Author: Bonface Osano

Female athletes from various sports codes received food donation geared towards cushioning them from the Coronavirus effects. Cabinet Secretary for Sports Amina Mohamed oversaw the distribution process at Nyayo Stadium, Nairobi. The excercise targeted “the most in-need” athletes including Paralympic Committee, Deaf Starlets, Harambee Starlets, Rugby Lionesses and Cricket. https://twitter.com/AMB_A_Mohammed/status/1267820821872906240?s=19 Women athletes have felt left out of various support programs during these COVID-19 pandemic. Kenya Women’s Premier League players missed out when Football Kenya Federation (FKF) in partnership with betting firm Betika gave their men’s counterparts Kshs 5000 each last month. They were not also considered when Amina announced Kshs…

The Premier League has given clubs permission to play friendly matches, with strict restrictions, before the restart on 17 June. Top-flight sides made requests to face other teams in preparation for the league’s return, which was accepted, according to the Telegraph. Premier League leaders Liverpool held an 11-a-side game in training at Anfield on Monday. Friendlies can be played at either stadiums or training grounds. However, the Premier League has outlined a number of conditions such as negative Covid-19 tests being returned by players involved. Measures have also been put in place ensure hygiene and social distancing rules are adhered…

Football Kenya Federation (FKF) will not be party to this afternoon’s efforts by Sports Dispute Tribunal (SDT) to find a solution to the body’s elections through mediation. SDT chairman John Ohaga last week ordered stakeholders in the dispute to a roundtable meeting this afternoon to help break the ice. But in a letter to the tribunal, FKF boss Nick Mwendwa has declined the offer, saying the matter had undergone full litigation before the body with no further orders given. “The Tribunal’s decision of March 17, 2020 made no positive order directing or requiring the Federation to undertake any process(es) or…

Floyd Mayweather has offered to cover the funeral expenses for George Floyd, who died in police custody last week. The African-American’s death while in police custody in Minneapolis prompted protests across the United States. The former five-division world champion’s promotional company, Mayweather Productions, confirmed on Twitter he had made the offer, and several local media reports have said the family has accepted. The Minneapolis police officer who kneeled on Floyd, Derek Chauvin, has been sacked and charged with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. Several high-profile sports stars, including Tiger Woods, Michael Jordan and Lewis Hamilton, have expressed outrage at Floyd’s…

German FA (DFB) president Fritz Keller said he felt “respect and understanding” for the actions of four players who protested Floyd’s death on the pitch at the weekend. That’s despite the DFB investigating Jadon Sancho and Achraf Hakimi of Borussia Dortmund as well as Weston McKennie of Schalke and Marcus Thuram of Borussia Monchengladbach for breaching rules over making political statements on the field of play. He said: “I have great respect for players who have an attitude and show their solidarity. I wish for such mature players and I am proud of them. Morally, I can absolutely understand the…

Liverpool players took a knee around the centre circle at Anfield in a message of support following the death in police custody of African-American George Floyd in Minneapolis. The picture featuring 29 Reds players came with the caption “Unity is strength. #BlackLivesMatter”. Players reportedly requested the picture during training on Monday. Manchester United’s Paul Pogba and Marcus Rashford added their voices to worldwide protests against racism. Protests have been held after Floyd, an unarmed black man, died on 25 May after being restrained by white Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, who kneeled on his neck for almost nine minutes to…

Manchester United have reached agreement with Shanghai Greenland Shenhua to extend the loan deal for Odion Ighalo. The Nigerian striker’s stay was initially due to end on 31 May but he will now remain with the Reds until 31 January 2021. Ighalo’s tally of four goals in eight appearances so far includes at least one strike in each of his three starts – against Club Brugge, Derby County (2) and LASK. Today’s confirmation is a timely boost for United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, as he continues to prepare his squad for this month’s resumption of competitive football. The Premier League’s…

Arsenal have ‘offered Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang a contract extension’ and are attempting to ward off interest in their star striker with fresh terms. The lethal frontman has just one year left on his current deal and is yet to agree on a prolonged stay, with a number of clubs including PSG interested in a move for him this summer. According to L’Equipe, the 30-year-old has received the offer of a contract extension at the Emirates. Champions League football may be a serious lure for Aubameyang, who despite his consistent performances, has found himself battling with Arsenal in the Europa League since…

Kenya Rugby League Federation (KRLF) has appointed Benjamin Otieno Ayimba as the Technical Director. The new role tasks Ayimba with developing the Kenya rugby league technical structures in all levels from grass root, community and club rugby. He will also be called upon to formulate a high performance plan for players, coaches, referee and affiliate clubs. The 43-year-old is an accomplished Rugby coach of both the short and full version of the game and boasts immense wealth of experience of over 15 years both as a player and in the coaching units. “After a long walk in what seemed like…

Bundesliga games over the weekend offered a platform for players to add their voice in the call for justice for George Floyd. Protests have been held after George Floyd, an unarmed black man, died while being restrained by Minneapolis police. Jadon Sancho unveiled a ‘Justice for George Floyd’ T-shirt after scoring for Borussia Dortmund against Paderborn Sunday. Sancho, who scored a hat-trick as Dortmund thrashed Paderborn 6-1, was shown a yellow card for the gesture. Sancho later wrote on Instagram: “Delighted to get my first career hat trick, a bittersweet moment personally as there are more important things going on…

A day after successfully navigating his way back to Tanzania, Harambee Stars midfielder Francis Kahata begun gym work at Simba SC. Under watchful eyes of Belgian manager Sven Vandebroeck, the former Gor Mahia player was taken through his paces a lone before joining the whole squad. Kahata’s journey back wasn’t rosy owing to the fact that Kenya-Tanzania borders remain closed for passengers due to the Coronavirus. However, he managed to travel through Namanga border to Arusha before catching a flight to Dar thanks to a letter Simba did to Kenyan authorities. Ligi Kuu, Tanzania’s top flight is set to resume…

Former AFC Leopards coach Andre Casa Mbungo is threatening to sue the club at Fifa over Ksh9 million salary arrears. Mbungo resigned last year amidst a biting financial crisis at the den which saw the Rwandan gaffer go for six months without pay. At the time of his departure in December, the club owed him Ksh2.5 million, amount he’s yet to be paid despite numerous pleas to the club’s hierarchy. He also wants the remainder of his two-year contract to be paid in full plus accrued interests, bringing the amount to over Ksh9 million. Read: Strapped AFC Leopards Appeal For…

Being axed from Kenya’s Harambee Stars 23-man squad to the last Afcon in Egypt was devastating to Kaizer Chiefs midfielder Anthony Agay Akumu. Agay, who was then turning out for Zambian giants Zesco United, was amongst three players who were dropped by coach Sebastien Mignè before the team left for Cairo from a camp in France. Others were injured duo of Brian Mandela and Christopher Mbamba, the former, however, stayed with the team throughout the campaign. In an interview with Daily Nation’s Samuel Gacharira, Agay recounted the whole experience of missing an opportunity to play at the grandest African football…

Harambee Stars midfielder Francis Kahata has made his way to Tanzania to link up with his team Simba SC ahead of Ligi Kuu resumption. Kahata returned to Nairobi in March when sporting activities were halted to help curb person to person spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. But the government has since eased restrictions and will fully open up the economy next month. With the green light from President Magufuli, Ligi Kuu, Tanzania’s top flight, announced this week they will resume action on June 13. Read: Francis Kahata Signs For Simba SC Of Tanzania Simba SC like other clubs already begun…

Formula One’s truncated coronavirus-hit season will finally get underway with the Austrian Grand Prix on July 5, the Austrian government announced on Saturday. The Spielberg circuit has also been given the green light to stage a second race the following weekend. “The two Formula One races on July 5 and 12 at Spielberg will be staged without spectators,” said the Austrian Health Minister. He added that the two races had been given the green light after F1 organisers “had presented a complete and professional plan” to combat the spread of COVID-19. The F1 season was thrown into chaos with the…