stage for the captivating finale.

    Speaking during the event, John Gachora, Group Managing Director, NCBA congratulated the winner of the event and reinforced NCBA’s commitment to growing the game of golf in Kenya.

    “NCBA is excited to be part of the annual Goldfields trophy, an event with legacy of more than 90 years. I would like to congratulate the players of the day; you showcased exceptional skill and talent on the greens. I would like to take this chance to reaffirm you all of our commitment to growing the sport of golf be it through partners or through our very own initiatives, the NCBA Golf Series, or through our sponsorship of the KACG events.

    He added, “NCBA’s continued support for sports development in Kenya underscores the bank’s commitment to nurturing talent and driving excellence across various disciplines. Through our partnership with KGU, NCBA aims to inspire golfers to reach new heights and continue their pursuit of greatness.”

    “We remain committed to supporting and promoting golf as part of our strategic vision, enabling the growth of the sport while building strong connections with customers and communities.” he added.

    The KGU Golf Tournament has become a celebrated fixture in the Kenyan golfing calendar, attracting both amateur and elite golfers from across the nation. With its long-standing tradition and reputation for excellence, the tournament serves as a platform to promote the sport of golf while fostering camaraderie among players of all skill levels.