Author: Bonface Osano

Juventus have appointed Andrea Pirlo as manager to replace the sacked Maurizio Sarri, a week after hiring the former midfielder as Under-23 boss. The Italian giants sacked Sarri after just one season despite winning Serie A following the club’s Champions League last-16 defeat by Lyon on Friday. Pirlo, 41, has signed a two-year deal until June 2022. The former Italy midfielder was only named the club’s Under-23 manager on 30 July. Juventus said the decision to promote him is “based on the belief that Pirlo has what it takes to lead from his debut on the bench, an expert and…

Gor Mahia held its elections early morning on Saturday in the midst chaos. The process was conducted online through an electronic system, which saw the voting concluded in less than two hours. Only two posts, vice chairman and honorary treasurer, were up for grabs as the other remaining two, chairman and secretary general, had already been decided. Francis Wasuna bagged 226 votes (58%), against Sally Bolo’s 163 to win the vice chairman contest, while Dolfina Odhiambo overwhelmingly defeated Chrispine Okoth, garnering 286 votes (74%) against 103 (26%) to win the the treasurer post. The victors were deemed “system” favoured candidates…

Lyon survived a Cristiano Ronaldo-inspired comeback from Juventus to hang on and book a Champions League quarter-final against Manchester City. Leading 1-0 from February’s first leg, the French side were handed a soft early penalty which Memphis Depay converted in style. That left Juve needing to score three times to progress and Ronaldo got one back from the penalty spot. He then thundered in his 130th Champions League goal but Lyon held on. Lyon boss Rudi Garcia, said: “We came up against an opponent who has an extraterrestrial in its squad,” of five-time Ballon d’Or winner Ronaldo. “This is the…

Manchester City finished off the job they started back in February by deservedly overcoming Real Madrid to reach the Champions League quarter-finals. Pep Guardiola’s side will now face Lyon in the one-game knockout format in Lisbon after inflicting Zinedine Zidane’s first elimination from the Champions League, the French manager having won it three times in his three previous seasons in charge. It was a victory City fully merited as their intense pressing game forced Real into numerous mistakes, with France World Cup-winning defender Raphael Varane in particular unable to cope with the pressing of Gabriel Jesus. He robbed Varane to…

Goalkeeper Robert Mapigano has left Gor Mahia on mutual agreement for Azam FC in his native Tanzania. Mapigano, who’s future at K’Ogalo was doubtful over nonpayment, requested to be released, a wish the club granted. “Mapigano wrote a letter to the club requesting to leave and we agreed to that request allowing him to pursue his interest in Tanzania,” said Rachier, Gor Mahia’s chairman. Cash strapped Gor Mahia have not paid salaries for five months and could lose more players if nothing happens soon. Apart from Mapigano, the record KPL champions have already lost striker Boniface Omondi to Wazito FC.…

Manchester United forward Alexis Sanchez has left the club on a free transfer to join Inter Milan on a three-year deal. Sanchez, who has been on loan at Inter since August 2019, will receive a small pay-off from United after agreeing to waive the final two years of his £560k-per-week contract. Sanchez’s departure brings to an end his disappointing two-and-a-half year spell at Old Trafford. After arriving in a swap deal involving Henrikh Mkhitaryan from Arsenal, he went on to score just five goals in 45 games for United. After confirming Sanchez’s exit, a United statement read: “Everyone at Manchester…

Wales forward Gareth Bale has been left out of Real Madrid’s 24-man squad for the Champions League last-16 second-leg tie against Manchester City on Friday. City won 2-1 in the first leg in Spain in February before the coronavirus pandemic caused the competition to be halted for almost five months. Bale, 31, has played twice, with only one start, in 11 Real games since football in Spain restarted in June. The winners of the tie will play either Lyon or Juventus in the quarter-finals. All the games in the Champions League from the last eight onwards will be played in…

KPL side KCB FC have dropped ten players as they plot for an uncertain future. Amidst the Coronavirus pandemic, which does not help the situation, clubs have continued with transfer business in anticipation of the next season. KCB, who flattered to deceive in the abandoned season, join the fray and have started by offloading players deemed surpluses to requirements. Among notable exclusions from the den include former K. Sharks and Gor Mahia defender Pascal Ogweno, who barely settled after his signing in the January transfer window. Ex-Ulinzi Stars and Sofapaka prolific striker Stephen Waruru has also been shown the door,…

Wazito FC, christened Kenyan Premier League moneybags, are bulldozing their way to the Kenyan football table of men, because they can. Since its acquisition by business mogul Ricardo Badoer a few years , the club has made it known, through action, they are not going to be a push over on and off the field. Backed by Ricardo’s fat wallet, the club has in the recent past pulled a number of firsts; they became the first KPL club to open a merchandise shop and ensured all their matches are produced in HD and made available for free online. In a…

Kashiwa Reysol striker Michael Olunga is being linked with a Kshs 115 million move to Turkish giants Besiktas. A Spor reports the Harambee Stars international is a summer transfer option for coach Sergen Yalçın, who is keen to bolster his forward line. Besiktas are also reportedly pursuing TP Mazembe highly rated striker Jackson Muleka. Olunga has become a star performer for Kashiwa Reysol, scoring nine goals in eight J-League games of the new season, making him the leading scorer. He was instrumental in the team’s promotion to the top flight last season after scoring 27 goals. Olunga set the record…

Harambee Stars midfielder Johanna Omolo has signed a new one-year deal with Belgian top flight side Cercle Brugge. Omolo, who turned 31 last week has been with the club for the past three seasons, helping them gain promotion in 2018. He has already played for Cercle 59 times. Last season, Omolo scored a great goal against Standard Liege, their opponent for this Saturday. In the past two seasons, the versatile midfielder has repeatedly proved its worth for Groen-Zwart, both on and off the site. He was one of Harambee Stars standout performers in the last AFCON in Egypt despite the…

Fifa deputy secretary general Alasdair Bell says controversy around the head of world football is as an “Alice in Wonderland situation” and a “step backwards” in repairing Fifa’s name. Last week, prosecutors in Switzerland launched legal proceedings against Fifa president Gianni Infantino in relation to an alleged secret meeting with Swiss attorney general Michael Lauber. Both men have denied any wrongdoing. Infantino has opted not to step down until the matter is dealt with. “Most people would recognise if you go to meet the attorney general, you would be in pretty safe hands,” Bell told BBC Sport. “You wouldn’t think…

Ivorian striker Yikpe Gnamien made big headlines when in December last year he unceremoniously ditched cash strapped Gor Mahia for record Tanzanian champions Yanga SC. It was a big coup for Yanga, who were desperately trying to match their arch rivals Simba on and off the pitch and turn a strong tide against them. Simba had previously raided Gor Mahia, taking with them two of K’Ogalo’s most priced assets; Francis Kahata and Meddie, who were an instant hit in Ligi Kuu. Unfortunately for Yanga, Yikpe didn’t live up to the hype, instead morphing into an object of ridicule by the…

Simba SC mounted a colourful trophy parade in Dar Es Salaam on Monday to celebrate a successful season which saw them bag a treble. Fans, in total disregard of social distancing, mobbed an open air bus which snaked it’s way through the streets of the capital, displaying the three trophies. Tanzania government has maintained the country is Coronavirus free and stopped announcing new cases in April. It is also against the law to make public pronouncements or on social media posts about the deadly virus without government approval. Simba won Ligi Kuu, the country’s top flight, for a third time…

Arsenal rallied to beat Chelsea 2-1 to win a record 14th FA Cup title at Wembley on Saturday. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was the toast for the Gunners, striking twice; first from the spot before completing the comeback with a cool finish to seal the win. American Christian Pulisic had given the Blues an early 5th minute lead with another sumptuous strike. Arsenal cemented their supremacy over Chelsea in the final with a third victory in four meets. https://twitter.com/OptaJoe/status/1289630881687015425?s=19 Aubameyang became the first African to start and win an FA Cup final as captain, while Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta became the first…