Author: Bonface Osano

StarTimes has acquired broadcast rights for the Ugandan Premier League and Uganda’s second division league for $7,240,000 over ten years. A similar deal between the Chinese company and the Kenyan Premier League flopped earlier this year as the two parties disagreed on the nitty-gritties. “We took this decision to give back to the people of Uganda because of their passion for football,” Andy Wang, StarTimes CEO said during the unveiling ceremony on Thursday. StarTimes also holds the same rights for the Ghana’s topflight and was angling to acquire the KPL’s as well but the deal hit a snag at the…

Sports Journalists Association of Kenya (SJAK) Secretary General Mike Okinyi has said “everyone was given an equal opportunity to vie for the seat they desired” in the body’s Saturday elections. Mike was responding to allegations that the organization’s executive altered nomination rules midair and within a short notice, leading to up to eight aspirants being locked out of the process. He said nothing could be further from the truth, “We gave a notice in July and followed it up with a reminder. Everything was done above board as you have seen in the documents I have forwarded you,” the Citizen…

Former PM Raila Odinga accompanied by Kisumu County Governor Prof. Peter Anyang’ Nyong’o on Wednesday visited the family of the late Mama Oliech to console with them at their home in Nairobi. Mary Auma Oliech, the mother of former Kenya’s Harambee Stars skipper Dennis Oliech, passed on last month after collapsing at her house in Nairobi. Raila “recalled the good memories he shared with mama Oliech, who was one of his strongest supporters in Nairobi,” according to Nyong’o’s media officer Eddy Illah. “They were welcomed by Dennis Oliech, Andrew Oyombe and other family members,” Eddy added. Read: ‘Star’ Eye Witness In…

Sports Journalists Association of Kenya (SJAK) is set to hold their second elections on Saturday, however, there is growing disquiet over how the nomination process was conducted. Up to eight aspirants were locked out on technicalities due to “funny” rules introduced at the last minute without members’ approval, setting the stage for selections and not elections, according to a source. The disgruntled members are reportedly planning to go to court to obtain orders stopping the elections that will be conducted by the National Olympic Committee of Kenya at Nairobi Safari Club. Aspirants were given from Wednesday to Saturday midnight last…

Kenyans led by President Uhuru Kenyatta took to twitter to mourn the untimely death of athletics “hero” Nicholas Bett. The 28-year-old former World 400m hurdles champion died from a cash crash in his hometown of Nandi. Uhuru said he was “deeply” saddened by the death saying Bett “earned the country great honours in his outstanding victories.” “My deepest sympathies and heartfelt condolences to his family, relatives and friends,” the Head of State tweeted. https://twitter.com/UKenyatta/status/1027108137134956545 His deputy William Ruto said the death was “tragic” and “a big loss to his family and the global athletics fraternity.” “He made history in 2015…

Manchester United’s midfielder has informed the club that he wants to leave and join Barcelona exactly after two years when he joined the club according to multiple sources. The Red Devils are said to have denied the development and insist the Frenchman is not for sale. As a result, the club risks keeping unhappy and uncommitted player who earns over nine million pounds and three million of loyalty bonuses annually. The 25-year old’s agent, Mino Raiola is said to have brokered a 346,000 weekly wages for five years for the World Cup winning midfielder who says he wants to play…

Bandari FC edged out Gor Mahia 2-1 to bring their 22-match unbeaten run to a screeching halt at Mbaraki Stadium, Mombasa on Tuesday. Under a sweltering heat, K’Ogalo, who arrived in the coastal town on Monday well in time to acclimatize, found the going tough, conceding twice in the first half. Guya put the Dockers in the lead in the 12th minute from a free-kick before Yema Mwana doubled the lead in the 36th minute, capitalizing on a mix up in the defense. Jacques Tuyisenge pulled one back for the visitors in the 78th minute as they threatened a comeback…

As transfer deadline edges closer, AS Roma have their radar on Tottenham Hotspur’s Kenyan midfielder, Victor Wanyama. Giallarosi were initially interested in bringing Steven N’Zonzi from Sevilla to Serie A but it is unlikely that the Frenchman who prefers a move to England will make it to Italy. The Kenyan international has thus turn out to be their option. Wanyama joined Spurs in 2016 and only played 24 games last season, having been sidelined with injury. He is currently nursing a knee injury while he remains with three seasons at White Hart Lane. Do you have a story you want…

Zesco United’s Kenyan International Striker Jesse Were has scooped the Zambian Super Leagues Fans Player of the Month of July 2018 award. Jesse edged out Green Eagles striker Anos Tembo in the Final round of voting which ended on Saturday the 4th of August 2018 at 12:00 CAT to bag the accolade. The former Tusker FC goal-poacher got an overwhelming 1055 votes followed by Anos who got 498 votes with 1553 people voting. It was the first time in the history of the award that someone who didn’t win the first round of voting ended up winning the second round…

Legendary Egyptian goalkeeper Essam El Hadary has retired from international football after 22 years of service. At 45, the Ismaily SC player became the oldest player ever to grace the World Cup. The former Al Ahly SC custodian made the history in a group match against Saudi Arabia during the 2018 Russia World Cup. “After 22 years,  4 months and 12 days since wearing the Egyptian National Team Shirt, I felt it was the right moment for me to hang my gloves,” he said. El Hadary played 159 times for the Pharaohs, winning the Afcon four times in 1998, 2006,…

Ahead of their Tuesday’s KPL match against Bandari FC, run away league leaders Gor Mahia were given a 4-star treatment at Prideinn Paradise Beach Resort, Shanzu. Former Kibera Constituency parliamentary aspirant and staunch K’Ogalo fan Eliud Owalo footed the bill at a cost of Ksh. 270,000 as a sigh of appreciation for the team’s recent bullish form. Gor will later today play Mombasa-based Bandari in a mid-week KPL match at Mbaraki Stadium. The dockers have vowed to end K’Ogalo’s 22-match unbeaten run. The coach Bernard Mwalala’s side is currently enjoying a superb domestic form and were 3-1 winners against floundering…

Cristiano Ronaldo’s first Serie A tie for his new side, Juventus will be streamed live on Facebook for free. Eleven Sports which covers Serie A and La Liga games promised to air at least a game from both leagues on their UK Facebook page every week as part of their deal with the social media giant. Read: K’Ogalo Out To Finish Business Against Yanga In Dar They have decided to include Biaconneri vs Chievo game slated for August 18. The Portuguese winger moved to Italian giants from Real Madrid at £100m and his switch is creating notable changes in Turin…

Former Barcelona winger Emmanuel Amunike has been unveiled as the new coach of Tanzania’s Taifa Stars on a two-year-deal. The 47-year-old former Nigeria international was unveiled today by the president of the Tanzania Football Federation Wallace Karai. Read:Why Tanzania’s Simba Snubbed AFC Leopards For Asante Kotoko Friendly His immediate task will be to prepare the team for the Afcon 2019 qualifier against Uganda next month. Amunike’s last posting was with Sudan’s top division side Al Khartoum SC. He has also coached Nigeria’s U-17 team as well as his former side Bridge FC of Lagos. In his heydays, Amunike played…

Manchester United gaffer Jose Mourinho is not at ease ahead of the Red Devils’ season opener against Leicester City on Friday. The Portuguese is helplessly hoping that one of his returning World Cup stars will be available for selection for the crucial encounter. Mrcus Rashford, Phil Jones and Victor Lindelof, all returned to training last week and gained a few minutes in Sunday’s 1-0 friendly loss to Bayern Munich but are still not at optimum. He suggested at least one of Ashley Ypung, Jesse Lingard, Marouane Fellaini, Paul Pogba and Romelu Lukaku will feature against the Foxes under the lights…

Former South African pro-boxer Manelisi Mbilase was stoned for allegedly robbing two women. The 40-year-old former featherweight title holder was reportedly part of a three-man group that was chased down by locals after the attack in the Eastern Cape. Mbilase, who was said to have threatened the women with a knife, was brutally beaten with rocks and fists before being loaded in a wheelbarrow and dumped by a nearby government building. According to a witness account, they were woken up at 6.00am local time by screams from the two women. “Two were already far away but Mbilase was running…