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Author: Maxwell Wasike

  • Man City win the Champions League to complete the treble

    Man City win the Champions League to complete the treble

    Manchester City completed the treble with a hard-fought 1-0 win over Inter Milan in the Champions League final in Istanbul.

    Rodri’s side-footed finish midway through the second half broke Inter’s resistance and though Federico Dimarco hit the crossbar with a header before Ederson saved sensationally from Romelu Lukaku, City held on to make history in the Ataturk Olympic Stadium.

    Having already overhauled Arsenal to retain the Premier League trophy and beaten Manchester United to lift the FA Cup at Wembley, this victory saw them match the achievement of their city rivals in 1999. Pep Guardiola was in tears afterwards.

    The Catalan coach has won it all at City but this was the one they have been waiting for – champions of Europe for the first time. For Guardiola, it ends his 12-year wait to win the competition for a third time as a coach and a fourth time overall.

    City’s task was made more difficult when Kevin De Bruyne trudged off injured in the first half, the second time in three seasons that he has departed a Champions League final with the game in the balance.

    Ederson looked nervy early on, showing moments of sloppiness that hinted at the scale of the occasion. Rodri was misplacing passes. Erling Haaland broke clear once but his shot was saved. It was City’s best chance in the opening 45 minutes against an organised Inter.

    The task did not become easier once Lukaku replaced Edin Dzeko and Inter could have led had Ederson not denied Lautaro Martinez from a narrow angle after Manuel Akanji inexplicably allowed the ball to run through. Guardiola was on his knees in despair.

    It was joy soon after. Akanji slipped a pass through to Bernardo Silva and his cut-back deflected into the path of the oncoming Rodri. The midfielder measured his finish, bending it beyond two Inter defenders and into the corner of the net to break the deadlock.

    Rodri had been left on the bench for the Champions League final against Chelsea in 2021. Not this time. His goal will rank among the most important in City’s history, a moment to rival the Sergio Aguero title-winning strike of 11 years earlier. But it was not the end.

    Dimarco capitalised on uncertainty inside the City box and his looping header beat Ederson only to come back off the crossbar. The second chance looked more straightforward but this time Dimarco’s header struck the legs of Lukaku. A fortunate escape.

    Lukaku had a clearer opportunity with just minutes remaining. Robin Gosens centred the ball and the striker just had to beat Ederson from close range. His header was firm but not in the corner, the goalkeeper producing an astonishing stop to keep the ball out.

    It is a save that will be talked about for years. A night that will be talked about for years. Manchester City are champions of Europe.

    Manchester City have become the sixth English team to win the European Cup after Aston Villa, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United and Nottingham Forest – twice as many sides as any other nation.

    City are just the second English side to achieve the treble after Manchester United in 1999. It is the second time their manager Pep Guardiola has won the treble, making him the first ever manager to do so with two different clubs.

  • Situma re-elected KEFWA President unopposed as Terry Ouko gets VP position

    Situma re-elected KEFWA President unopposed as Terry Ouko gets VP position

    The former Kenyan International James Situma was on Saturday morning re-elected unopposed as the Kenya Footballers Welfare Association (KEFWA) President during the elections which took place at Zetech University University, Ruiru Campus from as per the Public Notice published on 10 March 2023.

    Situma,who previously featured for local Kenya Premier League clubs including title holders Tusker FC and ex giants AFC Leopards reiterated his commitment of continuing to advocate for the interest of players whom he said form an integral part of the game.

    “It’s an honour being granted another term and will keep doing the work we started of empowering players through various initiatives such as partnering with local Colleges and Universities to help them pursue higher learning Education besides championing for the implementation of a standard contracts that ensure fair treatment and just remuneration for our players as this will solidify the foundation of our union, guaranteeing minimum wage bills stipulated by law.It gives me big pleasure following the overwhelming confidence our many members had in me,and not having a competitor implies our colourful scorecard during our first term” he said

    The former Harambee Starlets’ defender Terry Ouko who was also elected unopposed as the body’s Vice President emphasised on the need to acknowledge the growing importance of mental health in the lives of their members.

    Ouko who also doubles up as association’s
    Head of Women football and Fifpro Africa Board Member noted that the journey to KEFWA’s recovery program stands as a testament to their unwavering commitment to the players’ well-being.

    “Through programs like Check-In sessions and Menstrual Health Hygiene Management, we have addressed the pressing challenges faced by our players.Hundreds of athletes have recovered from career-threatening injuries under our support and a result they  continued with their careers” she remarked

    In other positions, Posta Rangers’ striker Calvin Odongo who won a hotly contested  Player Representative seat after overcoming Tusker FC’s Humphrey Mieno by a 9-6 margin will serve as the Premier League Representative.

    In the Women’s Premier League, Catherine Nabiswa emerged victorious with a strong 9-4 result, defeating her competitor Juliet Auma

    KEFWA was formed in September 2011 with the aim of  protecting, improving and negotiating the conditions, rights and status of all professional players by collective bargaining agreements.

  • City aiming for the first ever UCL crown as Inter seeks to break over 10-year drought

    City aiming for the first ever UCL crown as Inter seeks to break over 10-year drought

    The Champions League  final is the pinnacle of club football, a duel between the best sides in Europe. This year’s edition, which takes place in Istanbul on June 10th, will probably be an interesting encounter between Manchester City, champions of England’s Premier League and Internazionale (also known as Inter Milan), third-place finishers in Italy’s Serie A.

    Pep Guardiola’s side who have already won the Premier League and FA Cup will look to win the Champions League for the first time and complete the Treble when they play Inter Milan in the final at the Ataturk Olympic Stadium.

    It is the second time in three years City have reached the Champions League final, losing to Chelsea in 2020-21.

    Manchester United are the only English side to have won the Treble – Premier League, FA Cup and Champions League – achieving the feat in 1998-99.

    Guardiola is chasing European success for the first time since winning the competition in 2011 with Barcelona, with whom he also secured a treble two years earlier.

    On paper, his City side appear even more formidable than that of Barcelona in 2008-09 – Barca, who lost once en route to the final, scored 32 goals and conceded 13 that season while City, with one game still to play, have scored 31 goals so far and conceded just five.

    Inter, under Jose Mourinho, knocked Guardiola’s Barcelona out in the semi-finals on the way to winning a treble of their own in 2010, but this will be the Italians’ first meeting with City.

    Three-time European champions Inter have kept a tournament-high eight clean sheets in 12 matches so far, with goalkeeper Andre Onana their standout performer.

    Simone Inzaghi’s side also possesses a potent strike force. Led by Lautaro Martinez, who has 28 goals and 11 assists from 58 games this season, the Italians also have former Manchester City striker Edin Dzeko and Romelu Lukaku – who has not started a game in Europe this season – to call upon.

    Manchester City striker Erling Haaland who has had a stunning first season in English football since joining from Borussia Dortmund last summer is desperate to add the Champions League to his trophy haul

    He has broken the Premier League record for most goals in a season with 36 and has scored 52 times in all competitions at a rate of a goal every 78 minutes.

    The Norway international has been named the Football Writers’ Association (FWA) men’s footballer of the year and is the first player to win the Premier League player and young player of the year awards in the same season.

    Winning the Champions League final is worth €20 million (£17m/$22m) and the runner-up receives €15.5 million (£13m/$17m). The overall prize money given to the winner is much more than that, however, as rewards are accumulated each round depending on performance.4 days ago

  • Kipyegon makes history in Paris

    Kipyegon makes history in Paris

    Two time world champion and 1500m record holder Faith Kipyegon produced a masterclass performance to break the 5000m world record providing the standout moments at a highly memorable Wanda Diamond League meeting in the French capital.

    A week after breaking the 1500m world record in Florence, Kipyegon etched her name into the record books for 5000m, winning in 14:05.20.

    Ahead of the race, the two time Olympic champion hadn’t made too much noise about a possible world record attempt in Friday’s 5000m. It was, after all, just her third ever race at the distance, and her first 5000m outing in eight years.

    But, as is always the case with Kipyegon, the 29-year-old Kenyan showed no fear as she navigated her way through the race, the early pace – 2:52.31 at 1000m and 5:42.04 at 2000m – seemingly no bother for the two-time world U20 cross-country champion.

    Steeplechase world record-holder Beatrice Chepkoech was the third and final pacemaker, leading the field through 3000m in 8:31.91. At this point, world record-holder Letesenbet Gidey led from Kipyegon with Ethiopia’s Ejgayehu Taye, the world 5km record-holder, a few strides behind.

    She took the lead with about 600 metres to go, but Gidey kept close contact. They were about six seconds outside of world record pace, but Gidey also knew what Kipyegon is capable of. The world 10,000m champion knew that Kipyegon had the finishing speed to break Gidey’s world record.

    Kipyegon – now speeding up with each and every stride – hit the bell in 13:04.1, needing a final lap of about 62 seconds to break Gidey’s record. She did exactly that, covering the last 400m in 61.1 seconds to cross the line in 14:05.20 – a 1.42-second improvement on Gidey’s mark.

    In 800m,another Kenyan and former World Under-20 800m champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi staged a mouth-watering performance to set a new PB with 1:43.27 to become the fastest man in the world this year.

    Fresh from retaining his Rabat Diamond League title on May 23, Wanyonyi refused to give up despite a five-man sprint to the finish line beating Marco Arop on the line as the Canadian ran 1:43.30 while Slimane Moula came through for third in 1:43.38.

    In 100m race,Africa’s fastest man and Commonwealth Games gold medallist Ferdinand Omanyala finished second behind World 200 metres champion Noah Lyles.

    Omanyala who went under 10 seconds for the first time since his Diamond League debut last month in Rabat failed to maintain his good run after clocking 9.98 seconds to emerge runner-up.

  • Ababu revokes appointment of Talanta Hela Council

    Ababu revokes appointment of Talanta Hela Council

    The Cabinet Secretary for Sports Ababu Namwamba has revoked the appointment of Talanta Hela Council hours before the launch of the program in an exercise that will be presided over by President William Ruto at State House.

    “It is notified for general information of the public that the Cabinet Secretary for Youth Affairs, Sports and the Arts has revoked Gazette Notice No. 1649 of 2023” read statement in Kenya Gazette dated Friday 9th June

    Last month through a high court ruling,the appointment of members to the Council for a period of three years suffered a setback after suspension following a case filed by a sporting personality Charles Mugane who cited legal and constitutional flaws in the case he filed under certificate of urgency.

    “Pending hearing and determination of the inter-parties of this application, an interim order is hereby issued suspending the special Gazette Notice No.1649 (Vol.CXXV No.32) publishing the establishment of the Talanta Hela Council and its technical committees and the consequent appointment for a period of three years,” Justice Lawrence Mugambi on Tuesday, May 23 ruled.

    In February this year,President William Ruto’s Digital strategist Dennis Itumbi,media personality Carol Radull,popular TikToker Azziad Nasenya  were among personalities appointed into the Talanta Hela Council.

    The council comprising of two technical committees in Sports and Creatives was to serve for a period of three years with the CS himself as the Chairman.

    “It is notified for general information of the public that following: the Presidential pronouncement on the 12th December, 2022, of Government plans to revitalise Sports and the Creative Economy through the revolutionary Talanta Hela initiative, the Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Youth Affairs, the Arts and Sports has established Talanta Hela Council and its Technical Committees for Sports and the Creatives,” read a Gazette notice dated February 10.

    Radul was chairing the Sports Technical Committee which had other 11 members including former Kenyan International Boniface Ambani,renowned javelin superstar Julius Yego,football administrator Sammy Tiyoi Shollei among others.

    According to the appointing authoriry, the sports committee was tasked with considering and proposing legislative and policy measure for the growth of sports, deploy the digital space  in talent search, identification, nurturing and expose and aid the process of Kenya bidding to host top regional, continental and global sporting events among other roles.

    Besides the groups was to work in tandem with other sectors of the government including the private sector and other interested parties to realise Kenya’s dream of becoming a force to reckon with in high-profile international events.

    “The various members of the Talanta Hela Initiative committees have been picked purely on merit, I’m trusting that they will be accountable to every resource that is entrusted to them,” Namwamba said.

    He  explained the mission of Talanta Hela Initiative is to monetise Kenyan talents.

  • Otula:CS Namwamba listens keenly on challenges athletes go through and takes immediate action

    Otula:CS Namwamba listens keenly on challenges athletes go through and takes immediate action

    Kenya Basketball Federation President Paul Otula has heaped much praise on the Cabinet Secretary for Sports Ababu Namwamba saying the youthful Kenya Kwanza government stalwart means well for the growth of the game in the country.

    Otula,the long-serving sports stakeholder and a respected educationist, coach and administrator widely known for his holistic approach towards development of Secondary School Education lauded Namwamba for always prioritizing welfare of athletes who form an integral part of the game.

    “One of the most dangerous impediments to growth of sports is character assassination. CS Sports Ababu Namwamba down to earth, who listens keenly on challenges athletes go through and takes immediate action” said Otula who is credited for turning schools where he had headed to top performers in national examination and sports centre of excellence.

    The quiet and soft spoken Otula who has had a colourful stint both in Sports and Education having transformed Mang’u High School and Maseno National School as basketball national and regional champions when he served as the Principal commended the government for its move to monetise Sports in Kenya through formation of Talanta Hela.

    “The state wants to reach various locations by tapping and nurturing raw talents hence the brilliant idea of coming up with Talanta Hela Initiative aimed at identifying and harnessing the untapped potential .The committees, composed of the Council, the Sports and the Creatives have competent men and women who are passionate about Sports and Arts and through the guidance of our able and hardworking CS,this mission of creating an effective sports industry which will definitely offer hundreds of thousands of jobs will materialise” added Otula.

    On Friday, President William Ruto is expected to preside over the launch of Talanta Hela at State House in a move that would set the committee’s mandate rolling four months after establishment through a Kenya Gazette Notice No.1649 (Vol. CXXV No.32) by the Head of State in February.

    The CS has previously reiterated government’s commitment of setting to review the rewards policy for gallant sports personalities and teams in the country who toil to bring glory home in global arenas.

    “We are instituting a review of our reward framework to our most treasured resources in Kenya,the athlete.We want to invest in welfare,we want to reward our winners better.We have made it a key priority at the ministry to demonstrate that indeed we are ready to protect our country’s premium resources by taking good care of our sportsmen and women,” said Namwamba.

    Otula believes that proper management and administration of the local game can play a key role in transforming the discipline as one of the top notch fields in the country.

    “My service is motivated by giving the best to my country and to the people who I am responsible for their growth and exposure.Some of our players currently ply trade in Europe and this has seen the sport grow and that is why we are able to compete evenly with other top African teams,” he remarked.

    The former Principal of Sunshine Secondary School says the development of basketball as a sports discipline has been as a result of deliberate strategy they put in place to invest in the sports from secondary schools and estates.

  • West Ham wins Europa Conference final beating Fiorentina 2-1

    West Ham wins Europa Conference final beating Fiorentina 2-1

    West Ham overcame an almost 60-year wait for a European trophy when Jarrod Bowen’s late-game goal secured a 2-1 win over Fiorentina in the Europa Conference League final.

    Bowen raced on to Lucas Paqueta’s brilliant pass in the 90th minute and slotted a shot past Pietro Terracciano to earn the Hammers a 2-1 victory over Fiorentina in Prague on Wednesday.

    The win secured West Ham’s first piece of silverware since the 1980 FA Cup and their first European trophy in 58 years.

    Bowen had earlier won the penalty from which Said Benrahma opened the scoring but Giacomo Bonaventura equalised just four minutes later for the Serie A side Fiorentina.

    Fiorentina had no answer to Bowen’s goal despite nearly eight minutes of injury time being played, setting off wild celebrations among the West Ham players as they danced in front of their fans after winning the London club’s second-ever European title and the first since the old European Cup Winners’ Cup in 1965.

    West Ham only finished 14th in the Premier League but went unbeaten through its European campaign, coming through qualifying before winning 12 out of 13 games in the tournament. The win also means the team earns a berth in the Europa League next season.

    “I’ve had a long career in football and you don’t get many moments like this,” said West Ham coach David Moyes, whose job was under threat earlier in the season as the team was struggling near the relegation zone in the league.

    Moyes became the first Scottish coach to win a UEFA competition since 2008 when Alex Ferguson claimed his second Champions League title with Manchester United.

    Fiorentina dominated possession in the first half and nearly took the lead just before the break when Christian Kouame’s header bounced off the post. Luka Jovic headed home the rebound but the goal was disallowed for offside.

    Fiorentina has been waiting even longer than West Ham for a European title, having also won the Cup Winners’ Cup in 1961.

    It became the first club to reach the final in four major continental competitions and looked like it had done enough to force extra time before letting Bowen beat the offside trap to come clear through on goal.

    “Tonight, I honestly didn’t imagine it could finish like this,” Fiorentina coach Vincenzo Italiano said.

    Just nine weeks ago Moyes watched as the away fans unfurled a ‘Moyes Out’ banner during a 1-0 win over Fulham, which likely saved his job.

    Now the manager has written his name in West Ham folklore, joining Ron Greenwood and John Lyall as trophy-winning Hammers managers. A place in next season’s Europa League means the club has qualified for Europe three seasons in a row, for the first time.

    He told BT Sport: “I would have to say it’s my best day in management because the moments you get to celebrate, have your family here, and win in the last few minutes of the game – we did that against Alkmaar as well – they don’t happen often. Tonight was brilliant, it’s a great feeling.

  • Excitement building ahead of WRC Safari Rally

    Excitement building ahead of WRC Safari Rally

    Weeks after the confirmed entry list for the World Rally Championship Safari Rally which takes place from 22 – 25 June,excitement is already building for the legendary gravel event, billed the toughest fixture on the WRC calendar.

    The seventh round of the 2023 World Rally Championship (WRC) gets underway in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi and resort town of Naivasha, after being flagged off at Nairobi’s Uhuru Park having attracted a stellar line up comprising of both international and local drivers

    The spectacle features 10 top-level Rally1 cars, 11 WRC2 runners plus a five-strong WRC3 line-up
    The youthful speedster Kalle Rovanperä and France’s Sebastien Ogier – winners of the previous two editions – both field Toyota GR Yaris cars along with Elfyn Evans and Takamoto Katsuta, the Japanese star twice a podium finisher in Kenya will be among the participants.

    Hyundai Motorsport has entered a trio of i20 Ns for Esapekka Lappi, Thierry Neuville and Dani Sordo, while Ott Tänak, Pierre-Louis Loubet and privateer Jourdan Serderidis will pilot M-Sport Ford Pumas.

    Kajetan Kajetanowicz tops the WRC2 entry in a Škoda Fabia RS Rally2, while other entrants in the premier support category include Grégoire Munster (Ford Fiesta Rally2) and Karan Patel (Ford Fiesta R5).

    The Safari Rally was born as the East African Coronation Rally in 1953 as a motoring event to commemorate the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II of England who was on holiday in Kenya one year earlier when she learnt of the death of her father, King George VI.

    With a record five Safari Rally victories to his name, the late Shekhar Mehta is regarded as one of Africa’s rallying legends as he tops the Safari’s WRC roll of honour with five wins.

    Mehta, a Kenyan of Indian descent, had already contested the Safari multiple times but had so far been unsuccessful in getting the victory he so desperately wanted. That was until 1973, when the event formed part of the WRC’s inaugural season. 

    The Safari is projected to attract over 70 million TV viewers in 150 countries, making it one of the most-watched global events this year.

  • Lionel Messi to join Inter Miami after leaving Paris St-Germain

    Lionel Messi to join Inter Miami after leaving Paris St-Germain

    Argentina legend Lionel Messi will join American side Inter Miami after his exit from French champions Paris St-Germain.

    Messi, 35, had a more lucrative offer from Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal while a return to Barcelona became an impossibility because of Financial Fair Play (FFP) limitations.

    “I’ve taken the decision that I am going to Miami,” Messi told newspapers Diario Sport and Mundo Deportivo.

    “[I decided] to leave Europe.”

    He added: “It’s true that I had offers from another European team but I didn’t even think about it because in Europe, my idea was only to go to Barcelona.

    “After winning the World Cup and not being able to go to Barca, it’s time to go to MLS to live football in a different way and enjoy my day to day life more.

    “Obviously with the same responsibility and desire to win, and to do things well, but with more calm.”

    The ex-Barcelona forward was keen on a return to the Catalan club this summer but the FFP limitations that will be in place for next season in La Liga made any ambitious plan to bring him back an impossibility.

    The Spanish club were unable to keep Messi in 2021, leading to a tearful news conference as he left the Nou Camp and signed for PSG.

    The Miami deal includes collaboration from brands like Adidas and Apple.

    Messi won the Ballon d’Or award for the world’s best player seven times and is expected to win it later this year after World Cup success.

    This is the first time Barcelona icon Messi has played outside Europe.

    With a Barcelona return failing to materialise, he had the straight choice between Inter Miami or Al-Hilal.

    He was heavily tipped to be favouring a move to Saudi Arabia, where he would have joined Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema in the league in a deal that could not be matched financially.

    But Messi was ultimately tempted to Major League Soccer (MLS) side Inter Miami for a variety of reasons including lifestyle, and a deal with big brands that extends beyond football.

    He already owns a house in Miami, which he rents out.

    Paris St-Germain won Ligue 1 in both his seasons at the club but went out in the Champions League last 16, which means his time in France was not seen as a huge success.

    He netted 32 goals in 75 games for the club – and ended this season with 16 goals and 16 assists in Ligue 1.

    Messi’s two-year contract comes to an end this summer and both parties agreed to go their separate ways, with the forward suspended for two weeks in May for an unauthorised trip to Saudi Arabia.

    His legacy comes from his time at Barcelona and winning the World Cup with Argentina in December.

    He left Barca in 2021, after 21 years with the club, because of the club’s financial problems.

    Messi is Barcelona’s record scorer with 672 goals and won 10 La Liga titles, four Champions Leagues and seven Spanish Cups.

  • Seb Ogier:I love Kenya and can’t wait for Safari Rally

    Seb Ogier:I love Kenya and can’t wait for Safari Rally

    Eight-times world champion Sébastien Ogier has shared his mouth-watering love for the African continent and especially Kenya ahead of the World Rally Championship Safari Rally earmarked to take place in June 22-25 this year.

    The 39 year-old Frenchman who has been adamant not to return full-time in a bid to win a record equaling ninth world title will be seeking to win the Kenyan version of the global spectacle thus replicating 2021 performance following  an unlikely victory after longtime leader Thierry Neuville’s dreams were shattered alongside his car’s suspension.

    “Now, we look forwards to Africa and I think we’re out of the rainy season in Kenya – at least, I hope so! I love the Safari Rally. Winning this event is one of the highlights of my career, really one of the special ones.

    “The place is quite magical. When I hear about some of the places the World Rally Championship is thinking to go to, places which are questionable for many reasons, it really makes me happy to think about being back in Naivasha again.” he wrote.

    The Toyota Gazoo Racing driver who did not have a good outing in Rally Italy Sardinia as he currently lies 48 points down – the equivalent of nearly two rally wins is said to be only appearing in the WRC this year to fight for rally wins and help Toyota to a third straight manufacturers’ crown.

    Prior to Italy,he had delivered another strong performance in Croatia, leading the event and winning more stages than anybody else. However, a heavy compression on the second stage cost him a minute and a half and he could only climb back to fifth place. 

    He says Kenyan people are receptive and enjoys the topography of the East African country

    “The people, the country and the roads – everything is just amazing. When you look to the people, it’s humbling to see how warm they are and for the welcome they give to us. You know, really, some of these people they live very quiet lives with not so much, but they want to give you everything. They never stop smiling.

    “I love this human side of this place and anything I can to help them, I will always do.And the challenge of Safari is unique. To drive flat out in these fantastic cars and to come around the corner and see in the distance – hopefully in the far distance – giraffes and some of the other wildlife… it’s not like anywhere else on Earth.” added his statement

    Safari Rally Kenya had been the world’s toughest rally and came back to WRC calendar after 19 yeas in 2021. Toyota Gazoo Racing team won 1st and 2nd finish in the rally 2021 and will back to this challenging safari roads this year with brand-new rally car: GR Yaris Rally1 hoping to grab the victory again.

    Toyota claimed the top four positions on Safari last year and will be hoping for a repeat performance on Naivasha’s world famous fesh-fesh stages.