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Category: Sports

  • Final Weekend of KUSA League Takes Center Stage

    By Ken Andrew

    kenakikenyi@gmail.com

    Daystar City in action against Daystar Falcons at Bethel Grounds
    Photo Courtesy of George Mwangi

    Daystar sports teams will, for the last time this season, set out to represent the school in the KUSA League. Saturday 19th and Sunday 20th March will see Daystar teams travel to Mount Kenya University in Thika for their matches.  It has been a long season and a league title will elude Daystar for yet another season but the Falcons will keep fighting.

    The weekend will see most of the teams play twice across the different disciplines. Football, basketball and volleyball face games on both days while hockey, handball and netball play only once.

    The Daystar Falcons Ladies football team finish their season against KU Ruiru on Saturday and Gretsa on Sunday. The season saw them revived after the pandemic and they have produced promising results this year, only losing once. For the men, Daystar City face rivals USIU on Saturday before ending the season against perennial contenders Kenyatta University on Sunday. Daystar Falcons play St Paul University on Saturday and KU Ruiru await them as their final fixture on Sunday.

    The Basketball Ladies face KU on Saturday as their last match this season while the men face USIU on Saturday and MKU on Sunday. The games will take place at the MKU Court. In Volleyball, the men face SPU on Saturday and Gretsa on Sunday as the women tackle their lone fixture against SPU on Sunday. The handball team squares off against Gretsa and MKU on the same day, Saturday. The hockey men team battle USIU while the Netball ladies face KU on Sunday.

    The season has been long, but the will and desire of the Falcons did not vanish. They always gave their best as they toiled to represent the school. As they end the season, we wish them all the best.

  • Volkanovski, Zombie to clash for Featherweight Title at UFC 273

    UFC 273 Main Event Poster.
    Photo courtesy of ESPN

    By Ken Andrew

    kenakikenyi@gmail.com

    Alexander Volkanovski is set to defend his UFC Featherweight title against Chan Sung Jung at UFC 273. Chan, popularly known as the Korean Zombie got his chance after Max Holloway dropped out due to injury. The fight will headline UFC 273 which has a stacked card with two title fights.

    Volkanovski is coming off a superb performance and win against Brian Ortega. Chan is also coming off a great win and performance over Dan Ige. The Zombie has been hanging with the top featherweights for the best part of his UFC career but this will be his first title fight. For Volk, The Zombie will only be his third different opponent since he gained the title, after Holloway and Ortega.

    In the co-main event, Aljamain Sterling and Petr Yan will settle their differences and battle for the Bantamweight gold. Their first meeting ended controversially with Yan kneeing a downed Aljamain which is illegal according to the UFC rules. Yan lost his title to Aljo then, but can regain it with a win at UFC 273. He also enters this fight as the Interim Bantamweight Champion after producing a praised masterclass against Cory Sandhagen.

    Gilbert Burns will meet Khamzat Chimaev in the fight before the co-main event. The winner of the fight will most likely be next in line for the Welterweight Championship. The two fighters have clashed on social media before and helped set up a tasty fight for the fans. Burns will seek to win and gain another crack at the title whereas Chimaev faces his biggest test ever in the UFC. Khamzat has been a fast rising name in the UFC and that explains why he fights the number 2 ranked welterwight in only his fifth UFC fight.

    All unfolds on April 9th 2022.

     

  • Cristiano Ronaldo Breaks Goalscoring Record as United Beat Tottenham

    By Ken Andrew

    Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates with Alex Telles after scoring against Tottenham
    Source: marca.com

    kenakikenyi@gmail.com

    Cristiano Ronaldo is the highest scoring professional footballer of all time, with 807 goals, after bagging a hat-trick against Tottenham . The Portuguese broke the previous record of 805 goals held by Josef Bican. His hat-trick helped Man United beat Tottenham 3-2.

    Ronaldo had missed the Manchester Derby the week before but was clearly itching to play this week. His first goal of the night was the best of the lot after he found time and space to fire a rocket into the top corner past Hugo Lloris. Tottenham equalized after Harry Kane converted a penalty from a handball by Alex Telles. United took the lead once more through Ronaldo after  Sancho beat the offside trap to set him up for his second. In the second half, a Maguire own goal levelled the game but Ronaldo once again powered a header past Lloris from a corner delivered by Telles.

    The win helped Man United climb into the top four despite having played 4 more games than Arsenal. Arsenal will face Leicester on Sunday and a win will put the Gunners  back into the top four. United next host Atletico Madrid in the second leg of their Champions League round of 16 tie which is level at 1-1 on aggregate. Atletico Madrid will be weary of Cristiano Ronaldo as every knockout tie they lost between 2014 and 2019 was at the hands of a team containing Cristiano.

     

    Highest Scoring footballers

    1. Cristiano Ronaldo – 807 goals
    2. Josef Bican – 805 goals
    3. Romario – 772 goals
    4. Lionel Messi – 759 goals
    5. Pele – 757 goals

     

  • PSG Beats Madrid as UEFA Champions League Kicks Off.

    By Ken Andrew
    kenakikenyi@gmail.com

    As couples celebrate the month of love football lovers are not left out.

    The month of February to them means the return of one of the world’s most loved competitions, the UEFA Champions League.

    The Champions League round of 16 kicked off on February 15 after taking a break right after the group stages since December and some tasty ties are lined up. The start offs were Real Madrid playing against Paris Saint Germain (PSG) at the Parc Des Princes. The game came to an end with the teams having 0-1 respectively.

    PSG has reached the Final and Semi Final the past two seasons and will be looking to go a step further and win it this season. The signing of Lionel Messi added more pressure on PSG to deliver the trophy.

    Another monumental clash will see Inter Milan, the Italian Champions, make their return to the round of 16 after almost a decade out. They face a tough test against the 2019 champions Liverpool who have signed Luis Diaz from Porto to add to their already stacked forward line.

    Manchester United return to the Round of 16 after 2 seasons away. They face an Atletico Madrid side that has struggled at the start of the season but it would not be wise to write off Diego Simeone’s troops. United boss Ralf Rangnick will be seeking a good run in the Champions League since the Premier League title charge is over for United.

    The first legs of the ties took place on the 15 February with PSG playing against Real Madrid, and Sporting Lisbon against Manchester City. Manchester City secured a win with 5 goals.

    The others will take place as follows 16, 22,and 23 February with the return legs taking place on 8, 9, 15, and 16of March.

    Round of 16 ties
    PSG vs Real Madrid
    Sporting Lisbon vs Manchester City
    RB Salzburg vs Bayern Munich
    Inter Milan vs Liverpool
    Chelsea vs LOSC
    Villareal vs Juventus
    Atletico Madrid vs Manchester United
    Benfica vs Ajax

  • Kenya to Play Mali in 2022 Qatar World Cup Qualifiers

    By Lewis Njeruh

    lewisnjeruh@gmail.com

    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

  • FKF Premier League takes eighteen-days break

    By Lewis Njeruh

    lewisnjeruh@gmail.com

    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.

  • Kenya Police FC Promoted to Kenya Premier League

    By Lewis Njeruh

    Thumbnail Photo Retrieved from Facebook

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  • Daystar Chess Falcons Move up the Ranks in Kenya Online Chess League

    By Karan Christie

    karanchristie@gmail.com

    It was a good weekend for the Daystar Chess Falcons who managed to climb up the ladder from 10th to 6th position in the ongoing Kenya Online Chess League. A total of 21 teams are participating in this prestigious event.

    Three games were played over the weekend on 28th and 29th of August 2021. The team managed to secure three wins with a total of 10 rounds yet to be played.

    Playing online is a new experience as some players can be prone to mouse slip and poor network; a drawback which wouldn’t be seen in a physical match. However, there are also benefits such as quick analysis of one’s game and opponents. This in turn helps to strategize and prepare against the next team.

    The Kenya Chess Federation has adopted a hybrid system where the league will be conducted online on Tornelo platform, approved by FIDE (the international governing body of chess). Open tourneys will be physical under the guidance of the Ministry of Health (MOH).

    Daystar was represented by the following Chess Falcons:

    Board 1: Glen Kingoina

    Board 2: Edwin Kipterem

    Board 3: Weldon Ngetich

    Board 4: Brian Ngetich

    Board 5: Karan Christie/Vincent Muthuiya

    Board 6: Olive Sang/Wamuyu Macharia

    Daystar Chess Falcons continue to grow in number and in strength.

  • Kenya Tops Medal Table at World Under 20 Championships

    By Nicholas Kweyu

    nicholaskweyu99@gmail.com

    Thumbnail Photo Courtesy of Frederick Omondi.

    Having played host to the 2021 World Athletics Championships over the past week, Kenyan athletes took advantage of their home and emerged as the top country. They held 16 medals in total (8 gold, 1 silver, and 7 bronze). Finland emerged second with 5 medals (4 gold and 1 silver) and Nigeria was third with 7 medals (4 gold and 3 bronze). Let us take a look back over the 5 days in which the championships ran to see how Kenya managed to achieve this.

    Sunday 22nd August

    On the final day of the championships, Emmanuel Wanyonyi won the gold medal. He set the championship record in the men’s 800m with a time of 1:43.76. Our own Noah Kibet secured a bronze medal in this race while Algeria’s Mohammed Ali Gouaned took the silver.

    Purity Chepkirui wins the 1500m race narrowly beating Diribe Welteji from Ethiopia Photo Courtesy of Jonah Onyango.

     

    Purity Chepkirui earned Kenya’s seventh gold medal in the women’s 1500m final on the same day. She narrowly beat Ethiopia’s Diribe Welteji in the last 50m and clocked a time of 4:16.07. Chepkirui expressed her joy at beating the experienced Ethiopian who is fresh from the recently concluded Tokyo Olympics.

    “This was my first time to represent Kenya and I am happy. Going up against an experienced runner in the Ethiopian, who is the defending champion, I knew I had to get my finishing kick right and it took everything in me to win,” she said.

    Chemutai’s compatriot Winnie Jemutai also performed commendably earning a bronze medal despite having planned for a 1-2 finish for Kenya.

    Kenya also dominated the men’s 3000m steeplechase with another gold and bronze combo. Amos Serem won the race in 8:30.72 while his teammate Simon Kiprop came in third with a time of 8:34.79. They were again split by an Ethiopian, Tadese Takele who finished second in 8:33.15.

    The Kenyan quartet (Joshua Wanyonyi), Elkanah Kiprotich, Kennedy Kimeu, and Peter Kithome) won a bronze medal in the men’s 4x400m relay final with a time of 3:05.94. They came in behind Botswana and Jamaica in this very last race of the championships.

    Saturday 21st August

    Vincent Keter celebrates after winning the 1500m at the World Under-20 Championships in Nairobi. Photo Courtesy of Raymond Makhaya.

    The fifth gold medal was earned by Vincent Keter in the men’s 1500m. With a time of 3:37.24, he blazed through the final lap to win the race. It would have been yet another Kenyan gold and bronze combo but Kamar Etyang was disqualified for lane infringement despite finishing third. Ethiopians Wegene Addisu and Melkeneh Azize, therefore, finished in second and third positions respectively.

    “I am really happy with the gold medal today. We had talked with Etyang and we had agreed to work as a team and then the best man to win. It is a good day for Kenya. I had a small injury in the middle of the race but I am thankful to God that I have made it,” said Keter.

    Earlier that same day, Herringtone Wanyonyi won Kenya’s very first 10km race walk gold medal. He finished with a time of 42:10.84 ahead of Amit from India and Paul McGrath from Spain. He previously ran the 10000m race but was made to change to race walk by his former primary school teacher Wesley Korir.

    Friday 20th August

    With a personal best time of 9:27.4, Jackline Chepkoech clinched the gold in the women’s 3,000m steeplechase on. Kenya attained a bronze medal again with Faith Cherotich coming in third while Ethiopia’s Zerfe Wondemagegn won the silver.

    Thursday 19th August

    Japan-based Teresia Muthoni blazed through the women’s 400m to clinch Kenya’s second gold medal in a time of 8:59.78. Her fellow Kenyan, Zena Jemutai won the silver awarding Kenya a 1-2 finish. Ethiopia’s Melknat Wudu came in third.

    The very first Kenyan gold medal in these championships was won by Benson Kiplangat in the men’s 5000m. In a personal best time of 13:20.37, he beat Ethiopia’s Tadese Worku who had won the men’s 3000m the previous day. Kiplangat said that he was happy and surprised to have won the race as he had not expected to even get a medal. He was ultimately proud to have done so. This race also saw the first Kenyan gold and bronze combo in the championships with Levy Kibet coming in third and winning Kenya’s first bronze medal.

    Wednesday 18th August

    Kenya was off to a rocky start on the first day of the championships earning no medals at all. They suffered a crushing defeat in the men’s 3000m with representatives Daniel Kinyanjui and Bernard Yegon coming in seventh and ninth places respectively.

    It is amazing and exciting that Kenya was able to move from a rather disappointing start to such a marvelous finish in these championships.

  • Daystar Falcons Chess Team Shines at Nakuru Open Chess Tournament

    By Karan Christie

    karanchristie@gmail.com

    Daystar’s Falcons chess team emerged as the top university scoring 19 points at the Nakuru Open Chess Tournament held at Waterbuck Hotel. The tournament was held on July 31 and August 1. It featured more than 120 players from Kenya and had 7 universities present. It consisted of 7 rounds and was, in fact, the largest competitive tourney in the past two years.

    Daystar sent a team of 8 players (6 men and 2 ladies) under the guidance of Karan Christie and captained by Brian Ngetich.

    “I would like to thank Daystar management for giving us the opportunity to participate in this prestigious event. This has been a good performance especially after resuming over the board Chess in Kenya and we look forward to improving our games and win more tournaments in the future,” said Brian.

    The top scorers were Weldon Ngetich (former captain) and Glen Kingoina with 4.5/7 points respectively. The other players representing Daystar were: Carlos Musungu, Jackline Wambugu, Olive Sang and Vincent Muthuiya.

    The Daystar Chess Falcons Team.

    In 2020 the team shifted to online chess due to the pandemic. This took away the thrill and general feel of the game. The Nakuru Open 2021 brought back a more positive vibe and allowed our chess players to really immerse themselves. Daystar now looks forward to hosting the 6th Daystar Chess Open soon.

    For more information on joining the Daystar Chess Falcons, please contact Brian on +254 713 599 645.