Author: Bonface Osano

Kenyan Premier League emerging giants Sofapaka have roped in Melis Medo as their new coach on a two-year-deal. The American was unveiled Saturday and is expected to assume his new role immediately and begin preparations for new season which begins early December. Melis, who joins the “Batoto ba Mungu” from Mount Kenya United formerly Nakumatt FC, succeeds Ugandan Sam Timbe who left the club mid this year. Former Harambee Stars international John Baraza has been handling the team as head coach on an interim basis. Melis reportedly ditched his former employers for non-payment. Read: Ex-Thika United Captain Dennis Lewa Perishes In…

The future of Gor Mahia coach Dylan Kerr is uncertain ahead of a busy calendar season which starts this month, Kahawa Tungu understands. The Malta-born English manager is reportedly on his way out of the club with one year still left on his contract. “It won’t be surprising if he quits, the coach has resigned severally in the past,” a close source within the management revealed. Kerr oversaw the historic clash between Everton and Gor Mahia at Goodison Park in the UK Tuesday but has not accompanied the team back to Nairobi to continue with the preseason. https://twitter.com/legend3/status/1060951664406994946 Gor begin…

Esperance de Tunis beat Al Ahly 4-3 on aggregate to win the 2018 Caf Champions League at Olympic Stadium –Rades, Tunisia Friday night for their third title. The Tunisians successfully overturned 3-1 first leg loss to the Egyptians by producing a magnificent performance to win 3-0. Saad Beguir was the showstopper, grabbing a brace in the 45th and 54th minutes to complete the turnaround before Anice Badri sealed the big win in the 86th minute. Esperance previously won the Holy Grail of African football in 1994 and 2011. Apart from the gong, the Tunisians took home $2.5 million prize money…

Kenyan Premier League outfit Nakumatt FC has been renamed Mount Kenya United with Gatundu South Member of Parliament Moses Kuria taking over as their patron. The name change has been approved by the Sports Registrar in accordance with the sports Act 2013. Francis Mureithi will serve as the chairman till next elections in ninety days following the registration. “Mt. Kenya is a dream I have held over a long time and this will only be good news for Kenyan football. Our immediate focus is to set our sights on winning KPL 2019. We will be beefing up our squad for…

Kenyan champions Gor Mahia will face Malawi side Nyasa Big Bullets in the preliminary round of the 2018-19 Champions League. The winner of the two legged encounter will face either Lobi Stars of Nigeria or UMS de Loum of Cameroon for a spot in the lucrative group stage. Kenya’s other continental representative Kariobangi Sharks will take on Djibouti’s Arta Solar in the preliminaries with the winner facing Asante Kotoko or a club from Cameroon in the playoffs round. READ: African Champions Cameroon To Face Brazil In High Profile Friend The first leg matches will begin on 27/28 November 2018. Do you…

AFC Leopards are reportedly courting former Rayon Sports goalkeeper Ndayishimiye “Bakame” Eric. The 12-time Kenyan champions are beefing up the squad ahead of the new and goalkeeping is one area they want to strengthen. The Rwandan international is a free agent after leaving Rayon Sports acrimoniously in June this year. Eric’s contract was terminated after coach Ivan Minneart accused him of sabotage. He reportedly conceded two suspicious goals in a league match to get the Belgian manager, who was then under pressure to perform, fired. Read: KRU Signs Ksh35 Million Per Year TV Deal With Bamba Sports Ivan who left the…

Bruised Esperance de Tunis hosts Al Ahly for the Caf Champions League last showdown at Olympic Stadium – Rades, Tunisia Friday with all the glory at stake. Club of the century Al Ahly won a controversial first leg 3-1 in Alexandria, Egypt last week as Caf introduced the VAR technology in the African game for the first time. Three questionable penalties were dished out in the match, all confirmed by the VAR, with the hosts benefitting from two of them. Caf has since accused the Algerian whistle-blower Mahdi Abid Charef of “refusing to use the VAR.” Following fans trouble during…

Troubles of Kenya’s Amputee team to this year’s World Cup extended back home as they slept on the floor at the ministry of sports offices at Kencom House – Nairobi trying in vain to get their allowances paid on Thursday. The team of 15 players and four officials arrived in the country after a torturous journey from Guadalajara, Mexico and wanted to their allowances totaling Ksh 2 million but neither the sports CS Rashid Achesa nor the permanent secretary Kirimi Kaberia was around to receive them. The visibly exhausted players, whose trip was punctuated by a 21-hour delay owing to…

Ghana’s Black Stars and Burundi Swallows will camp in Kenya ahead of the Afcon 2019 qualifiers match day five starting next week. Ghana will arrive in the country Monday and will head to Naivasha where they will train before heading to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia for the Sunday’s Group F match against the hosts. Burundi on the other hand will stay in Nairobi before they connect to Juba where they are scheduled to take on the Bright Stars Friday. ”We will be camping in Kenya ahead of the game against Ethiopia because of the high altitude demands,” Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah…

Football Kenya Federation (FKF) has moved to the Court of Arbitration for Sports (CAS)  to appeal Thursday’s decision by CAF Appeal Board to reinstate Equatorial Guinea in the 2018 AWCON due in ten days in Ghana. The moved dashed Kenya’s Harambee Starlets hopes of returning to biennial continental showpiece for the second time on the bounce. Below is FKF statement: We are profoundly astonished by the Appeal Board of Confédération Africaine de Football (CAF) decision to reinstate the Equatorial Guinea women football team to the 2018 Africa Women Cup of Nations, 10 days to the commencement of the tournament. As…

Gor Mahia have appointed Stephen Komen as their new physiotherapist. Komen, who holds a diploma in the trade, previously worked with Mathare United in the same position. He also handled Mathare United women team. At K’Ogalo, he replaces Italian Sandro Fantoni who left the club last year. Komen who already started work with 17-time Kenyan champions before they left for the UK last week is expected to boost physical fitness of Gor players. Read: KF Tirana Send Packing Ex-Gor Mahia Boss Ze Maria Complaints have arisen in the past over the players’ fitness levels since Fantoni left prompting the club’s chairman…

Kenya’s women’s national team, the Harambee Starlets, are out of the 2018 Africa Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (AWCON) less than two weeks to the tournament in Ghana. Kenya qualified for the championship late last month following a successful protest against Equatorial Guinea for fielding ineligible player in the final round of the qualifiers which Starlets narrowly lost 3-2 on aggregate to the West Africans. CAF Disciplinary Board agreed with the Football Kenya Federation that the player, Annette Jacky Messomo, was a Cameroonian and not eligible to represent Equatorial Guinea. But following a successful appeal, CAF overruled the previous decision,…

Gor Mahia dusted off their 0-4 defeat to Everton FC on Wednesday when they made the scenic 178 kilometre journey to visit another English opponent they faced in May- Hull City FC. K’Ogalo needed a pick-me-up after being outclassed by the English Premier League (EPL) side at Goodison Park and a call on the second division Championship side was what the doctor ordered. Gor welcomed Hull to the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani in Nairobi on May 13 for an international friendly that ended in 3-4 in favour to the Tigers on post-match penalties after a barren draw in regulation. The…

Ghana’s Black Queens rallied from behind to hold Harambee Starlets of Kenya 1-1 in an international friendly played at the Kasarani Stadium Wednesday. Mercy Achieng’ put the hosts in the lead in the 15th minute – tapping in Mwanahalima Adam’s low cross off a counter attacking situation for a slim 1-0 lead at half time. Ghana leveled after the breather with Linda Eshun finding the back of the net with a grass-cutter into the left corner. The Queens could have nicked a winner late into the warm-up but were denied by the cross bar. The two teams are preparing for…

Brazilian football wizard Rinaldinho Gaucho will form part of Kenya legends side to face Sofapaka in an exhibition match at Ruaraka Grounds Sunday. Ex-Harambee Stars striker Dennis Oliech will also be in the team to be captained by renowned coach Jacob “Ghost” Mulee. Rinaldinho will be in the country for three days to promote grassroots football. Sofapaka captain Stephen Waruru is looking forward to the opportunity to face 2002 World Cup winner. “The Brazilian has retired after an extraordinary career, but his wonderful talent will be remembered for ever. And playing against him will change our history,” Waruru told Capital…