Author: Bonface Osano

Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk has had a “successful” operation on his knee ligament injury, the club say. The 29-year-old has not played since damaging anterior cruciate ligaments (ACL) in a challenge with Everton goalkeeper Jordan Pickford in the 2-2 Premier League draw on 17 October. Liverpool said “no timeframe has been placed” on Van Dijk’s return. Read: Xherdan Shaqiri Latest Liverpool Player To Test Positive For Coronavirus “This time [after an operation] is always unpleasant. He is good as good as can be,” said manager Jurgen Klopp. “The surgery was successful, which is really good, the best news we could…

Harambee Stars defender Brian Onyango Mandela has joined South African champions Mamelodi Sundowns. Onyango, 26, was a free agent; he penned a three-year deal with the multiple South African league winners with a two-year option to extend. The former Tusker FC player first moved to South Africa 2012 after signing for Santos FC. He last played for Maritzburg United in the South African top flight, now known as Supersport Premiership, till last season when he was released. Onyango missed the 2019 AFCON in Egypt after sustaining a knee injury, but he has since recovered and is back with Harambee Stars.…

Manchester United’s Brazil left-back Alex Telles has tested positive for coronavirus. Telles, who joined United from Porto on a four-year contract earlier this month, did not feature in the 5-0 Champions League win over RB Leipzig on Wednesday. The Old Trafford club tweeted: “We wish him a speedy recovery and a swift return to the group.” The 27-year-old defender will now self-isolate for a period of 10 days. Read: Rashford Stars In Man United’s Biggest Champions League Win United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjær made Telles one of his new-season signings for a fee of 15m euros (£13.6m), plus 2m euros in…

Marcus Rashford came off the bench to score a clinical hat-trick as Manchester United continued their recent momentum by taking apart RB Leipzig in the Champions League. England international Rashford came on just after the hour mark and netted three goals in 16 minutes, first running clear to calmly slot in, then smashing in a terrific second, before drilling home a third in stoppage time. Teenage forward Mason Greenwood scored his first goal in the competition, latching onto Paul Pogba’s defence-splitting pass before drilling a precise, low finish into the far corner. Greenwood produced another thumping effort straight at Peter…

World 100m champion Christian Coleman has been banned for two years after missing three drugs tests. The 24-year-old American, who is suspended from May 14, 2020, will miss the postponed Tokyo Olympics next year. Coleman won 100m gold at the World Championships in Doha in 2019. Representative Emanuel Hudson confirmed the indoor 60m world record holder will appeal against the Athletics Integrity Unit’s (AIU) ruling to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (Cas). Hudson described the decision as “unfortunate”, adding: “Mr Coleman has nothing further to say until such time as the matter can be heard in the court of…

Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba has opened up on his Islam faith saying that becoming a Muslim made him ‘better person’. In an interview with British daily The Times’ Life Times, Pogba said he was not raised as a Muslim despite his mother practising Islam. He revealed that he started ‘questioning himself over a lot of things’ before turning to Islam and becoming ‘more peaceful inside’. Pogba became interested in Islam after he decided to research the religion and follow a number of his friends by turning to the faith and the Man United midfielder credits the decision with helping…

FKFPL giants AFC Leopards have signed Congolese holding midfielder Fabrice Mugheni on a two-year contract. Fabrice joins Ingwe from Rwandan side Rayon Sports and will don jersey number 17. He has also played for Kiyoku SC and Police FC in the Rwandan top flight. He has also featured for SR Congo U17 and 20 sides. Leopards have continued to beef up their squad ahead of the 2020/21 FKFPL season expected to begin next month. The team is presently in preseason in Iten, Eldoret. They are hopeful of finally breaking a two-decade jinx and winning this season’s title. Email your news…

Preparations for Harambee Stars’ non-residential training are in top gear as the team readies itself for the two-legged Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Comoros next month. Local-based players are set to report to camp on Wednesday, October 28, 2020, with their foreign-based counterparts scheduled to start checking in on Sunday, November 1, 2020. The first leg will be played at the MISC Kasarani on November 11, 2020, at 7 pm, under floodlights, while the second leg has been slated for November 15, 2020, away. Kenya is second in Group G of the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations Qualifiers with…

Contact sports remain banned in the country due to the Coronavirus pandemic, however, this could change soon as the government intends to review safety protocols. Despite the ban, teams participating in international competitions can request for special permission to train and compete. Clubs like FKFPL champions Gor Mahia have for the last two months been training in readiness to represent the country in the CAF Champions League. The Harambee Stars early this month hosted Zambia in a friendly match as part of their preparations for the 2022 AFCON qualifying double header against Comoros next month. Domestic competitions such as FKFPL…

Jacob “Ghost” Mulee has explained Francis Kahata exclusion from the Harambee Stars squad for next month’s AFCON 2020 qualifying match against Comoros. Ghost, who recently replaced Francis Kimanzi as the national team’s head coach, on Sunday released a provisional squad for the double header with Kahata conspicuously missing. Kahata was a second half substitute in Harambee Stars recent 2-1 win over Zambia in a friendly played at Nyayo Stadium, coming on for Kenneth Muguna in the 74th minute. According to Ghost, the creative midfielder has not been active at club level. Read: Harambee Stars Playmaker Francis Kahata Begins Training With Simba…

Michael Olunga was on the scoresheet as his side Kashiwa Reysol went down 2-1 to Gamba Osaka in the J-League on Saturday. Olunga equalised for the visitors in the 80th minute with his trademark left strike after Seung Gyu Kim scored an own goal in the 52nd minute. https://twitter.com/J_League_En/status/1319924524444311553?s=19 Brazilian Ademilson restored the lead for Gamba nine minutes later to seal all the three points. Olunga has now scored 23 goals in 24 matches and is still the leading top scorer in the Japanese top flight, 10 goals ahead of second placed Everado of Kashima Antlers. Email your news TIPS…

Schoolboy Benson Omala scored a hat-trick as Gor Mahia drubbed Naivasha Combined 6-3 in a friendly played on Saturday in Naivasha. Another new acquisition Dickson Raila and veteran Nicholas Kipkirui scored a goal each with the hosts conceding one to complete the route. K’Ogalo are touring Naivasha and will next face Gilgil Combined at Marula Estate stadium, the venue of the first match. Read: PHOTO: Brazilian Coach Roberto Oliveira Arrives To Take Over As New Gor Mahia Coach The FKFPL record champions have been training for over one month now as they gear up to represent the country in the CAF…

Newly appointed Harambee Stars coach Jacob “Ghost” Mulee has expressed his intent in consistently qualifying the Kenya National team to the Africa Cup of Nations. The experienced tactician came back to the national stage on Wednesday, October 21, 2020, when he was officially unveiled as the national team, Harambee Stars head coach. “It’s a good thing that the Federation has shown confidence in what I can do. I have been following the team in recent times and I see a lot of quality in the team,” said coach Mulee. His first assignment is set to be the upcoming two-legged Africa…

Kenya’s Harambee Stars has climbed up three spots to 103 in the latest FIFA ranking released on Thursday. The positive gain can be attributed to Stars’ 2-1 win over Zambia in an international friendly early this month. Zambia on the other hand dropped one position to 86th. In the CECAFA region, Uganda remains the top-ranked team at 72nd, Stars come second with Sudan (128), Rwanda (133), Tanzania (134), Ethiopia (146) and Burundi (148) closing the top 150 list. Harambee Stars next opponents in the 2021 AFCON Qualifier slated for November, Comoros, are placed 132nd globally. Read: The ‘Ghost’ Returns, Signs…

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta says he feels he has “failed” with midfielder Mesut Ozil after leaving him out of his 25-man Premier League squad. The German, who had also been omitted from the Europa League squad, can now only play for Arsenal Under-23s until his deal expires in summer 2021. The 32-year-old, who joined Arsenal for a then club-record £42.4m in 2013, has not played for the club since March 7. “My conscience is very calm because I have been really fair,” said Arteta. “What I can say from my side is that it is just a football decision. My…