Usain Bolt smashes his own world record Usain Bolt of Jamaica bolted out of the blocks to break his own world 100m record, this time crashing the field in 9.58 seconds at the ongoing World Athletics grand prix in Berlin, Germany. Just how fast can this man run? He has said he will attempt 9.4 seconds. If Usain says it, you had better believe him. He's from Jamaica. More... Masai breaks Ethiopia's 10-year dominance Linet Masai powers her way to win the 10,000 metres gold medal at the Berlin International Athletics Meet By Mutwiri Mutuota, Aug 17 2009 Cinderella’s fairytale may have originated in ancient Greece but Berlin witnessed the perfect rendition of the classic folktale when Linet Chepkwemoi Masai stepped to the podium to accept the women’s 10,000m gold medal. Kenya’s national anthem was the first to be heard inside Berlin’s Olympiastadion and only the second after Russia’s tune rang out at the historic Brandenburg Gate where the city’s dividing wall fell in 1989 to unite East and West Germany. More... Sir Bobby Robson is dead Sir Bobby Robson in his hey days as one of the most successful English football managers. By Nico Hines, July 31 2009 The world of football is mourning Sir Bobby Robson, the former England manager, who died this morning at the age of 76. He passed away at his home in County Durham after losing a long battle with cancer. "It is with great sadness that it has been announced today that Sir Bobby Robson has lost his long and courageous battle with cancer," a statement read. "He died very peacefully this morning at his home with his wife and family beside him. Sir Bobby's funeral will be private and for family members only. 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This was not how a previously outstanding season was supposed to end. It was thought the experience of manager Alex Ferguson, who has seen and done it all, would find out young buck Pep Guardiola in his first campaign as Barca boss. Far from it. Guardiola asked all the questions and provided all the answers, as he completed an incredible treble of domestic league and cup and now Europe's biggest prize at the tender age of 38. In the process, Guardiola became the youngest-ever Champions League-winning coach and one of a rare breed to lift the trophy as both player and manager. Source: The SUN Kenya's Mashujaa steals international rugby tournament in London By Agnes Giatu, May 26 2009 Kenya's prime minister Hon Raila Odinga on a stop-over in London from Washington joined thousands of Kenyans in congratulating Kenya's sevens team ‘Mashujaa’ for their galactic performance at the Twickenham London Sevens. Speaking to Kenya London News, Hon Odinga said he was humbled by the hard work the young team had put in to win the bowl trophy in the London Emirates Sevens. The Kenyan team which was this year's the most popular in the tournament buoyed by a fantastic fan base, put Kenya in the positive International headlines, coming timely following the recent PR disaster due to the constant political bickering that has customised the political front. The Prime minister's message was delivered to the Kenya Sevens team through team Coach Ben Ayimba. Source: Kenya London News Tikolo out runs Pakistanis Kenya Cricket Captain, Steve Tikolo is full flight as he bats the charging Pakistani Team away at Nairobi Gymkhana. By Richard Mwangi, Sept 16 2008 Kenya’s captain Steve Tikolo took full charge of batting against the visiting Pakistan Academy at Nairobi Gymkhana Monday for the second consecutive day and missed another century by six runs. 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Murunga axed in a 15-man National Rugby Team

By Samson Ateka, Nairobi, Sept 18 2007

Veteran eighth-man Paul "Pablo" Murunga will miss the Africa Cup semifinals against Uganda in Antananarivo on September 26. Murunga who captains Kenya Cup League champions, KCB, was the surprise exclusion in the team. He was relegated to the non-travelling reserve team as Team manager Wangila Simiyu announced the Antananarivo-bound outfit.

A team of 34 was whittled down to 23 players who jet out on Sunday morning aboard a Madagascar Airline plane. Coach Michael "Tank" Otieno is away in France for a refresher course coinciding with the Rugby World Cup (courtesy of the French government) and will be back in time to accompany the boys.

Team manager Wangila Simiyu clarified that there was nothing sinister in Murunga’s case and that "he was still part and parcel of their future plans."

Murunga has been instrumental in the wins against Morocco and Cameroon in the Northern Pool ‘A Africa Cup qualifiers that culminated into Kenya ’s maiden CAR Cup semi appearance. Impala’s Paul Oimbo has replaced Murunga in the number eight position.

Skipper Daniel Kiptoo retains his prop position and so is KCB’s Edwin Alubaka who will start at lock. Joel Ng’ang’a of Quins comes in to fill the void left behind by Derrick Wamalwa at prop. Wamalwa is in France where he signed with a Division two side.

Kiptoo said they were pressing to rule the continent. "If we win this Cup, then we will be ranked second after (South Africa’s) Springboks because we have beaten Namibia who are in the World Cup. "It’s been a long journey to the Cup semis and we are leaving nothing to chance," Kiptoo said.

The core of the sevens team speedsters make up the entire back including Khayange brothers- Collins and Humphrey. Lavin Asego is at fly-half while Victor Sudi and his brother Neto Simiyu have also been named in the starting line up. KCB’s prolific kicker Peter Mutai has been preferred at scrumhalf against Moses Kola.

THE TEAM: 1. Daniel Kiptoo [Captain) 2. Edwin Alubaka 3. Joel Ng’ang’a 4. Vincent Ong’era, 4. Mike Aung (Nondescripts). 5. Anthony Ogot (KCB) 6. Arnold Odera 7. Andrew Amonde 8. Paul Oimbo 9. Peter Mutai (Kenya Commercial Bank), 10. Lavin Asego 11. Victor Sudi 12. Biko Adema (Nondescript) 13. Humphrey Khayange 14. Collins Injera 15. Neto Simiyu.

RESERVES: Lewis Olaka, George Mbaye, Michael Kimani (, Horace Otieno (Mwamba), Arthur Shikwe, Innocent Simiyu.

Officials: Michael Otieno (Head coach), Edward Kinyany, Charles Ngovi (Assistant coaches), Simiyu Wangila (Team manager), Christopher Makacha (Physiotherapist).

Source: Standard

Football loses as Mumias packs up

When Mumias Sugar Company announced the disbandment of its club, a fortnight ago, the swift action must have surprised many football fans.It was surprising because the timing was wrong, coming when the local league is starved of stiff competition and needs such outfits as Mumias Football Club.It was such a big blow to the football fraternity once again that one of the major sides in the Premier League had to be disbanded.

Mumias Sugar being one of the best funded corporate clubs in the league added a lot of value to the level of competition. Their sudden exit, with the company management citing wrangles and confusion in the administration of the Kenya Football Federation (KFF), was not going to help matters.

But as is characteristic of Kenya, the news of the sugar millers’ withdrawal from the league was treated casually. Not surprising though, considering that former giants AFC Leopards were too bundled out of the league — although on a completely different basis (relegation). The precedent seems to have been set and make no mistake, Kenya’s former football giants’ fortunes seem to have dwindled It is a common trend that as players go for weeks without allowances, club officials are fighting over who should be in charge, with total disregard to rules governing the sport.

A flashback 10 years ago and one realises how low the levels of the Kenyan game have sunk.By the way, who would have imagined that AFC Leopards (popularly known as "Ingwe") would one day be silent and almost forgotten? It was in fact an abomination to imagine Kenya football without mentioning "Ingwe" and their archrivals Gor Mahia alias "Ko Gallo". Such was the dominance of the two clubs that players from both teams would form the bulk of the national team, Harambee Stars.

In other countries, the government takes the initiative to salvage "sinking" clubs, either financially or otherwise, because football is a mass movement game all over the world. It is disappointing, therefore, that in less than five years, such top clubs in the Premier League as Rivatex, Nzoia, Oserian Festac, KCC, among others, had to be disbanded. There is the question of community clubs which also raises many questions. Did Shabana, Leopards and Re-Union, the largest crowd pullers at stadia, suffer the axe of relegation?

Measures should have been put in place to cushion these community clubs because their fall from grace was gradual and not by a stroke of the pen.Few people, for example, would recall that Oserian Fastac (Naivasha) were once Premier League champions, and went on to fight gallantly before losing to Etoile du Sahel of Tunisia and thus miss out on the Africa Champions League group stage by a whisker. These teams were no pushovers and added a sparkle to the league.

Are institutional clubs the panacea to Kenya’s football woes? If so, then why are they folding up too soon? So what next, if for instance (God forbid) East African Breweries Ltd decides that it has had enough of the KFF drama and withdrew its sponsorship to Tusker FC? Is it judicious to leave the game entirely in the hands of institutional clubs?

It is high time we embraced the community clubs, but formally with registered members who shall have a say in the running of the clubs. This will make it difficult for those who use the clubs as a springboard to politics to look elsewhere. He who pays the piper calls the tune and therefore those who fund the clubs will run them in any manner they deem fit.As Leopards, Gor Mahia and Mathare United have proven over the years that, with effective management, community clubs will give their institutional counterparts a run for their money.

Indeed, history shows that the former — even with their reliance on handouts from well wishers — have won the league most times.

Source: Standard

By Peter Atsiaya, Nairobi, Tuesday, 25 April 2007
Bukhungu Stadium in Kakamega is to be taken over by the government, Sports Minister, Maina Kamanda has announced.
The dilapidated stadium, which holds much sentimental value to football lovers from the Luhya community, is to be rehabilitated alongside other provincial stadia, the minister said. Kamanda decried the pathetic state of the stadiums, adding that plans were under way to rehabilitate them. He explained that his ministry was negotiating with the Local Authorities to manage the stadiums with the intention of taking over the facilities.

"We have approached the Local Authorities to hand over the running of the stadiums to us," said the Starehe MP. The minister, who is on a tour of Western Kenya, was speaking to the Press in Kisumu town on Wednesday. He added that Local Authorities in the country had abandoned most of the stadiums.
Besides Bukhungu, other stadiums that are in a sorry state in the region include Moi Stadium in Kisumu, Gusii in Kisii, Kanduyi in Bungoma and Busia stadium.

Mumias, Chemelil, Sony and Nzoia Sugar companies have maintained their stadiums, which are being used by their clubs featuring in the premier league.
Kamanda said most of the stadiums were not busy because they no longer host premier league matches. As a result, the minister added, the councils have left the facilities for villagers to graze their cattle. He said that if taken over from the civic bodies, the facilities would be put under stadium management board. The minister pointed out that the status of the stadiums would be improved to meet the required standards.

He explained that the ministry would not force the councils to hand over the stadiums to the board."We will not use force to take away management of the stadiums from the civic bodies," he explained. Kamanda said that the board would use the stadiums to host various sporting activities to generate money.
Source: The Standard