Story and Pics By Phillip Ouma

Pamela Akelo Follows Her Tee Off. Photo By Phillip Ouma

Kakamega Golfer Aggrey Mukuvi teed off to a winning start and emerged the overall winner of the Kenya Shell Golf Day Series that was sponsored by Kenya Shell Ltd and staged at the Mumias Golf Club.

The handicap 16 Golfer posted a total of 37points after amassing 21 Stableford points in the initial nine that he pared with 16 other Stableford points in the second nine for the winner.

His Club Mate Beatrice Shikuku become the runner up after collecting 36 Stableford points in total from 19 and 17 Stableford points in the front and back nine, Shikuku was also playing handicap 16.

Mumias Golfer and handicap 16 Anthony Alachu managed a total of 35 points for the Men winner position after registering 18 and 17 points in the first and second nine respectively.

Men Runner-Up was Patrick Amakobe who was playing off handicap 19 from Kakamega club who posted 34 points {19+15}

Ladies winner was handicap 26 Lydia Oketch from Kakamega club who posted 28 point after pairing 15 and 13 in the first and last nine while the runner up was Leah Luchivia playing off handicap 16 also from Kakamega club who brought in 27 points in 12 and 15.

Staff winner was handicap 20 Joseph Kahuko with 24 points, 1^st Nine winner was Eric Muriithi playing handicap 26 with 20pts while the 2^nd Nine winner was handicap 4 J. Anyonyi from Nandi bears club with 17pts.

While in Kisumu, Handicap 27 Sylvester Owuor braved the hot sunny day to carry the day after bringing in 41 Stableford points; he posted 19 Stableford points in the first and added another 22 in the second.
 

Handicap 11 Dennis Aburi posted 38 points for the second position after posting 20 and 18 point in both nines.

Nyanza Golf Handicap Manager and handicap 15 scored 37 points for the third position and registered 19 and 18 Stableford points in the initial and final nine.

Resolution Health Kisumu Branch Manager Geoffrey Obuon playing off Handicap 27 registered 20 and 17 Stableford points for 37 Stableford points in Total to emerge 4^th.

Fifth was handicap 10 John Orioro who posted 36 Points from 18 and 18.

Handicap 24 Fred Otieno was the first nine winner after scoring 20 Points in the front nine while the second nine winner was Ken Amalemba {handicap 10} also with 20 Points.

Pamela Akelo prepares to tee off. Photo By Phillip Ouma

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Kisumu Youth Football Association League

By Phillip Orwa

Obunga Babes FC mauled Real Kisumu Stars FC 3-0 in the on-going Kisumu Youth Football Association League in an under-16 match that was staged at the Shauri Moyo Play Ground in Brilliant Kisumu on Saturday.

In other encounters Real Kisumu Stars thrashed Young Emirates FC 1-0, Super strikers FC defeated Lake Victoria Stars FC 2-0, Hovic and Real Kisumu Stars Settled for a 0-0 draw, while Al-ansar FC and Young Emirates too did not have a clear winner.

On Sunday in matches that were staged at the Kenyatta sports ground Manyatta United FC Disciplined Real Kisumu FC 8-0, Obunga Babes FC walked over Young Emirates FC 6-0, Desert Rangers FC defeated ASYSA the greens 2-0, Real Kisumu stars FC whipped Lake Victoria Stars FC 2-0, Super strikers FC and Hovic FC had a 2-2 draw while Covenant Academy and Al-ansar FC also settled for a 2-2 draw.

In the under-14 category staged at the Molasses play grounds Okore Golden Youth FC romped over Usare FC 3-1, Express sportiff FC defeated Kisian FC 2-0; Nawa FC piped Usare FC 1-0 while Nawa FC and Portflorence FC settled for a goalless draw.

The under-12 league saw Okore Golden Youth FC striking Kisian FC 2-0 while Port Florence FC defeated Express sportiff FC 2-0 in matches that were staged at the Ramogi grounds at Otonglo.

Meanwhile Kisumu Youth Football Association {KYFA} Manager Rachelle Stwather-Okumu has said that they are almost accomplishing the 10,000 tree planting target.

Early this year KYFA partnered with United Millers in a bid to conserve environment and Rachelle said that they had an agreement of planting 10,000 seedlings.

“We have planted 8,000 seedlings and are now only 2000 shy of our target, we plan to accomplish the target by the end of the year, and the trees are being planted in different parts of Kisumu County and its environs where KYFA stages its League”. She said.

United Millers that is owned by Shunil Shah has been sponsoring many football activities in the Nyanza Region through their Social Corporate Responsibility.

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By Phillip Ouma

Captain Hilary Osodo/PHOTO BY Phillip Ouma

Lawyer Sam Onyango braved the morning chilly weather to emerge the overall winner of the Dala {Home} Open Tournament that was staged at the par 70 Nyanza Golf at the weekend after posting 41 Stableford in Total.

The Handicap 27 Nyanza Golfer paired 25 Stableford points that he scored in the first nine with the 16 Stableford points that he scored from the second nine for the winner.

“The morning weather was Chilly and that made the course wet, though I maneuvered to wade through the drizzle to win the Tournament beating a field of experienced golfers, am happy of the win” Onyango Said.

Mumias Golfer Anthony Alachu who was playing handicap 16 become the second overall after accumulating 21 Stableford points from the first nine and adding to his tally 18 from the second nine for a 39 Stableford total.

Third overall and Ladies winner was Janet Kalavor from Nyanza who was playing handicap 19, Kalavor managed 38 points in total after registering 18 and 20 Stableford points in the first and second nine.

Kericho Golfer and handicap 12 Samwel Thumbi came in the fourth position after posting 37 points in total, he harmonized 17 and 20 Stableford points from the back and front nine’s.

Nyanza Golfer Jitten Pabari tied with Thumbi on 37 Points but lost on Countback, the handicap 10 golfer posted 20 Stableford points in the Front nine while in the back nine he added to his tally 17 Stableford.

 The tournament was attended by Golfers from Mumias, Kakamega, Kericho, Nandi Bears, Nyanza and Kisii.

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By Phillip Ouma

The second Leg of the Kenya Football Federation Run Provincial League kicked off Last Weekend.

Kisumu Youth Olympic Center Lost 3-1 in the opening encounter of the game to Julu Nyabangu FC in a match that was staged at the Kisumu’s Kenyatta sports ground.

Striker Moses Otieno scored a brace in the 32^nd and 73^rd minute while John Owino brought in the final goal For Julu Nyabangu Fc in the 84^th minute.

KYOC got their solitary goal from Boniface Omondi in the 67^th minute of the lively encounter.

At the weekend the match between KYOC and Midika FC that was slated to kick off at the Kisumu’s Kenyatta sports ground did not kick off as Midika failed to show up, as a result KYOC being awarded a walkover.

With the three points KYOC are the current league leaders with 35 points with 35 goals.

The next match will be against Siaya Rangers next Saturday at Siaya stadium.

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By Phillip Ouma

Strathmore defeated Western Jaguars on their first encounter of the Western Tour 2-0 in Kakamega on Saturday to collect 3 clear points and added another on Sunday when they failed to get a clear winner with the Kisumu Simba.

Frank Wanangwe scored the first goal in the 10^th minute of the game via a penalty corner for the game to end 1-0 at first half.

And upon resumption in the 50^th minute Frank Wanangwe again become the feeder as he gave Ben Ochieng a clear shot that Ochieng romped passed a hapless Western Jaguar goalkeeper for the second goal.

And on Sunday the game that was evenly played between Strathmore and Kisumu Simba resulted in a barren draw making both teams end up with a solitary point.

Cliff Okelo Dribbles with the ball at the KSHUG/PHOTO BY PHILLIP OUMA

The two teams were cautiously playing with none of them letting the other past the 18 yard in a game that was attended by hundreds of fans.

The game had a ball possession of 50-50 and was initially tension backed but the referee’s ensured that there was no incident.

Numerous stabs from both sides were revolted by the hawk eyed defenders who made sure that no ball went past their backyard.

Earlier the game that was initially slated to be played at 9am had to be pushed to 11am for the field to dry as rain that had pounded the region had made the pitch to be waterlogged.

Both teams arrived on time but the game could not be started as the playing field still had ponds of water.

Cliff Okello, Billy Mola and Daniel Moi of Kisumu Simba were all given a green card for malicious tackle while Ken Nyongesa, Seth Oburu and Frank Wanangwe of Strathmore were also booked.

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Palos Good Fortune Continues

By Phillip Ouma

Palos FC, A team that is sponsored by The Makini school through their Makini Sports Academy to nurture talent continued with their good run registering two wins one on Friday and the other on Saturday.

On Friday the game was a friendly with Division One Side Kisumu Municipal that was staged at the Moi Stadium whereby Palos FC came from a goal down to knock the senior side 3-2 while on Saturday they thrashed Ring road during their Football Kenya Federation District League 2-0.

Municipal’s Allan Dickens had scored for Kisumu Municipal in the 12^th minute before captain Kevin Omullo rallied his team to come from a goal down overwhelm the senior team 2-1 at half time through Tony Oloo and Torquine Junior in the 26^th and 43^rd minutes of the game.

And in the second half Alvince Omanga kicked off the score sheet for Kisumu Municipal in the 47^th minute again but a Victor Dudi score in the 67^th minute ensured that the District team went home the victor.

On Saturday during the league Torquine Junior was at it again romping in the first goal just five minutes into the game against Ring road while a 26^th minute sport kick that was taken by Zamoyoni Costa after a ring road player fouled a Palos FC player inside the box ensured that Walked home the winner.

Head Teacher Makini School Kibos Mr Patrick Imbuga who is also the team manager said that they are now focused on joining the Provincial league and that they will approach each game with the seriousness it deserves.

“We are aiming to nurture talent through the game of sports while at the same time working hard to join the Provincial league, we will take each game seriously and ensure that we reach our target” Imbuga said at the KPC grounds.

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Copa Coca Cola Team In south Africa

 

By Phillip Ouma

The Kenya U17 contingent of 16 players and three officials who traveled to Pretoria for the COPA Coca-Cola inter-country tournament will travel back home today, Saturday, after a fairly successful tournament that saw the team finish a decent fourth out of fourteen countries.

The team will depart OR Tambo international airport in Johannesburg at exactly 1.15pm Kenyan time for the flight and they will be expected to touch down at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) nearly four hours later.

“We didn’t win the tournament as we planned to but we will be traveling home with our heads held up high because we did our best given the circumstances,” said Coach Arthur Apiyo who expressed his desire to continue working with the players and the current U17 coach David Ouma.

Kenya registered laudable results during the 12-day international camp at St. Alban’s College in Pretoria in spite of being only one among other three teams who were not in camp prior to the tournament. They convincingly beat Uganda, shrugged off the challenge of Tanzania and also indexed in a comfortable 1-0 win over Central and West Africa (CEWA) combined team.

Kenya also managed draws against eventual champions Zambia and continental heavyweights Nigeria. Even the narrow 1-0 losses against Mozambique who already departed for their U17 duties, Malawi and Zimbabwe could have been wins was there some luck on the side.

“Just like fine wine, every good thing takes time,” said Arthur who had only two days to train the team. “The talent is there, but we just need to refine it going forward,” he added.

The performance of the Kenyan team didn’t escape the eyes of talent scouts at the tournament. Two Kenyan players, Eugene Moses Mukangula and Omar Mwinyi, were keenly followed by scouts from South Africa Premier League side Supersport United while defender Sadam Abdulahi and midfield anchorman and team captain Haron Nyakha made it to the COPA All-Star team.

“It’s been a good experience for us and we’ve picked a lot from the competition which we will put to use back at home,” said Ramadhan Abdulmalik who shrugged off a nagging injury to feature for Kenya.

“This was a step in the right direction for all the players. But we have reached the limit yet; the journey has just began,” said Castro Mwaura who was among the goal scorers for the Kenyan team.

The only thing that is not clear is what happens with the team going forward. Kenya U17 was due to play Tanzania on September 9^th but the match has since been cancelled. “We are ready to for any duty when called upon. From what I have seen, there’s little doubt that we can indeed be the future of Kenyan football,” said diminutive right full-back Kevin Otieno.

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By Phillip Ouma

                                                  

Kenya’s COPA Coca-Cola U17 team narrowly missed out on the medals after finishing fourth as curtains came down on the 2012 COPA inter-country international camp tournament at St. Alban’s College in Pretoria, South Africa.

Kenya collected three points on the final day of the tournament after easing past Central East and West Africa (CEWA) team by a solitary goal from Mohamed “Kafupi” Said.

Kenya was among three other teams that finished on 11 points, the other two being CEWA and Mozambique. Zambia’s Chipolopolo stars lifted the trophy after amassing 16 points, two ahead of runners-up Tanzania and a further four ahead of third-placed Malawi who finished on 12 Points.

“This was a great team effort. The players gave their all in this tournament and you could see they all worked their socks off in all the matches,” said Coach Arthur Apiyo who promised there’s more to come.

Kenya narrowly lost three matches against Zimbabwe, Malawi and Mozambique by a solitary goal. Had they converted some clear-cut opportunities, the boys could have won the tournament as they had earlier promised.

“We had a good win against a very strong Tanzanian team, we easily beat Uganda and CEWA, both very good teams. We came close to beating champions Zambia as well as Nigeria. We never gave ourselves an excuse for not performing well,” said Arthur.

Uganda finished third from bottom with 10 points, two ahead of Nigeria who finished with 8. Zimbabwe finished rock bottom with 7 points.

“We tried our level best but luck was not on our side. But I know the future is bright for this team because there’s definitely talent amongst us as well as the fighting spirit,” noted goalkeeper Edwin Mukolwe.

His competitor for the position between the posts Stephen Ogweno had kind words for the coach. “We were 16 players and the coach gave us all a chance to shine by consistently rotating the team but we all gelled nevertheless,” said Ogweno who was between the posts for the games against Malawi and CEWA.

The Kenyan team will travel back on Saturday.

Meanwhile two players from Kenya will feature for the COPA All-Star. Captain Haron Nyakha who plays the defensive midfield position and central defender Sadam Abdulahi were named in the All-Star team. “We are thankful to the team because we couldn’t have made it here were it not for the team effort,” said Nyakha who is a student at Kakamega High School.

“They have stood out amongst us and we will be supporting them all the way,” said Alfred Wekesa who scored one of the best goals of the tournament.

The All-Star team will play against Supersport United U19 team on Friday. Talent scouts from the club have been scouting for talent during the tournament and have pinpointed two Kenyan players, Omar Mwinyi and Eugene Moses.

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