Vihiga United received a significant boost on Tuesday, the 12th, as the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) lifted their transfer ban. This ban had been imposed at the start of the 2021/2022 season due to the club’s failure to settle the outstanding wages of former player Junior Adeyafa, amounting to Ksh 200,000.
Junior Adeyafa, a Nigerian international, had a stint with Vihiga United during the 2019/2020 season, during which his wages remained unpaid. However, an out-of-court settlement has now been reached between Vihiga United and the player, in accordance with FIFA’s communication via a letter addressed to Vihiga United, effectively ending the transfer ban.
Vihiga United has faced significant challenges, including having to field just nine players in a match against Kajiado FC at one point. The club confirmed this positive development via their Facebook page, expressing their intent to enter the transfer market to strengthen their squad ahead of the upcoming national super league season.
In a stunning display of skill and determination, the Malkia Strikers of Kenya have emerged victorious in the African Nations Championship!
Kenya’s Malkia Strikers defeated Egypt 3-0 to win the African Nations Championship, giving them their tenth continental championship. With this historic victory, an 8-year wait comes to a triumphant end, giving Kenya a firm hold on the 10th championship.
With a remarkable 3-0 (25-22, 25-20, 25-14) victory over Egypt in Cameroon, they were able to emerge victorious. As members of the African Volleyball Confederation (CAVB), they have qualified for the 2025 FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championship thanks to the victory. Additionally, they have already qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
With their unwavering teamwork and exceptional talent, they dominated the competition, leaving their opponents in awe.
The Malkia Strikers’ path to success was not an easy one. They were up against formidable squads from throughout the continent. Their unrivaled spirit and unrelenting quest of excellence, however, catapulted them to the top.
The Malkia Strikers, led by their excellent captain and star player Mercy Moim, demonstrated their prowess in every encounter. Throughout the competition, their strong spikes, crisp serves, and solid defense kept their opponents on their toes.
Now that they have won the African Nations Championship, the Malkia Strikers have their sights set on the Olympics in Paris! They are adamant about representing Kenya on the international scene and bringing home Olympic gold.
Ferdinand Omanyala of Kenya has won the 100m race in Monaco in 9.92 seconds, ahead of Botswana’s teenager Letsile Tebogo (9.93). This was the sprinter’s first ever diamond league victory, illustrating that dreams do come true, even if they take time.
In a breathtaking display of athleticism, Ferdinand crossed the finish line in an astounding 9.92 seconds, securing the victory by a mere fraction of a second. The crowd erupted into cheers as the sprinter had done the seemingly impossible.
The common wealth winner additionally authored national history by becoming the first Kenyan to win a Diamond League 100m race. After the late Nicholas Bett, who won the 400m hurdles in Paris in 2016, he is the only other Kenyan sprinter to have won a Diamond League race.
Faith Kipyegon’s incredible journey to sporting greatness continued as she made history yet again on the track. The 29-year-old Kenyan mother had an extraordinary season, breaking records left and right, and now she has set her third world record of the year.
It all happened during a thrilling Diamond League meet in Monaco. The atmosphere was charged with anticipation as fans and fellow athletes were eager to witness what Faith would achieve next. Having already secured the world record for both the 1500m and 5000m, she was now determined to conquer the women’s mile in style.
As the starting gun fired, Faith Kipyegon surged ahead with an almost otherworldly grace. The crowd watched in awe as she blazed around the track, running like a true force of nature. Crossing the finish line, the clock showed a jaw-dropping time of 4:07.64 seconds. It was a moment that etched her name in the annals of athletics history as the fastest woman’s mile in history.
Interviewed after her record-breaking performance, Faith expressed her disbelief at the phenomenal feats she has achieved in this remarkable season.
I do not know how I am doing this because it just keeps going really in a good way, when I started this season, my goal was to just break the 1500m world record.
The sniper will seek to make history again when she competes in the 1500m and 5000m at the World Championships next month. At a single world championships (or Olympics), no woman has ever won both the 1500m and the 5000m.
Karim ‘Mtu Kazi’ Mandonga put up a performance of the night showing against Kenyan Daniel Wanyonyi at the Pocket Rocket fight night at KICC. The fight was highly anticipated by the fans due to Mandonga’s smack talk. His talking attracted thousands of fans to witness the main event match up.
The crowd and set up at the KICC
The KICC Tsavo ballroom was packed to the rafters. Politicians, dignitaries and celebrities all came to witness Mandonga’s punch, ‘Sugunyo’. The Tanzanian praised ‘Sugunyo’, saying it was from Ukraine and had one shot knockout power.
The first round was the only round that could have had close scoring as both boxers had good moments. From the second to the sixth, Mandonga showed his quality against a seasoned Wanyonyi. He landed more punches and showed great evasive skills. Mtu Kazi put up a clinic in the 4th, 5th and 6th rounds where almost everything he threw landed and even when Wanyonyi threw, the punches did not have enough to take out or wobble the Tanzanian.
At the end of the sixth round, Wanyonyi was unable to return from his corner, handing Mandonga a TKO victory. For greater parts of the bout , it was one sided and even if it had gone to the judges, Mandonga should have comfortably secured the win.
Following the fight, the Tanzanian said he would return to Kenya in April for another fight. Fans will be awaiting his next visit as his unique character is something Kenyan boxing has lacked for a while.
Smack talking and playing characters is something crucial in the promoting of boxing as it adds more to the fight. Following the success of this event press conferences and weigh ins should be televised in the build up to the matches.
Thumbnail Photo courtesy of Facebook/Harambee Stars.
Kenya will play Mali in the World Cup Qualifiers Qatar 2022 on Thursday, October 7th at the Stade Adrar Stadium, Morocco at 10pm.
Mali is at the top Group E with four points, two points ahead of Kenya and Uganda. Rwanda is at the bottom of the table with one point after drawing with Kenya in the second round of the qualifiers.
Kenya will play Mali in the return leg on Sunday, October 10th at the Nyayo Stadium, Nairobi at 4pm.
This is the first assignment for newly appointed Harambee Stars head coach Engin Firat. He is expected to come up with a strategy; all eyes are keen to see if Firat will use a strategy by his predecessor Kimanzi and Jacob ‘Ghost’ Mulee.
Firat firmly believes that Kenya will feature in the coming World Cup 2022 in Qatar.
“First of all, we have to see the other players who will be here because some of them may be injured. Of course, we have good players here, some of them are young. I am very hopeful because I believe in young players,” he said.
Newly appointed Harambee Stars head coach Engin Firat (left) and FKF president Nick Mwendwa (Photo courtesy of Facebook/Harambee Stars).
Kenya will play without former Tottenham Hotspur and AFC leopards star Victor Wanyama who retired from international football after former head coach Mulee dropped him from team leadership. Stars will also lack FKF premier league Golden Clove winner and Ulinzi Stars goalkeeper James Saruni, Kariobangi Sharks defender Samuel Olwande and midfielder Pattillah Omoto, Wazito youngster Musa Masika, Gor Mahia defender Frank Odhiambo, Bandari’s Keagan Ndemi and KCB Reagan Otieno and Ovella Ochieng after being dropped by Firat in the final squad.
KAA Gent Joseph Okumu, Simba SC Joash Onyango, David Owino Odhiambo and AIK Eric ‘Marcelo’ Ouma will bring experience to the Stars’ defense.
Red Star midfielder Richard Odada who impressed in the match against Uganda is expected take the defensive midfielder task and cushion the back four.
Tanzania- based Azam Fc Kenneth Muguna will collaborate with Sofapaka skipper Lawrence Juma in the midfielder axis and help open the stubborn defence creating chances for the attacks. The midfielders will be helped by Ismael Gonzalez, Duke Abuya, Boniface Muchiri, Phillip Mayaka and Abdalla Hassan.
Tusker FC 18-year-old youngster Eric Zakayo was among the final 25-man squad and is expected to be a key player in the second half of the match against Mali.
Mali head coach Mohamed Magassouba is keen on getting maximum points against Kenya.
Brighton midfielder Yves Bissouma, Southampton Moussa Djenepo, Lens Massadio Haidara and Al Ahly Aliou Dieng will be offering their experience to The Eagles.
Pressure still remains on the Mali team who have only scored twice in their last five fixtures. Kenya on the other hand is unbeaten in their last six fixtures.
List of players in the Engin Firat final 25-man squad
Goalkeepers: Ian Otieno, Brian Bwire, Faruk Shikhalo
Defenders: Joseph Okumu, Joash Onyango, David Owino, Johnstone Omurwa, Eugene Asike, Daniel Sakari, David Owino Ambulu, Abud Omar, Eric Ouma, Bolton Omwenga.
Midfielders: Richard Odada, Lawrence Juma, Ismael Gonzalez, Kenneth Muguna, Duke Abuya, Boniface Muchiri, Eric Zakayo, Phillip Mayaka, Abdalla Hassan.
Forwards: Michael Olunga, Henry Meja, Eric Kapaito
The Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Kenya Premier League 21/22 season will take a break after the game week 1 matches played on Saturday, September 25th and Sunday, September 26th. The league will resume on Friday, October 15th with two fixtures on that day.
The eighteen-days break is for Harambee Stars to prepare for the upcoming Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers. Kenya is set to play Mali in an away match and the return leg a week later.
This is the first assignment for the newly appointed Harambee Stars head coach Engin Firat who is on a two-month deal. Kenya is currently second in the Group E with two points in two matches. Mali sits at the top of this group with 4 points
2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers Standings for Group E (Photo courtesy of Twitter/Harambee Stars)
Over the weekend, all eighteen teams took part in the nine matches played across different venues in the country
Record holder Gor Mahia began their campaign with a 2-1 against league runners-up KCB while AFC Leopard youngsters surprised league winners Tusker in a 1-0 win.
AFC Leopards celebrate win against champions Tusker FC (Photo courtesy of Facebook/AFC Leopards)
Bandari held a 3-0 masterclass against Mathare while Sofapaka thrashed Nairobi City Stars 3-1 at Wundanyi stadium.
Bandari celebrate winning 3-0 in their opening match against Mathare United at the Mbaraki Stadium (Photo courtesy of Facebook/Bandari FC)
Kakamega Homeboyz welcomed Kenya Police in a 1-0 win and Ulinzi stars won against Nzoia Sugar 1-0. Kariobangi Sharks won 1-0 at Posta Rangers. Wazito and Bidco united were unable to withstand the new force from promoted Talanta and Vihiga United in the 21/22 season opening matches.
2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers Standings for Group E (Photo courtesy of Twitter/Harambee Stars)
