GLASPO FC HUMBLED AS THIKA QUEENS CROWNED CHAMPIONS IN THIS YEAR'S JAMHURI PEACE CUP TOURNAMENT

Glaspo's captain Wendy Achieng(right) dribbles the ball away from her opponent Everlyn  Adhiambo during 2014 Jamhuri Peace Cup Tournament finals held Mombasa county stadium.

Thika Queens were on Friday afternoon crowned the champions of the National Jamhuri Peace Tournament at the Mombasa County Stadium after edging out Glaspo FC through a post match penalty kicks.

The mouth watering encounter ended on a barren draw in the normal regulation time. During the penalty kicks, Queens saw the back of the net four times while their opponent Glaspo shook the net only thrice.

The champs were awarded Ksh 10,000, trophy, set of jersey and medals while the runners up got Ksh 5,000, trophy, set of jersey and medals.

The final was graced by National Executive Committee Member Madam Angelim Mwikali from North Eastern. According to her the tournament will be used to scout players who will represent the ladies national team (Harambee Starlets) in the confederation games,
“We have two coaches who will select players to join the national team that is set to participate in the African qualifiers matches come next year,” she said shortly before the kickoff.

On the men’s final Coast Stima emerged victors after beating FC Shells from Likoni 2-1.  Stima’s goals were scored by Rogers Okumu and Kevin Olale in the 35^th and 74^th minutes respectively. Shells got their consolation through Lenox Mwaro in the 73^rd minutes.

The winners and the runners up in the men’s category  got the same prizes as the ladies. 

National Jamhuri Peace Tournament is a one week tournament that is held annually during the week of Jamhuri holiday and it incorporates both the lower and upper division teams.

FC SHELLS, COAST STIMA THROUGH TO NATIONAL JAMHURI PEACE TOURNAMENT FINAL

(FC Shell's captain Demba (right) battles for the ball with Tiki Taveta's player Peter Ochieng during the first semi final encounter at Tudor Day  Secondary School on Thursday afternoon)

 

FC Shells beat Tiki Taveta 2- 1 on Thursday afternoon at Tudor Day Secondary School to secure their place in the National Jamhuri Peace Tournament final.

Shells were the first to score through their midfielder Hamza Hammed in the 32^nd minutes. However, after the stroke of half time, Tiki Taveta got an equalizer courtesy of their striker Jagero Robert.

The game looked settled with both teams trying to capitalize their opponent’s mistakes. At the 81^st minute the deadlock was broken when Shell’s defender Russel Adebayor converted a penalty kick to put his side ahead.

Tiki Taveta’s coach Okumu criticized the referee’s performance and termed it as unprofessional “this is very unprofessional, the officials officiated the match poorly and this is one of the reasons Coast referees cannot get a call up to officiate Premier League games,” he said.

Contrary to coach Okumu’s remarks, Shell’s coach Musa hailed praise on the referee’s performance, “the referee was very fair and strictly followed the FIFA rules to the letter,” he noted.

On the second encounter Coast Stima out-shined Shimo Annex FC to book a slot in the final. James Okello scored the all important goal in the 81^st minutes.

On the ladies category, Thika Queens and Gaspo FC beat Moving The Goal Post FC from Malindi and Soccer Queens respectively to advance to the finals.

The finals will be played on 12^th December at the Mombasa County Stadium.

KAYOLE YOUTH PROMISES TO BOUNCE BACK

(Kayole Youth players at their home ground in Kayole)

Eastland based side Kayole Youth FC has promised to bounce back strongly come 2015 season after they failed to secure a slot in the Nationwide Division One League.

The side took part in the Nairobi Provincial League finishing third, four points behind league leaders ASEC Huruma F.C and one point behind second placed Forest FC.

 As a result they failed to advance to play off that was slotted to have only top two teams from each group.

Youth recorded an impressive performance in their home matches losing only once to Real Mathare FC and winning the rest.

However, their efforts were neutralised when it came to the away fixture where they lost four matches, drew two and won six.

On the other hand the club’s tactician Barry Otieno is very optimistic that his players will rise to the occasion come 2015 season ‘’my players are in good condition and are ready to roll. Am convinced they will perform better come next season,’’ he said.

Beside this the tactician expressed his uncertainty concerning the clubs financial status, ‘’our biggest challenge is finance; we don’t know where will get the next sponsor who will support us in the forth coming season. Last season we survived through the help of our well wishers,’’ he added.

In an effort to intensify their momentum, the club has decided to participate in three tournaments; Far Eastlando in Dandora, Ekodida in Mathare and Ex-convict in Korogocho slums.

They will also travel to Mombasa this weekend to play build up matches against both Super leaguse and Nationwide sides.

'' BATOTO BA MUNGU'' TRIUMPH IN FOOTBALLER OF YEAR AWARDS (FOYA)

(Sofapaka's midfielder Antony Ndolo at the Nairobi Safari Park Hotel shortly after receiving his award in this year's FOYA awards gala)

Sofapaka’s machine Antony Ndolo outshined his closest contestants Geoffrey Kizito and Stephen Waruru   to bag in best player of the year and the midfielder of the year award in a Kenyan Premier League (KPL) Footballer of the Year Awards (FOYA) gala on Wendesday at Safari park hotel.

The Ugandan born club’s tactician Sam Timbe was the first runner up in the coach of the year category which was won by Chemill’s coach Muturi who led his team to 5^th position last season.

Sofapaka’s Felly Mulumba grabbed the second runner up defender of the year award twice in a raw after a spectacular performance last season.

The club’s prolific scorer Enoch Agwanda was the first runner up in the golden boots award which was won by Gor Mahia’s magic finisher Dan SSerunkuma who netted in 16 goals last season. The third place went to Ulinzi’s flying winger Stephen Waruru who saw the back of the net 11 times last season.

Hamisi Mwinyi from Chemilil F.C received the fair play player while John Njoroge from Sofapaka become second.

Gor Mahia’s custodian Jeremy Onyango failed to defend his golden gloves which went to the sugar millers Chemil’s  Jairus Adira.

The rocky defender David Owino ‘Calabar’ retained the defender of the year position for the second time in a raw after edging out Charles Ndeto of Sony F.C and Felly Mulumba from Sofapaka.

The Harambe stars call up Kennedy Owino brother to David Owino was named the young player of the year after easing out Kevin Omondi and Nicholus Kamau both from Nairobi City Stars F.C while the slum boys Mathare United’s team manager Willium Muluhya was accorded the team manager of the year award.

The lake region representatives Muhoroni Youth was the fair play team of the year as KPL relegated side Nakuru All Stars became second in the same category.

However the big spenders AFC Leopards failed to secure an award from the available categories after their poor performance last season.

In addition Tax collectors Ushuru F.C also failed to collect awards in this year’s FOYA awards after a series of complacentness during the second leg despite having a fabulous start in the first leg. 

Similarly the game controllers were not left empty handed as Peter Waweru and Stephen Oduor were named the most improved centre referee of the year and the most improved assistant referee of the year respectively.

The KPL Awards also known as FOYA awards is an award ceremony that is held at the end of  KPL season to honour association, football players, coaches, officials and journalist participating in the KPL. The nominees and winners for the awards are selected by the coaches from KPL clubs.

TUM F.C THRASH MAUA UNITED

(TUM FC players warming up at their home ground before their encounter with Maua United)

Technical University of Mombasa’s (TUM) ground was on Sunday filled to capacity as the visiting side Maua United were hammered three goals to nil by their host.

The visiting side started strongly by possessing the ball around and utilizing the TUM’s defensive lapses through counter attacks.

In as span of two minutes after kickoff the home team had been cautioned thrice. Maua’s striker Kevin Njau missed an open chance when he found himself on an one on one situation with TUM’s keeper Iddi when he fired a shot that went wide across the bar.

Iddi  was again called on action to save a powerful bicycle kick from Maua’s attacker Jared. The home team recollected themselves and started knocking the ball towards their opponents post. The deadlock was broken on the 18^th minute when TUM’s attacking midfielder Davis Shikala connected a volley to put the home team ahead.

 The fans took the advantage of the situation and cheered the home team to the top of their voices as they demanded for more action. The first half came to an end with the home team leading with one goal.

Second half became more entertaining with home team seeking to extend their lead and the away side trying to get an equalizer. In the 54^th minutes things turned from bad to worse for Maua when TUM’s striker Delvis Njue received a back hill from Robert Nasri and placed it at the top end of the post to make it two nil in favour of the scholars.

 TUM made double substitution by bringing in an electric defender Ernest Cornel for Brian Ochieng and Nichodemus Odipo for Joseph Mwaluda.

After two minutes in the field of play, Ernest ‘’Collo’’ made a sliding tackle to deny Maua’s winger Mwangi from advancing to the 18 yard box. TUM’s tactician changed his tactics and started employing long balls which bore fruits when the substitute Odipo headed in a one nine kick from the skipper Teddy to sink the game and make it three nil.

The game came to an end and TUM were awarded three points.

‘’That was a good performance from my players and am happy they played as per the instruction,’’ said TUM’s manager Yeboa.

However Maua’s manager Mwaura directed his disappointments to the weather, ‘’the weather was too hot for my players to bear. TUM had an added advantage because they are used to it,’’ he said.

TUM are still 4^th in the standings with 45 points.