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Category: International Sports

  • MAN UNITED FAIL TO DELIVER AWAY

     

    August 26th, 2024

     Email:leeroywuone02@gmail.com

     

    Saturday afternoon at the Amex stadium saw Manchester united thrashed in an emotional ninety fifth minute after Brazilian forward Joao Pedro netted a header to the bottom right corner leaving Onana helpless at the edge of the goal post.

    Joao Pedro’s late goal came from a cross delivered by Simon Adingra who at the same time had received a pass from YasinAyari.

    Earlier on, Joao Pedro’s cross failed an attempted interception from Man united’s number five Harry Maguire leading to Man united former player Danny Welbecktappin in from a swiftly received pass from Japanese player Kaouru Mitoma.

    On the other hand, MBE Marcus Rashford, United’s number ten, scored a goal in the thirty second minute which was unfortunately disallowed as an offside goal from a superb Amad Diallo cross by his left foot. The Ivorian is well known for utilizing the right wing where he navigates with the leftfoot, his best foot.

    Former Liverpool Player James Milner’s goal was saved on the line by Portuguese international Diogo Dalot.

     

    Moroccan player Noussair Mazraoui’s pass to Ivorian winger Amad Diallo left three Brighton defenders bamboozled on the floor putting the red devels on level with the seagulls in the sixtieth minute.

     

    An Amad Diallo and man united skipper Bruno Fernandes link up  from the centre of the pitch to the frontline saw Alejandro Garnacho finish with a tap in from a Bruno Fernandes pass .As if the drama was not enough, the goal was disallowed by the referee after the new number eleven youngster Joshua Zirkzee hit the ball in an offside position as United winger Garnacho’s goal was heading into the net.This was a blow to Manchester united fans and players alike since Joao Pedro scored a late goal in the ninety fifth minute to see the seagulls clinch three points.

     

    Next weekend the red devels will be hosting Dutch manager Arne Slot’s side Liverpool at home in Old Trafford on Sunday next week.Will the red devels be able to scatter the reds?

  • Bayern Munich faces New Era under Kompany Amidst Kanes Trophy Drought

    By Richard Onyango

    Contact info: onyangor248@gmail.com

     

    In a season marked by high expectations and significant changes, Bayern Munich begins their new campaign under the stewardship of Vincent Kompany, who is tasked with revitalizing the clubs fortunes. Kompanys arrival is seen as a breath of fresh air, and early reports suggest he has already transformed the mood at the Allianz Arena.

    The spotlight however, remains on England skipper Harry Kane, who joined Bayern Munich in August 2023 on a four year deal. Kanes move to Germany was hailed as a major coup. Despite his prolific fist season where he netted 36 Bundesliga goals, Bayern Munich finished a disappointing third, 18 points adrift of the champions Bayer Leverkusen.

    Kanes inaugural season in Germany also saw the club fall short in other competitions. Bayern were unexpectedly eliminated from the German cup by third division side Saarbrucken and were knocked out of the champions League by eventual winners real Madrid in the semi-final.

    Bayern Munich prepares for their first league game this Sunday, with a clash against Wolfsburg on the horizon; Kane will be expected to spearhead the attack. The new coach influence is anticipated to be pivotal in transforming Bayern’s fortunes and finally delivering the major silverware that has eluded Kane so far.

    As Harry Kane takes the field this evening, all eyes will be on the prolific strike to see if he can deliver another standout performance. With his exceptional form and the crucial role he plays in the team, Kane’s presence is sure to be a game-changer. Fans and analysts alike are eagerly anticipating how his skills and leadership will influence the outcome of the match. Whether he adds to his goal tally or inspires his teammates to victory, one thing is certain, his impact will be felt, and his performance will be a pivotal moment in the season.

     

     

  • Remember the Name

    by Ben Ayuko

    contact info: benayuko@gmail.com

    {image by Reuters}

     

    Julien Alfred ran the race of her life- literally– to claim the Olympic Gold Medal in the Women’s 100m event in Paris, 2024 to become Saint Lucia’s first ever Olympic Champion.

    Jamaican veteran, Shelly-Anne Fraser-Pryce, dropped out of the race after sustaining an injury while warming up. Marie-Jose Ta-Lou-Smith, the veteran from Cote d’Ivoire also picked up an injury during the race, thus bringing an end to her Olympic career on the lowest of notes. A shame for them both, but an advantage for the rest of the field as 2 of the very best athletes who were, no doubt, both going for Gold, had just dropped out.

    Julien Alfred was definitely ready to take full advantage of the situation. She went into the race, no doubt high on confidence, after beating fan favourite, Sha’Carri Richardson, in the semi-final on her way to the final.

    The 2024 60m World Indoor Champion was in fine form going so far as to deliver, not just a personal best, but a National Record (10.72sec) on the grandest of stages to claim the grandest of prizes- the very first medal her nation has ever received from the Games since they were established in 1896.

    Richardson, perhaps feeling a little bit shaken after their brief meeting in the semi-final, could only settle for the Silver. The World champion will have to bide her time should want to get her hands on the ultimate.

    Melissa Jefferson rounded off the podium, taking 3rd place. Her Bronze Medal the first she has ever taken after placing 8th in the 2022 World Championships and missing out altogether in 2023.

    Daryll Neita, from England, couldn’t find the pace she has previously shown as she narrowly missed out on a medal in 4th place.

    Track veteran, Mujinga Kambundji from Switzerland finished in 6th.

     

    Indeed, it was a night of Firsts, and not just for Saint Lucia.

    The Carribean island of Dominica will be forever changed after one of their own claimed their Nation’s first ever medal at the Olympic Games. And my, wasn’t it worth waiting all these years to eventually see Thea Lafond take full control of the Women’s Triple Jump event at the Paris Olympics, 2024 and claim Olympic Gold.

    Setting a National Record of 15.02 metres, she, like Julien Alfred, gave the performance of her life to bring unbridled joy and jubilation to her Nation at the Olympic Games.

    She was the only athlete who jumped beyond 15 metres on the day.

     

     

     

  • A Day of Highs and Lows

    by Ben Ayuko

    contact info: benayuko@gmail.com

    {images by Reuters}

     

    3rd of August 2024 was a day of Highs and Lows at the Paris Olympics.

    First off, Ferdinand Omanyala coasted into the Men’s 100m Semi-Finals at the Paris Olympics by winning his heat in a time of 10.08 seconds.

    After a relatively slow start, Omanyala soon picked up his speed and, in no time, found himself at the front of the pack. With the result in his hands, he cooled off to save his energy as he comfortably booked his place in the semi-final.

    Vivian Kiprotich took full advantage of her Repechage Round to secure her place in the 800m semi-finals at the Paris Olympics.

    Having missed out during the heats, she found herself with a second chance to make her mark having been grouped with the other athletes who didn’t make it the first-time round for a second tun. She did not waste her chance this time, emerging with the second fastest time- 1:59:31 minutes- that guaranteed her sport in the next round.

    Elsewhere, Marie Brunlehner was unfortunate to find herself out of contention for a medal in the Women’s 50m Freestyle Swimming event at the Paris Olympics.

    Marie enjoyed a really good swim in her heat, taking 3rd position right at the depth. However, with a time of 25.82 seconds, she was not fast enough to book herself a place in the semi-finals. Of the fastest 18 athletes selected, she found herself just out of the running in 27th. A strong showing that will surely inspire her performances in the coming years.

    The Malkia Strikers bowed out of the Paris Olympics after crashing out of the Women’s Volleyball event at the Paris Olympics.

    This came after another 3-0 loss, this time to Team Japan.

    Japan won the first set 25-17. Team Kenya looked to comeback in the second set. It was a close affair as Team Kenya enjoyed probably their best set of the tournament when the two teams went point for point for 20minutes. Alas, Japan prevailed at the end with a 25-22 win. The third set turned out to be a formality as Japan killed off the game 25-12.

    Not a good showing from the Malkia Strikers as it’s back to the drawing once again.

     

     

     

  • Les Jeux Olympiques 2024

    Par Lilian Ruth

    {image par Paris2024}

     

    Les Jeux Olympiques de 2024 se dérouleront à Paris.

    La cérémonie d’ouverture a eu lieu il y a cinq jours à Paris. Pour la première fois, la cérémonie d’ouverture ne s’est pas déroulée dans un stade mais sur le pont de la Seine.

    L’un des étudiants de l’université Daystar, Patrick Odongo, qui est un athlète de rugby primé, s’est rendu à Paris le 8 juillet pour représenter l’équipe nationale masculine de rugby à 7 du Kenya aux Jeux olympiques de Paris.

    La cérémonie d’ouverture a été honorée par quelques dirigeants éminents et accueillie par le président français, Emmanuel Macron, au nom du peuple français.

    La cérémonie d’ouverture a suscité différentes réactions de la part de divers groupes et individus. Certains ont semblé quelque peu insatisfaits, tandis que d’autres ont apprécié la cérémonie.

    Les Jeux olympiques se poursuivent et plusieurs personnes remportent des médailles. Les jeux sont difficiles, mais les athlètes sont également équipés, entraînés et prêts à résister à la pression.

  • Team Kenya Gears up for Showdown in the 1500m Finals

    by Ben Ayuko

    contact info: benayuko@gmail.com

    {images by Reuters}

     

    Kenya’s runners in the 1500m event enjoyed a smooth transition from the heats into the finals at the Paris Olympica,2024.

    The three men, Reynold Cheruiyot, Timothy Cheruiyot and Brian Komen will be looking to reclaim the Gold Medal for their nation. Not since Asbel Kiprop in 2008 has there been a Kenyan athlete on the top step of the podium in the 1500m event. There is a dire need to rectify this error.

    And they feel it too.

    Asked about his ambitions going into the tournament, Reynold had this to say, “I believe we can win the gold medal. You see Timothy (Cheruiyot) is back, so we will be working together to ensure that one of us wins the title. What we will need is to work as a team.”

    Having won the 1500m event during the Olympic trials in Kenya, he is ready to throw his hat in the ring, looking to be the man who ends the drought for Team Kenya.

    This will be the 20-yr-old’s Olympic debut after placing 8th in the World Championships in Budapest, 2023. He is clearly pumped up and excited for the games as he lines up alongside his hero, Timothy Cheruiyot, to take on the best in the world.

    Brian Komen, another top athlete, is looking ready to take on the final after breezing through his heat and coming through in 2nd place. The 2024 African Championships Gold Medalist is in fine form and will be raring to go in the final, especially considering how close he was to missing the plane to Paris entirely.

    After beating compatriot, Timothy Cheruiyot, the Diamond League in May, he will be feeling very confident about his chances at taking Gold come the hour.

    Timothy Cheruiyot, perhaps the favourite among the 3, will be looking to get a certain monkey that has been living on his back for the longest time.

    Although he did claim the Gold at the 2019 World Championships in Qatar, it is the Olympic Podium that he wants to get a taste of. Having missed out in 2016 after failing to qualify during the trials, he improved his technique and just about found himself on the plane to Tokyo at the very last minute. This did not seem to deter him, though, as he managed an admirable 2ndplace finish. However, the Silver medal in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, proved insufficient to satiate his thirst. It is the Olympic Gold that he really wants to wear around his neck.

    “My dream is to get back to the top of the podium, ” Timothy said. “That silver in Tokyo was great, but I want to upgrade it. I need to have the gold.”

     

    It will not be smooth sailing though, as they will have to stave off competition from the Norwegian, Jakob Ingebrigtsen, the current Olympic Champion and holder of the Olympic Record-time in the event.

    Englishman, Josh Kerr, will no doubt have thrown his hat in the ring, having had to settle for the Bronze medal in Tokyo 2020.

  • Throw Down Zeros Zeddy’s Judo Dreams

    by Ben Ayuko

    contact info: benayuko@gmail.com

    {images by NOC-K}

     

    In yet another first, Zeddy Cherotich made our nation proud when she became the first female Judoka to represent Kenya in the Judo event at the Olympics, Paris 2024.

    This time round, she was the only Kenyan Judoka in the tournament when she came up against the Portuguese, Patricia Sampaio. A tough match-up in only the first round of the tournament against the 2023 European Championship Bronze medalist. Zeddy would have to come with every bit of knowledge she had learned in her practice if she wanted to make it through to the next round.

    No sooner had the bout started, than Sampaio showed her class, getting in her first Waza-ari after she managed to flip Zeddy over her shoulder and onto the ground. A real show of strength and power.

    It was about 10 seconds later when Sampaio sealed the match with a dominant move as she pinned Zeddy onto the mat for her second Waza-ari. This was enough to earn her the win. Zeddy tried her hardest, but her opponent proved just a little too determined for her to deal with on the day. 10-0 the final score as the 2014 National Champion’s Olympic run came to an end.

    Sampaio would advance further and further into the tournament, losing only one match which was against the eventual tournament and Gold medal winner, Italian Alice Bellandi.

    She would have to settle for victory in the Bronze medal match, securing yet another Bronze medal in her second year running.

    No cigar then for Zeddy as she goes back to the drawing board and prepares for her next tournament when she will get the chance to prove herself once more.

     

     

  • Gathimba Battles it out on the Race-Walking Track

    by Ben Ayuko

    contact info: benayuko@gmail.com

    {image by NOC-K}

     

    Samuel Gathimba was our Kenyan representative, out of 50 competitors, in the 20 Kilometer Race-Walk event at the Paris 2024 Olympics.

    He was coming up against a tough field, including defending Olympic and World Champion, the Italian, Massimo Stano.

    It was a tough race with different competitors employing different strategies. Some were opting to shoot off immediately from the onset and build up a gap between themselves and everybody else, while others were conserving their energy early on, hoping to deploy it deeper into the race.

    The eventual winner of the race, Ecuadorian Brian Daniel Pintado, opted for the latter strategy. He was running in as low a position as 37th place during the early stages of the race.

    Gathimba opted for the secret option number three strategy: maintaining a steady pace for the whole race, which could have worked had he got a better in a higher position.

    He was steadily climbing up the field and found himself in 10th position with 5km to go. He could have found himself fighting for one of the medal positions considering he was, at this point, ahead of the Brazilian, Caio Bonfim, who eventually finished the race in 2nd place. However, this is when his energy reserves started to betray him. Try as he might, he just couldn’t keep up with the race and slowly started fading away.

    Alas, despite clocking his fastest time of the season– 1hr 21min 26sec – and finishing in the top half of the field, he could only muster a 22nd place finished.

    “Kulikuwa na mabingwa wengi wenye walikuwa wameshinda 2023, 2022…na hata ukifuatilia, utapata hata hawakumake bracket,” Gathimba said. “Let me say, Expectations zangu hazikuenda vile nilikuwa nataka. So, im going to run more and more...”

    Translation: “There were previous winners from past years who didn’t even make the cut,” Gathimba said. “My expectations didn’t pan out to my liking. But I’ll keep running…”

    A valiant effort from the 2-time Africa Games Champion as he can live with his head held high knowing he gave his best effort in the competition, which is really all anyone could have asked of him.

     

  • Team Kenya Taken Down by Polish Precision

    by Ben Ayuko

    contact info: benayuko@gmail.com

    {image by KBC}

     

    Team Kenya‘s Volleyball ladies took on Poland in the second group game of the Olympic tournament.

    Poland, one of the favourites to win the whole tournament, was looking to keep up their winning run after an opening round victory against the Japanese.

    Kenya was looking for redemption after the dire humbling tach came against Brazil

    Kenya actually started off well, managing to secure 3 points early in in the first set to put Poland on the backfoot. It was looking like it could be a new day for the Malkia Strikers, who were putting their best foot forward. Unfortunately, it was not to be.

    In no time at all, Poland had pulled away and opened up a gigantic lead that saw them take the first set, 25-14.

    The story of the second set was very similar. Team Kenya kept up with the Polish outfit initially as the set began. And then, suddenly, Poland just blew us away. 25-17 how the set ended.

    Set three, however, was a different story. Whereas before we started the set on level footing, this time, we were completely blown out of the water from the off. We simply could not keep up with the 2-time European Champions as they looked to see out the game without giving up any chances for a comeback. 25-15 how the set ended as we, once again, were defeated 3-0 without reply.

    The was a silver lining for Team Kenya which lay in the performances of Kenya Pipeline duo Pamela Adhiambo and Veronicah Oluoch. They topped the scoring charts with 14 and 13 points respectively.

    Back to the drawing board then as the Malkias prepare to face off against Japan in the final group game.

  • Kenya Caned by Brilliant Brazilians

    by Ben Ayuko

    contact info: benayuko@gmail.com

    {image by GettyImages}

     

    The Kenya Women’s Volleyball Team kicked off their Olympics campaign against Brazil on the 30th of July 2024

    The 2023 African Volleyball Champions were looking to carry the same form that earned them a Gold Medal in the African Championships, just a year prior, into Paris.

    Led by Captain, Triza Atuka, they took to the court to face what would prove to be a tough test against a well-trained outfit in Brazil.

    Our Malkia Strikers put their best foot forward, but they were not prepared for this Brazil team as they claimed point after point.  The completely overwhelmed the Kenyans who had no response for the aggressive nature with which they took to the court. Every serve was returned, every rally was turned over, every spike was blocked…everything the Kenyans tried to orchestrate was immediately shut down and returned with vigour from the other side of the net. And they only seemed to get stronger the longer the game went on.

    It was quite the statement of intent from the Canarinhas as they finished the game after winning all 3 sets without reply (25-14, 25-13, 25-12). A rude awakening for Team Kenya in case any of the players were doubting the reverence that is bestowed upon games with the Olympic tag.

    Despite the disappointing result, Captain Atuka found some positives that her and her team could take from the experience. “We had our good moments and (I am) happy that we have improved on our reception, which is usually an issue…” she said, “…having played Brail today is an eye-opener…now we know what to plan on to approach the next match.”

    With 2 more group games to play against Japan and Poland in the coming days, they will have some time to regroup and refocus their efforts to try and salvage their Olympic charge.