Author: Bonface Osano

Ethiopia hosts the first leg of the Afcon 2019 qualifiers Group F double header against Kenya at Bahir Dar Stadium Wednesday. Kenya’s Harambee Stars have been in Bahir Dar since Monday and managed to train twice under tutelage of French manager Sebastien Migne in readiness for the crunch tie. The team traveled to the capital city of Amhara region in batches as financially crippled Football Kenya Federation (FKF) struggled to secure flight tickets for the players. There was no joint camp in Nairobi with foreign-based professionals flying directly to the port city from their bases to cut costs. The team…

Michael Olunga is braced for a “tough” game against Ethiopia but is “positive” of getting a good result in the 2019 Afcon qualifying Group F match at Bahir Dar Stadium Wednesday. The Japan-based Harambee Stars dependable striker, who is currently enjoying a top form for his club Kashiwa Reysol, is expected to lead the assault against the Walia Ibex. The former Tusker, Gor Mahia and Girona player boasts three goals and two assists for Kashiwa thus far. He scored in the J-League side’s last two games before the international break. “We are optimistic for the game tomorrow, it’s not going…

Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Victor Wanyama was the center of attraction as Harambee Stars trained at Bahir Dar Stadium’s training ground in Ethiopia Monday. Hundreds of football mad Ethiopian fans thronged the open field to watch Stars go through their paces and also to have a closer look at Wanyama whom they only watch on television playing in the Premier League. Star, under the French manager Sebastien Migne, held their final training at the Bahir Dar Stadium Tuesday ahead of Wednesday’s crucial Afcon 2019 qualifier against the hosts Ethiopia. All the 22-players, who were summoned for the national duty arrived…

Kenyan coach Hamisi Mohamed has won a public vote determining the winner of Arsenal’s  Future Stars programme. Competing against five other youth football coaches from across Africa, Hamisi secured over 35% of the votes to win the chance to train with coaches from Arsenal Soccer Schools. Hamisi will now prepare to travel to London to attend a customized training programme to support him in building a legacy of positive social impact through football in Kenya. Hamisi Mohamed, known locally as Coach Kaka, is one of the founders of Young Talents Soccer Academy, a mixed academy in Embul Bul, Ngong. The academy aims to help children…

International Olympic Committee (IOC) has nominated Senegal as the host country for the 4th Summer Youth Olympic Games (YOG) in 2022. It will be the first Olympic event in history to take place on the African continent. One of the highlights of the YOG will be the leading rugby sevens teams competing against each other. Rugby sevens made its debut at the 2014 Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing and was one of 32 sports at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires. “The 2022 Youth Olympic Games in Senegal represents a fantastic opportunity to showcase rugby sevens in Africa. Rugby…

Shujaa will participate in the Africa Men’s Sevens in Jemmel, Tunisia at the Stadium of Jemmel on the 13th and 14th of October. The team, that comprises of twelve players who proved themselves worthy of being in the National Team during Stanbic Bank National Sevens Circuit, has been training under Innocent Simiyu. Leonard Mugaisi, Alvin Otieno, Michael Wanjala, Herman Humwa, Cyprian Kuto and Charles Owino who’ve been in the squad set up in the past are part of the traveling delegation. They are joined by Brian Wahinya who was in the 2017/2018 Shujaa Academy and was part of the squad that won…

All 22 Harambee Stars players who were called up for the Afcon 2019 qualifier double header against Ethiopia have arrived in Bahir Dar. First batch of home-based professionals including coach Sebastien Migne arrived Saturday from Nairobi while the second lot jetted out Monday morning. Foreign-based professionals led by captain Victor Wanyama of Tottenham Hotspur and Michael Olunga who plies his trade in Japan have all arrived from their bases. Buoyed by last month’s 1-0 over Ghana, Stars will be hoping to consolidate their campaign by bagging another win in Group F. With Sierra Leone, another member of the group suspended…

Football Kenya Federation (FKF) has informed clubs that there will only be one end year award gala sanctioned by them and the Kenya Premier League this year. “As we head to the end of the 2018 football season, please be advised that there will be a single end of year awards gala that will be sanctioned by the Football Kenya Federation and the Kenya Premier League,” FKF CEO Robert Muthomi’s letter to clubs reads. Muthomi has explained that the decision was taken in order “to stop parallel award ceremonies like what happened last year.” In 2017, apart from the annual…

Arsenal and German sportswear maker Adidas have agreed a new kit partnership effective next season, the London giants have disclosed. The deal is believed to be worth $70 million per year over five years. The Premier League side are currently kitted by another German firm Puma in a five-year-deal ending next year. Adidas has a strong presence in the world’s richest league with Arsenal rivals Manchester United being one of their key partners. The news was warmly received by Arsenal most of whom praised Adidas’ quality. Read: Turkish Club Malatyaspor Wear Mesut Ozil T-shirts In Support Against Racism “I haven’t bought…

Former Gor Mahia tactician Frank Nuttall has applied for the vacant AFC Leopards coaching job. In an exclusive interview with Kahawa Tungu, the 49-year-old Scotsman said coaching Ingwe would be an “excellent challenge.” “It would be an excellent challenge and opportunity to re-position them at the forefront of African football,” Nuttall said. Leopards, who finished a dismal seventh in the just ended Kenyan Premier League season, are without a head coach, having parted ways with Argentine Rodolfo Zapata due to poor performance. The 12-time KPL champions finished the 2018 season trophy-less. The team has now gone twenty years without winning…

KCB FC are back in the Kenyan Premier League for the upcoming 2018-19 season after three seasons out after securing at least a second place finish in the National Super League. The Bankers restored the topflight status Sunday after beating Talanta FC 2-0 at the Camp Toyoyo, Jericho Estate. Goals from Dennis Gacheru and Simon Abuko ensured KCB opened unassailable five-point gap between them and third placed Nairobi Stima ahead of last round of fixtures. Read: Paul Murunga Appointed New Shujaa Coach KCB join Western Stima, who secured promotion weeks back and are still leading the 19-team league. Western Stima need…

Antony Akumu, Jesse Were and David Owino were Saturday crowned Zambian Super League champions after winning it with Zesco United for the second time on the bounce. The ceremony took place at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium, Ndola and was preceded by a match day 37 fixture against Red Arrows in which Zesco lost 1-0. Zesco headed into the tie as champions-elect having bagged the seventh title with games to spare. Read: First Batch Of Harambee Stars Players Departs For Ethiopia Striker Jesse, who is chasing golden boot gong and utility midfielder Akumu started the match, while defender Owino, who is still nursing a…

A High Court in Nairobi has ordered that movable property of AFC Leopards be attached for failing to pay Ksh33 million fine for breach of contract with Nsejjere Sports LLC. The US firm sued the former Kenyan Premier League giants in 2015 for breach of a seven-year kitting deal and were awarded Ksh22 million in damages last year February. The amount has since accrued interests and the court has given greenlight to the creditor’s auctioneers to attach Ingwe’s property for possible auction or transfer. “These are to command you to attach the movable property of the said J/Debtor,” the warrant…

Harambee Stars striker Michael Olunga was on the score sheet as his side Kashiwa Reysol beat Sanfrecce Hiroshima 3-0 in the J-League away at Edion Stadium Saturday. At the end of the crucial victory which saw Kashiwa crawl out of relegation zone, Olunga, who scored the third goal celebrated by flying the Kenyan flag. https://twitter.com/OgadaOlunga/status/1048515393948508160 Junya Ito grabbed a brace in the game. The goal was Olunga’s third in the Japanese topflight and a second on the trot. https://twitter.com/OgadaOlunga/status/1048514594610720768 The ex-Gor Mahia’s talisman was also on the scoreboard the previous weekend in a disappointing 3-2 loss to Urawa Reds…

The first batch of five Kenya National football team, Harambee Stars players, on Saturday 6 October, 2018, jetted out to Ethiopia alongside coach Sébastien Migné, ahead of the upcoming two-legged Africa Cup of Nations Qualifier against Ethiopia. The second batch will travel on Monday, with foreign-based players also set to link up with the team in Ethiopia on the same day. Harambee Stars Coach Migné, has expressed optimism that Stars will give a good account of themselves while noting that captain Victor Wanyama’s inclusion is a big boost to the team’s pursuit for a second appearance at the continental showpiece.…