Rugby

Kenya Sevens National Team to have a new Shirt

 Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) has today unveiled Sport Betting firm Sportpesa as the official shirt sponsor of the Kenya Sevens national team.

This is after previous sponsor’s Kenya Airways the contract expires on Wednesday November 30th 2016.

Speaking today during the unveiling of the shirt, KRU Chairman Richard Omwela said that they were pleased with the sponsorship forged with Sportpesa and with this support the rugby team will scale even to greater heights.

Omwela also paid tribute to outgoing shirt sponsors Kenya Airways saying, “We appreciate the support Kenya Airways have accorded the Kenya sevens team and the KRU in general.”

He added that KRU will continue working with Kenya Airways  as the promotion of their destinations through rugby as a key to travelling base and  also as a sport tourism destination.

Omwela praised the collaborative support of Safaricom, KBL, General Motors, Dasani and Tatu City in sustaining long term development of Rugby in the country.

Sportpesa Chief Executive Officer Ronald Karauri said that they were proud to be the official shirt sponsors of Rugby sevens.

Karauri said that the players will be awarded bonuses based on their performance which is part of their deal. 

“If they win in any series, each player receives Ksh 6000,000 ( 6,000 dollars) , runners up  Ksh 300,000 (3,000 dollars),  Ksh 150,000 (1,500 dollars)  in the semis and Ksh 100,000 ( 1,000 dollars) in the plate final.

Sportpesa offered KRU Ksh. 607 million shillings deal in July that saw Sportpesa become partner in all its activities including the Kenya Sevens Men’s team.

The deal also covers the development of Kenya Simba’s, Kenya U19s, Kenya Lionesses and other youth programmes with the target of qualifying for the 2019 World Cup in Japan.

Sportpesa is a sport betting company in Kenya which provides both mobile and online platform for sports betting.

Football

The 40-man shortlist (in alphabetical order by position):

Goalkeepers: Gianluigi Buffon (Juventus), Keylor Navas (Real Madrid), Jan Oblak (Atletico Madrid) Rui Patricio (Sporting Lisbon).

Defenders: Toby Alderweireld (Tottenham spur) Jerome Boateng (Bayern Munich), Leonardo Bonucci (Juventus), Dani Carvajal (Real Madrid), Diego Godin (Atletico Madrid), Raphael Guerreiro (Borussia Dortmund), Juanfran (Atletico Madrid), Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich), Laurent Koscielny (Arsenal), Pepe (Real Madrid), Gerard Pique (Barcelona), Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid).

Midfielders: Joe Allen (Stoke), Kevin De Bruyne (Man City), Yannick Carrasco (Atletico Madrid), Andres Iniesta (Barcelona), N'Golo Kanté (Chelsea), Toni Kroos (Real Madrid), Grzegorz Krychowiak (PSG), Riyad Mahrez (Leicester), Luka Modric (Real Madrid), Dimitri Payet (West Ham), Paul Pogba (Man Utd), Aaron Ramsey (Arsenal).

Forwards: Sergio Aguero (Man City), Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Borussia Dortmund), Gareth Bale (Real Madrid), Antoine Griezmann (Atletico Madrid), Gonzalo Higuaín (Juventus), Zlatan Ibrahimovic (Man Utd), Robert Lewandowski (Bayern Munich), Lionel Messi (Barcelona), Neymar (Barcelona), Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid), Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal), Luis Suarez (Barcelona).

Football

Former Germany player and boss Jurgen Klinsmann has been sacked as coach of the United States.

The 52-year-old, who won the World Cup as a player with Germany in 1990, took over as US boss in 2011.

Klinsmann steered the United States to the last 16 at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil after finishing above Portugal in their group.

However, they lost 2-1 at home to Mexico and 4-0 away to Costa Rica in their opening two qualifying matches for the 2018 tournament.

The US are pointless and bottom of the six-country qualifying group,below the likes of Panama and Honduras, albeit only a fifth of the way through the qualifying process.

Former Tottenham striker Klinsmann was linked with the England job after Sam Allardyce left his post in September.

Cycling

All set for the 4^th Edition of Miles and Hope Masinga Bikeathon

The 4^th Edition of the Miles and Hope will see cyclists traverse Nairobi, Kiambu and Machakos counties covering 400 kilometers.

The event that has been dubbed the Masinga Bikeathon has attracted a record 30 cyclists.  

The event will start at International Christian Church (ICC) on 24^th November at 7am. After flag off, the cyclists will cover 154.54 kilometers passing through Thika, Matuu before finishing the day at Masinga with an estimated time of 6:32:12.

Day two will see the cyclist cover four areas starting from Masinga, Kindaruma, Gitaru and Kamburu a total distance of 98.3 kilometers. 

The 30 cyclists will continue with the extraneous journey on day three covering 99.2 kilometre from Masinga to Thika. 

Day 4 will take the cyclists an estimated 2 hours from Thika back to the ICC Church for the prize giving ceremony. 

According to the captain of the team Daudi Wanderi the event will test the nerves and skills of the participants.

“We have been training hard for this moment and we believe that the exposure gained so far will be key to complete the outing successfully,” said Wanderi.

He further added that riding across the seven folks will offer great thrill to the participants and spectators.

Marathon

Launch of Afrika Mashariki Fest Half Marathon Kenya Chapter

For the first time, Kenya is set to host the third edition of the Afrika Mashariki Fest Half Marathon-Kenya Chapter on the 11^th December 2016 at Mama Ngina Drive, Mombasa County.

The event will be hosted annually on a rotational basis across 6 East Africa Commission (EAC) partner states include Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi and South Sudan.

Speaking at a press conference in Nairobi, Group Chief Executive Afrika Mashariki Fest Kisembo Ronex said that the purpose for bringing the event to Kenya is to create awareness among youths about EAC integration, fostering cohesion among citizens, promote domestic tourism and sustainable utilization of our natural resources. 

Mr. Kisembo added that the event also aims to support the Post 2015 Sustainable Development Goals in East Africa.

“The Half Marathon symbolizes the need for East Africans to unite in pursuit of our common dream- a united East Africa and in order for EAC states to go further, they must run together,” said Kisembo.

This year’s race theme is Promoting Domestic Tourism through Embracing Sports.

Athletic Kenya (AK) president Jackson Tuwei said that AK is highly privileged to host such an event in Kenya.

“The federation is very happy to host a new event in Kenya and we will promote the event to a bigger one,” said AK president.

Mr. Kisembo said that Ksh600, 000 will be awarded to winners in the 21km race and 10km race both men and women.

Top ten athletes will be awarded in both races with the new winner of 21km receives Ksh60, 000, runners up pockets 40, 000 and second runners up will cash in Ksh30, 000.

The winner of 10km will go home with Ksh25, 000, runners up pockets Ksh20, 000 and second runners up receives Ksh15, 000.

2012 Olympic Silver Medalist Champion, Abel Kirui, is among those who will be aiming for the top crown in the 21km race. 

Athletes who are willing to participate will pay a sum of Ksh1, 000. They can register at the Mombasa municipal, AK offices in Nairobi and on line at their website(www.afrikamasharikifest.com)

The Afrika Mashariki Fest Half Marathon was held on the 31^st May 2015 and the subsequent edition was held on the 29^thMay 2016 at the Kololo Independence grounds in Kampala Uganda.

The event will be hosted every second Sunday in the month of December annually in Kenya.

Tusker

Tusker youth team will be conducting three days trials for talented young footballers to reinforce the under 20 team. 

“The player selection and trials will be conducted at our training ground in Ruaraka starting Thursday 3rd November 2016 and will run up to Saturday 5th Novembers 2016,” said Team manager Calvin Odhiambo

In a statement sent to media houses, activities timing will be strictly from 11am with a probability of a friendly match on the same weekend when the trials will be completed.

The process will be conducted by the Tusker Youth team coaches and will be strictly monitored to avoid age cheating and any other malpractices. 

All players willing to attend are called upon to tag with them their original birth certificate and the photocopy, their identification cards and if in school, carry along a document proving the same.

Mr. Odhiambo said that those from outside Nairobi are requested to find friends or relatives who can accommodate them since the team won't carter for it. Players will be selected on merit. 

Incepted in 2012, the youth team was formed with an aim of identifying players with excellent football skills and assisting them in achieving their football ambition while also empowering them with academic enrichment. 

The team is tasked to produce quality players for the Tusker senior team and also contribute to various clubs in the country. The youth team actively participates in year round Aberdares Branch FKF Regional League.

The newly recruited U-20 team will reinforce the other players to play in the Kenya Premier League U-20tournament at a date to be announced later and the league matches.

LE SPOTI: Marathon

LE SPOTI: Marathon: The 14th edition of Baringo Half Marathon has received a sponsorship of Sh. 3 million from Lotto foundation. The event slated for Novembe...

LE SPOTI: Marathon

LE SPOTI: Marathon: The 14th edition of Baringo Half Marathon has received a sponsorship of Sh. 3 million from Lotto foundation. The event slated for Novembe...

Marathon

The 14th edition of Baringo Half Marathon has received a sponsorship of Sh. 3 million from Lotto foundation.

The event slated for November 5th at Kabartonjo, in Baringo County has also received Sh.200, 000 from Kenya Commercial Bank.

Over 250 athletes will participate in four different races that include the 21km race, 12 km wheel chair race, 6 km junior race and 10 km race open to individuals and corporate.

Top winners of the half marathon will take home Sh 200,000 while the winner of the 10km will receive Sh. 30,000 respectively.

Patron Paul Tergat in a speech read on his behalf today by Mr. Douglas Wakihuri during the launch of the race at a Nairobi hotel said sports events at the grassroots were crucial as they create opportunities to nurture talents.

Tergat who commended the sponsors for their donation said their participation in such events immensely transforms the lives of many people as future champions are discovered and nurtured.

“Mary Kaitany, former London marathon winner was discovered in the Baringo Half Marathon,” he noted.

Chief Executive Officer, Lotto Foundation East Africa, Mr. Brian Waluchio said the foundation’s is committed to uplifting the living standards of Kenyans through nurturing of talents, adding that they will continue to partner with other corporate bodies to improve the same.

Baringo County Youth and Sports Executive, Lilian Sadalla said sporting activities are important as they help to promote peace and cohesion amongst communities.

“Baringo County has two training centres and major races like Chemusis and Baringo half Marathon, we are happy as a county government to have such projects that impact positively on the lives of the community”, she added.

Athletes who will feature in the race are Amos Mibei, former Kass Marathon winner, Josephat Menjo a Track and field star, Geoffrey Mutai and Japan based runner Amos Kaptich.