KBC Channel 1

Author: Maxwell Wasike

  • Valencia fined and sanctioned with partial stadium closure for five matches

    Valencia fined and sanctioned with partial stadium closure for five matches

    Valencia have been sanctioned with a partial stadium closure for five matches following the racist abuse of Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr.

    Spanish police have detained three people in connection with the abuse directed at the Brazilian at Mestalla Stadium on Sunday.

    Valencia have also been fined 45,000 euros (£39,000).

    Vinicius’ late red card has been rescinded, meaning he will not have to serve a suspension.

    Valencia called the decision to partially close their stadium “disproportionate, unjust and unprecedented” and said they intend to appeal against that part of the sanction.

    The closure will apply to the Mestalla Stadium’s south stand, an area a clearly angry and emotional Vinicius was seen pointing to during Sunday’s second half before reporting the issue to the referee.

    The Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) also said Vinicius, 22, will not be suspended after being sent off in the 97th minute of the 1-0 defeat and is available for Wednesday’s game against Real Vallecano.

    Vinicius was sent off following a video assistant referee (VAR) check for pushing Valencia forward Hugo Duro to the floor. However, the footage the VAR showed the on-field referee did not include the part where Duro grabbed the Brazilian around the neck before the incident, which is also a red card offence.

  • FKF,MOFA Academy partner in enhancing coaching development in Homa Bay

    FKF,MOFA Academy partner in enhancing coaching development in Homa Bay

    Football Kenya Federation (FKF) and the MOFA Football Academy have joined forces to bring a comprehensive Caf D coaching course to Homa Bay County in Kenya. The program, which began on May 22nd and will run until June 2nd, 2023, is taking place at the Base Camp in Sondu Miriu.

    The main focus of this course is to train MOFA Academy staff, who are responsible for coaching and managing various age groups within the academy, to obtain their Caf D coaching license. In addition, MOFA has generously sponsored additional coaches who have been training local teams in Homabay but have not yet had the opportunity to undertake any FKF/Caf coaching courses. This initiative aims to strengthen grassroots football development in the area.

    Victor Ouma, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of MOFA Football Academy, expressed his enthusiasm for the training program, emphasizing the academy’s commitment to empowering grassroots coaches in Homa Bay. Through their partnership with FKF, they aim to develop a skilled workforce capable of effectively handling and nurturing talent.

    A total of 30 coaches have been invited to participate in this training initiative. Ten coaches are affiliated with MOFA Academy, another ten have been selected from teams in the Kabondo constituency, and the remaining ten come from various locations across Homa Bay County. This diverse group of coaches will benefit from a comprehensive curriculum and practical sessions delivered by experienced FKF CAF coach instructors.

    The Caf D coaching course represents a significant step in elevating football standards and promoting sustainable talent development in Homa Bay County. By enhancing the coaching skills of local trainers, FKF and MOFA Academy aim to create a positive and nurturing environment for the next generation of football stars.

    The collaboration between FKF and MOFA Academy is expected to make a lasting impact on the football landscape in Homa Bay County and beyond. Through this training program, they aspire to inspire and empower coaches to unlock the true potential of talented young athletes, paving the way for a brighter future for Kenyan football.

  • Alliance Girls to host swimming ”Bush Gala” in July

    Alliance Girls to host swimming ”Bush Gala” in July

    The academic giants Alliance Girls High School is set to organize a swimming gala dubbed “BUSH GALA” in July this year in an exercise expected to bring together various swimmers from both primary and secondary schools in a bid to promote development of the sport in Kiambu County.

    According to organisers led by Kenya Swimming Federation (KSF) Kiambu Executive Committee member Joseph Ndung’u,the gala will act as a forum of spotting talents and subsequently have them properly nurtured through structures being put in place by the Mt Kenya stakeholders of the game.

    “The gala will be used to spot talent in a bid to get best swimmers in the region as the best 3 girls in primary school category will be get an opportunity to join Form 1 at Alliance Girls High School and the best 3 boys in primary section to join the brother school Alliance. The best swimmers in secondary category will get a scholarship at Strathmore University to study either a diploma or a degree course that they have qualified for,” he said

    In recent past,focus had been on the National Games for Private and International Preparatory Schools Sports Association (PIPSSA) as Kenya intensified preparations to take part in Kampala Invitational Swimming Championships last April this year.

    According to Kiambu County Swimming Federation Chairman Stanley Mwangi Kaberu, the move by Alliance Girls to host the upcoming tourney underscores the region’s commitment in boosting the growth of swimming in both private and public institutions.

    Mwangi said that his office is intending to come up with competition programmes among school going children in efforts to spur talent development among the teenagers.

    “Our bid to support swimming activities is not only in private schools but across the board and we’re leaving no stone untouched in terms of ensuring that the sport spreads across not only in Kiambu but Mt Kenya as a whole.This is after realisation that most schools have swimming pools and good trainers making it easier for students to partake the sport.” said the long serving swimming stakeholder in the region.

    Hid words were echoed by the patron of Mt Kenya Swimming Bloc Bernand Mathu who reiterated the region’s commitment of deploying mechanisms to make the region a swimming powerhouse  to rival other swimming blocs like Coast Amateur Swimming Association (CASA) that has dominated galas and international meets in the past.

    The gala which is sanctioned by KSF Kiambu will be graced by key personalities in politics, education and sports sector in an event that will see all the participants called upon to meet certain qualifying times participated in previous sanctioned meets.

  • Orwoba’s sanitary pad campaign receives a boost ahead of World Menstrual Hygiene

    Orwoba’s sanitary pad campaign receives a boost ahead of World Menstrual Hygiene

    Nominated Senator Gloria Orwoba’s sanitary pad campaign got a shot in the arm following a donation of a “pad bank” from the Export Processing Zones Authority and Container Technology Limited ahead of the World Menstrual Hygiene Day Celebrations scheduled for 27th of this month at Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC).

    “I just received the long awaited Pad Bank that I will be launching this coming Saturday the 27th of May at KICC you are all welcome! Entrance fee – Purchase any amount of Sanitary Towels at the gate and drop into Glo’s Pad Bank. Thank you Export Processing Zones Authority – Kenya  and Container Technology Limited” she wrote on her Facebook page

    The vibrant  lawmaker who was earlier this month nominated for the trailblazer Bunge Award during the International Women’s day at the same venue is expected on Saturday to conduct morning road show that will cover majority region of Eastlands in Nairobi in a bid to distribute sanitary pads in various shopping centres and also create awareness on Menstrual Hygiene.

    The subsequent weekend afternoon event will see the youthful politician launch “Glo’s Pad Bank” a 20ft container geared towards collecting sanitary pads to be distributed country wide besides unveiling her bill dubbed The Provision of Free Sanitary Towels for public participation

    The event is a global advocacy platform bringing together the voices and actions of non-profits, government agencies, individuals, the private sector and the media to promote good menstrual health and hygiene (MHH) for all women and girls. 

    “This year’s Menstrual Hygiene Day breaks the silence, raises awareness and changes negative social norms around MHH, and engages decision-makers to increase the political priority and catalyse action for MHH, at global, national and local levels,” she said.

    In February this year,she attracted international attention after being asked to leave parliament because of an apparent blood stain on her trousers in an effort aimed at pushing forward a bill that would provide free and unlimited feminine hygiene to show solidarity for the ordeal girls and women go through when experiencing their menstrual cycle.

    “I think I’m dressed as per the standing orders; I’m covered, I have a suit, I have collars, and I’m just short of a tie. I’m disappointed because the point of order that is being raised to try and attack an accident that is natural…I have stained my clothes…I just want to know, while we’re discussing this issue that is not even in the Order Paper, is it because Senators are not women who have periods? Because then maybe I shouldn’t be in this House,” she stated.

    “This is the period stigma that is making our girls kill themselves, we have a girl who killed herself because of the same issue that I’m going through, and now I understand because it is the women who are trying to make this a crime. Because maybe it’s Valentine’s Day? Because maybe on Valentine’s Day, we’re not supposed to have our periods? I’m shocked that someone can stand here and say that the House has been disgraced because a woman has had her period?” she added.

    Orwoba who left  managing Facebook data network in Denmark in 2019 says she joined politics to advocate for leadership,ideologies and frameworks that respect women hence lifting the girl-child into elective positions.

    She wants to break the ceiling by becoming the first female MP for Bobasi Constituency, Kisii County, in 2027, having already called upon the Ministry of Public Service, Gender and Affirmative Action to facilitate the provision of feminine hygiene products in all public schools.

  • Shujaa reach London 7s playoff final despite Uruguay loss

    Shujaa reach London 7s playoff final despite Uruguay loss

    The Kenya Rugby Sevens National team Shujaa reached the playoff final at the London 7s with a narrow 10-14 defeat Uruguay at Twickenham on Sunday afternoon.
    The result saw Shujaa finish second in the four team pool to set up a clash with Canada at 6.56pm East Africa Time for a slot in the 2024 World Rugby Sevens Series.
    This match was tense and scoreless for nearly the entire first half before Uruguay broke the deadlock on the stroke of half time, Bautista Basso touching down with Guillermo Lijtenstein converting for a 7-0 lead at the break.
    Felipe Arcos Perez then went over with Lijtenstein converting to see Uruguay 14-0 up after the break and with a foot in the final as Uruguay needed to beat Kenya by 8 points to make the playoff decider.
    Tony Omondi converted Alvin Otieno’s try to restore the final advantage to Kenya before Johnstone Olindi drilled home a penalty to cement Kenya’s place in the final.
    Kenya which has got one final chance to secure their place on the 12-team line-up for the new-look men’s HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2024finished a difficult last weekend in Toulouse, during which they lost to both Canada and Uruguay, by beating USA and Japan on the final day.
    Those results earned the Shujaa 13th place in France and have ensured the team travelled north to London full of hope they can retain their place on the Series.
    “The boys are relaxed,” captain Nelson Oyoo said. “They know what they need to do and what’s at stake.
    “I can’t say there’s no pressure, there’s pressure, but we’re trying as much as possible to keep calm and be able to tackle the task at hand.”
    One positive for Oyoo and his team-mates to cling to is the fact that Kenya are the only team competing in the Series Play-off to have beaten Tonga this year.
    The best two from the four-nation competition will advance to a winner-takes-all play-off at 6.56pm on Sunday to decide the identity of the 12th and final team on the new-look men’s 2024 World Rugby Sevens Series.

  • NOCK SG rallies behind fans to support Team Kenya

    NOCK SG rallies behind fans to support Team Kenya

    National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOCK) has made passionate appeal to Kenyans at large to support country representatives at next year’s Paris Olympics scheduled for Friday July 26-Sunday Aug 11, 2024.
    According to NOCK SG Francis Mutuku,there is a big need for Kenyan sporting stakeholders and overall fans at large to support Team Kenya before and during the French global sporting extravaganza which will see a new vision of Olympism in action, delivered in a unique spirit of international celebration.
    “We would like as many Kenyans as can afford to travel to do so and cheer Team Kenya next year.Paris 2024 organisers have opened up the ticket sales process to the world. In the past, tickets to the Olympic Games were predominantly sold through agents with specific allocations to regions” he wrote
    “The National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOC-K) will provide requisite support to fans, through continuous information using all the social media outlets and scheduled physical consultations with the lead team. NOC-K will further facilitate meetings for specific hospitality arrangements with the On Location team,” Mutuku added
    Preparations for the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games are being stepped up with less than 500 days to go before the main sporting action begins.
    The Organising Committee is launching its testing programme this summer at several of its venues due to host next year’s Olympic and Paralympic competitions.  
    While not intended to be an exact replica of the Games competitions, the tests are designed to ensure that Paris 2024 and all stakeholders involved in organising the Games are ready by summer 2024, when the eyes of the world will be fixed on France.
    “And we will partner with the entire Olympic family to demonstrate that, more than ever after an extremely challenging period, sport has a unique power to help create a better world.
    Our plan features 95 percent existing or temporary venues, and every single one has a clear, defined legacy aligned with the city’s long-term development plans.” a brief statement by the event organisers read
    Kenya Judo Federation President and African Judo Union chair Shadrack Maluki is expected to be the nation’s Chef de Mission for the Games.
    Former tennis player and Tennis Kenya secretary-general Wanjiru Mbugua-Karani is the chief executive of the team for Paris 2024, while James Ondiege was appointed chief medical officer and Dimmy Kisalu as team manager.
    NOC-K President Paul Tergat stated the team will be in charge of all operations and logistics for Paris 2024.
    “When there is a lapse in the management of the game, it always hits back at us,” said Tergat.
    “So we want to ensure that those we select to manage the team are up to the task.”
    Kenya’s best Olympic Games were at Beijing 2008 and Rio 2016, winning six gold medals in each.
    Of the nation’s 113 Olympic medals, 106 have come in athletics, with the other seven being in boxing.