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Author: Stephen Awino

  • Daystar Falcons Rugby Poised to Make History in KRU Championship

    [Photo Courtesy of Eric Onchiri]

    Daystar Falcons Rugby could potentially make history by qualifying for the Kenya Cup for the first time when they take on South Coast Pirates during the Kenya Rugby Union Championship semi-final clash scheduled for Saturday, March 2024.

    Falcons find themselves as one of the teams that could strike that Milestone alongside Saturday’s opponents Pirates who also find themselves in a similar position.

    The Daystarians are going into the history-making semi-final clash on top form having bested JKUAT Cougars 21-7 in their last outing with tries from Elvis Sande and substitute Arnold Agonda as well as a conversion and two penalties from Eddy Wambugu.

    It is all to play for with the winner of the two semifinals poised to secure automatic promotion to the 2024/25 Kenya Cup.

    The second semi-final pits Impala against Mainde Muliro after they thwarted Western Bulls 32-17 to set up a semifinal clash away to Kakamega.

  • Juventus Midfielder Pogba Banned For Four Years For Doping

    [Photo Courtesy]

    Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba has reportedly been handed a four-year ban from football after failing a drugs test last August.

     

    The French man tested positive for testosterone after Juventus’s first game of the season against Udinese.

     

    The midfielder left Manchester United for the second time in summer of 2022 to join Juventus for a second stint after a mixed time of highs and lows with the Red devils.

     

    Pogba’s second stint with the Old lady did not live up to expectations and fell incredibly short of what he achieved in Turin prior to his move to Manchester in 2016.

     

    The ban could be career ending for the 30-year-old who will be turning 31 next month, and will not see a return to the pitch until he is almost 35.

  • Manchester City Moves Within One Point of Liverpool With Brentford Win

    [Photo Courtesy]

    Manchester City kept pace with league leaders, Liverpool after a 1-0 triumph over Brentford at the Etihad Stadium on Tuesday, February 20.

     

    The Cityzens were made to wait as Erling Haaland broke the deadlock in the 71st minute to hand Pep Guardiola’s side all three points against Bees.

     

    After a frustrating display against Chelsea, the Danish striker was back on the scoresheet as he capitalised on a mistake from Krisstofer Ajer, who slipped at the vital moment, allowing him through on goal.

     

    The victory took City above Arsenal into second spot and one point behind the leaders who they are yet to play at Anfield on March 10.

     

    For Brentford, with six points from their last 11 games, they are only five points off the relegation zone and still searching for the sustained improvement that will get them away from trouble.

     

     

  • Atletico Come Up Short as Dortmund Held

    [Photo Courtesy]

    Atletico Madrid’s hopes of reaching the quarter-final stage of the Champions League have taken a blow, as they lost 1-0 to Inter Milan at the San Siro.

     

    The round of 16 encounter saw Inter take the game by the scruff limiting Diego Simeone’s men to few chances as Lautaro Martinez nearly put the hosts ahead nearing half-time but scuffed his chance.

     

    The Nerazzurri pulled ahead when Marko Arnautovic who was introduced at half time due to an injury for Marcus Thuram, proved to be the difference maker for Inter.

     

    After missing two clear-cut chances in the second half, the Austrian scored the winning goal with 15 minutes to play as he pounced on a rebound from Lautaro’s saved shot.

     

    Diego Simeone’s men are however far from condemned as the 1-0 scoreline means they do have a chance of overturning the deficit in the reverse fixture in Spain.

     

    In another fixture, PSV Eindhoven held Borussia Dortmund to a 1-1 draw in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League round of 16 encounter.

     

    Goals from Donyell Malen for the German side and Luuk de Jong for the Dutch side ensured all was to play for going into the second leg set to be played in Germany.

     

  • Marathon World Record Holder Kelvin Kiptum Dies in a Road Crash

    Kenya’s Kelvin Kiptum, the holder of the men’s marathon world record at 24 years old, tragically passed away in a car accident on Sunday evening, February 11.

    Alongside him, his coach Gervais Hakizimana from Rwanda also lost his life in the accident on a road in western Kenya.

    Kiptum emerged as a significant figure in marathon running in 2023, rivaling fellow country man Eliud Kipchoge, one of the sport’s greats.

    Notably, Kiptum surpassed Kipchoge’s achievement in Chicago last October, completing the 26.1 miles in two hours and 35 seconds.

    Both athletes were poised to represent Kenya in the marathon at the upcoming Paris Olympics.

    Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for sports Ababu Namwamba expressed profound grief, calling Kiptum a “special gem” and remarking on the loss for Kenya.

    Those sentiments were shared by Raila Odinga, Kenya’s opposition leader and former prime minister, who hailed Kiptum as a “true hero” and mourned the loss of a remarkable individual and icon in Kenyan athletics.

     

  • Arsenal Close the Gap on 1st Placed Liverpool With Convincing Win

    [Photo Courtesy ]

    Arsenal came out on top in a six-pointer match against Liverpool, at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday, February 4 2024.

    The excitement peaked in the 10th minute when Bukayo Saka missed a golden chance, setting the tone for a nail-biting encounter. Just two minutes later, Donyell Malen’s shot for Liverpool narrowly missed the target, keeping fans on the edge of their seats.

     

    In the 14th minute, the crowd erupted as Saka found the back of the net, putting Arsenal in the lead with a stunning goal. However, Liverpool quickly equalized in the 48th minute, thanks to an unfortunate own goal by Gabriel.

     

    The tension continued to rise as both teams fought tooth and nail for dominance. In the 67th minute as Gabriel Martinelli secured a crucial goal for Arsenal, sending the home crowd into a frenzy.

     

    The drama didn’t end there, as Liverpool’s Ibrahima Konate received his marching orders in the 88th minute after receiving a second yellow card, leaving his team with a mountain to climb.

     

    As the clock ticked into injury time, Arsenal sealed their victory with a goal from Leandro Trossard in the 92nd minute, putting the result beyond doubt.

     

    Despite the fierce competition, Arsenal emerged triumphant with a final score of 3-1, much to the delight of their fans. The match showcased the intensity and skill of both teams, leaving spectators eagerly anticipating their next encounter.

    The result leaves the Gunners trailing the league leaders by just 2 points, seating on 49, 2 behind Liverpool and 3 ahead of Manchester City.

  • Odongo spearheads Shujaa to HSBC Challenger Series Title

    [Photo courtesy]

    Daystar Falcons’ Patrick Odongo played a key role in yet another impressive triumph for Kenya’s Shujaa as the rugby 7s side edged Chile 12-5 to lift the HSBC Challenger Series at the Sevens stadium in Dubai.

    The rookie dazzled as the Shujaa lifted their first title of the new year gearing up for their Olympics campaign in Paris 2024.

    The Shujaa opened their Challenger series with a dominant display over Mexico thumping the South American side 40-0 in their opening fixtures as Odongo scored two tries.

    The Kevin Wambua led outfit continued their charge against neighbours Uganda thrashing the fellow East African side 29-7 with Odongo at the heart of it all yet again.

    The Shujaa faltered in their final pool C fixture as they fell 24-12 to Germany but roared through to the semi-final with a hardly fought 21-19 victory over Japan in the quarter-finals.

    The semi-final clash pitted the 7s side against a dominant Uruguay side but the Shujaa thwarted their efforts thumping the South American side 21-5 to set up a final clash against another South American nation, Chile.

    Odongo spearheaded the side to yet another title as they triumphed over Chile to be crowned Challenger Series champions.

    In other fixtures Kenya Lionesses came up short in the final against China to succumb to a 19-5 defeat.

     

     

  • King James Hits Historic Career Points

    [PHOTO COURTESY ]

    LeBron James etched his name deeper into NBA history by becoming the inaugural player to surpass 39,000 career points, marking a remarkable milestone.

    The Los Angeles Lakers’ icon, continues to reshape basketball’s narrative, setting unparalleled standards.

    Aptly likening himself to fine wine, James’s endurance and adaptability have revolutionized basketball’s storyline.

    Spanning 18 seasons, his consistent performance, boasting remarkable statistics with minimal missed games, epitomizes greatness.

    Beyond statistical achievements, James’s off-court impact as a mentor, social justice advocate, and successful entrepreneur defines a legacy extending far beyond the game. Despite criticisms and debates, his legacy stands firm amid comparisons and challenges.

    Reflecting James’s legacy intertwining societal impact and NBA evolution, his enduring presence serves as a testament to perseverance and excellence.

    As he nears the all-time scoring record, LeBron James’s journey remains a remarkable narrative in basketball’s history.

     

     

  • Falcons to Host Mombasa Rugby for KRU Championship Opener

    [PHOTO COURTESY ]

    Daystar Falcons rugby team is poised to host Mombasa rugby team in their opening fixture of the 2023/24 Kenya Rugby Union Champioships on Saturday, December 2.

    The match day one fixtures were published by the Kenya Rugby Union across their social media platforms as Falcons’ gear up for a 3 PM kick-off against the Coastal side.

    The Daystarians will be looking to build on their King’s of Africa University 7s triumph in October as they intend to end the year on a high.

    Falcons will draw confidence from having a near full-strength squad with U-20 National side player Eddy Wambugu who has so far had a great year with the rugby team and the Chipu in contention.

    Shujaa 7s prodigy and Falcons ace Patrick Odongo will however be a big miss as the winger has commitments with the national side.

    The 2019 DIV 2 7s Circuit Champions will be eager to add to their accolades but that will be put to the test by the Coastal side.

    Other fixtures will see Masinde Muliro University take on JKUAT Cougars while S.C Pirates play host to Western Bulls at the Sea Crest Gardens.

    The Impala Club will be a beehive of activities as Impala take on USIU Martials while Kabarak University welcomes U.O.E Trojans

  • Olunga Scores Brace as Harambee Stars Thrash Seychelles 5-0

    Harambee Stars thrashed Seychelles in their second fixture of World Cup 2026 qualifiers at the Stade Félix Houphouët Boigny in Abidjan, Ivory Coast on Monday, November 20.

     

    Stars run riot in the opening ten minutes as Michael Olunga pounced on a miscued back pass from Seychelles defender Elie Sopha to slot a low driven shot past Carlos Simeon to claim his first goal in the third minute.

     

    The Al-Duhail striker was red hot as he bagged his second of the match when a flick of the ball helped it to the lanky striker’s path with Olunga making no mistake with his cool and finish to put Kenya 2-0 ahead.

     

    Olunga had the chance to complete a first half hat-trick when he managed to wriggle his way through on goal but the Seychelles shot-stopper denied him the opportunity.

     

    Things got heated near the half-hour mark when Seychelles’ Helton Monay was carded for his troubles as he fouled Stars’ Richard Odada who was not pleased with the challenge.

     

    With the resumption of play, Olunga had another to complete a first half hat-trick when Eric Johana quickly released him with a quickly taken freekick but the Seychelles shot-stopper denied him yet again to keep the scoreline 2-0.

     

    Firat’s side ended the half strongly when Johanna caught the Seychelles defenders unawares with a quickly taken throw-in to find Masud Juma who was alert to the situation to bag his second goal of the campaign and Stars third of the game.

     

    Marcelo’s brilliant showing was short lived as he was withdrawn during half time with Abud Omar coming on for the AIK left back.

     

    Olunga opened the second half on the same note forcing Simeon to an early save after he was found brilliantly by the newly introduced Abud Omar.

     

    Omar was in the thick of the action yet again as his cross ricocheted off a Seychelles defender to land on Olunga’s path with the Stars captain hitting the post before the ball landed to Johanna who sent it wide in the 53rd minute.

     

    Seychelles made a triple substitution nearing the hour mark with Kenan Nourice coming on for Monay as winger Brandon Labrosse and Majid Freminot came on for Rhio Damoo and Elie Sopha respectively.

     

    Substitute Omar finally got to have his say as his cut-back cross found Rooney Onyango at the edge of the box as he slotted it far corner to give Kenya a comfortable 4-0 lead.

     

    Firat made a double substitution minutes later as dependable winger Ayub Timbe came on for the relentless Johanna while Benson Omalla rested the third goal scorer Masud.

     

    The substitution quickly paid off as Omalla soon found the back of the net after Rooney applied pressure to rob a Seychelles defender before setting up his club teammate in the 73rd minute.

     

    It could have been 6-0 in favour of Harambee Stars in the 83rd minute but Omalla’s would be second goal was overruled for offside as Firat’s side saw out the game for 5-0 win.