Author: Bonface Osano

The Football Kenya Federation (FKF) has announced that the Harambee Stars will play four warm-ups ahead of the 2019 AFCON finals. Stars’ qualification was confirmed Monday by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) after Sierra Leone disqualification due to a FIFA ban. One of the friendlies will be a thanksgiving match at the Kasarani Stadium in March next year, FKF disclosed. “One of the games will be a thanks giving match at Moi International Sports Centre on March 26 against a side we will name later. This is the best way we can appreciate our dedicated fans,” the federation’s boss,…

Boca Juniors given a heroic send off ahead of their Copa Libertedores finals second leg in Santiago Bernabue, Madrid. Thousands of Boca Juniors fans paraded in the streets of Buenos Aires to bid their team farewell as they travel to Madrid, Spain for the second leg of Copa Libertedores finals against rivals River Plates. The two giants settled for a 2-2 draw at La Bombonera in the first leg but the return leg at El Monumental was cancelled when Boca Juniors team bus was attacked by rivals fans injuring their coach and several players. The return leg was rescheduled and…

Kevin Kimani has reunited with his former club Mathare United ahead of the Kenyan Premier League new season kickoff this weekend. The 2011 KPL most valuable player penned a two-year contract Wednesday to reunite with his former coach Francis Kimanzi. “We are glad to confirm that Kevin Kimani has rejoined the club on a two-year deal from Sofapaka,” the club confirmed in a statement. Read: Mark Hughes Shown The Door At Southampton As Ralph Hasenhuttl Poised To Take Over He is expected to form a three-prong attack alongside Cliff Nyakeya and Clifford Alwanga who scored 24 goals between them last season.…

Gor Mahia are through to the next round of the CAF Champions League after edging out Nyasa Big Bullets 4-3 on penalties at Kamuzu Stadium, Blantyre Wednesday. Goalkeeper Boniface Oluoch was the hero for K’Ogalo, saving two penalties, one in normal time and the other during the shootouts to see the visitors through. Gor carried a 1-0 advantage into the clash but conceded in the 57th minute to cancel out the slim advantage. Big Bullets danger-man Musowoya beat Boniface with scorcher but the the veteran keeper would redeem himself against the same player, denying him from the spot in 88th…

Gor Mahia squad against Nyasa Big Bullets has been revealed with Ugandan Erisa Ssekisambu handed a starting role for the second time. The two sides clash in the second leg of the CAF Champions League preliminary round match which kicks off at Kamuzu Stadium, Blantyre at 3.30pm Kenyan time. Erisa, formerly of Vipers SC was handed his debut in the first leg of the encounter which they won 1-0 at the Kasarani Stadium last week. However, he started from the bench against Kariobangi Sharks in the Super Cup Sunday. Also given a starting berth is winger Samuel Onyango. The rest…

Former Vice President Moody Awori has been appointed as a member of newly constituted Sports, Arts and Social Development Fund. The seven-member oversight board has been officially gazetted by the Finance Cabinet Secretary Henry Rotich. It is made up of five Principal Secretaries from the Ministries of Education, Arts, Health, National Treasury and Sports (who is also the funds administrator) and will be working alongside Athletics Kenya boss Lieutenant General (RTD) Jackson Tuwei and former vice president Moody Awori. Its major functions include managing the fund, preparing and submitting quarterly reports to the Finance CS. Other functions of the board…

AFC Leopards coach Nikola Kavazovic has been linked to a move to South Africa’s Free States Stars in the Premier Soccer League. “The Serbia-born coach has had talks with Free States Stars. “If talk are successful, Nikola should be announced Free States Stars coach this week and should be on the bench to watch them against Pirates next week at Goble Park,” revealed Soccer Laduma’s Mazoa J. Molefe. The former Botswana’s Township Rollers’ gaffer left the country over the weekend with Leopards’ management saying that “Nikola has asked to be away for some time to attend to family issues back…

Gor Mahia will face Malawi’s Nyasa Big Bullets in a make or break CAF Champions League preliminary round second leg match at Kamuzu Stadium, Blantyre Wednesday. The team travelled in two batches with the last lot arriving in the Southern African nation Tuesday at 3.30pm local time and managed to train with the rest at the match venue later in the evening. The Turkish Cypriot coach Hassan Oktay oversaw the training together with Zedekiah “Zico” Otieno, who has been the stand-in coach since Englishman Dylan Kerr ditched the club. Kahawa Tungu sources report a good mood in camp and the…

Marathon great Eliud Kipchoge was Tuesday night crowned 2018 World Athlete of the Year at the annual IAAF Athletics Awards in Monaco, France. Eliud became the second Kenyan athlete to bag the prestigious award since David Rudisha in 2010. He was a clear favorite, and picked up the award after a staller year. The Rio 2016 Olympic Champion smashed the marathon world record in Berlin by 78 seconds, completing the 42.195km distance in a time of 2:10:39. He also claimed his third London Marathon title. While collecting his award, the 34-year old said, “this award actually means a lot to…

Tusker FC coach Robert Matano has been named as the Kenyan Premier League coach of the month for September – October 2018. Matano, who guided the Brewers to five wins during the period beat Kariobangi Sharks’ William Muluya to the coveted gong. He expressed delight at the recognition, while urging his players to keep working hard. “I did not know that I would get this award but it makes me very happy. It may have delayed but it sure is a timely booster as we go into the new season.” “I’m grateful to my players who worked hard and I…

Croatian Luka Modric was Monday named the winner of Ballon d’Or in Paris – France ahead of his former club-mate Cristiano Ronaldo and French World Cup winner Antoine Griezmann. The prestigious Ballon d’Or, organized by France Football magazine following a vote by journalists from around the world, is the 33-year old’s second major personal accolade after picking the FIFA Best. Modric’s win ended a 10-year stranglehold on the award by Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, who finished a distant fifth. “It is difficult to express my emotion and how I feel in words. It is something unique for me. It…

The Football Kenya Federation (FKF) announced Monday that the Harambee Stars “are set to grace the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations.” The statement was based on the Confederation of African Football (CAF) decision to disqualify Sierra Leone, who are serving an indefinite FIFA suspension, from taking part in the qualifying matches of the tournament. Sierra Leone, who were in Group B alongside Kenya, Ghana and Ethiopia had only played two matches when the world’s football body suspended their FA due to third party interference in their operations. The CAF’s decision which was taken last Friday during an extraordinary meeting of…

Southampton have sacked coach Mark Hughes following a string of poor performances. This despite holding Manchester United to 2-2 draw over the weekend. “We would like to express our thanks to Mark and his staff for all of their efforts during their time at St. Mary’s. Read: President Kenyatta Congratulates Harambee Stars On AFCON Qualification “The search for a new manager to take the club is already underway,” a club statement reads. The Saints are dangling in the relegation zone with just one win from 14 Premier League matches. Highly-rated Australian Ralph Hasenhuttl formerly of RB Leipzig is poised to replace…

A Tottenham Hotspur fan who threw a banana skin at Arsenal’s forward Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been banned indefinitely from attending games according to Sky Sports. The incident happened Sunday during the explosive North London derby which Arsenal won 4-2 against Spurs at the Emirates Stadium. The Gabonese danger-man netted twice with Alexandre Lacazette and Lucas Torreira also putting their names on the score-sheet for the big win. Eric Dier and Harry Kane scored Tottenham’ goals. Read: Arsenal Great Thierry Henry Returns To AS Monaco As A Coach Aubameyang had just fired the Gunners in front from the spot when a banana…

President Uhuru Kenyatta has hailed the Harambee Stars for the historic qualification for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). The Head of State has also pledged his and government support to ensure the team prepares adequately for the showpiece whose host is yet to be identified. “Congratulations Harambee Stars for qualifying for the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations. I assure you of my support and that of the Government to facilitate and provide you with the necessary resources to ensure you are well prepared for the task ahead. Hongera!” Mr Kenyatta tweeted. Stars sailed through for the first time…