An Epic Start for Ryan Giggs

#END OF AN ERROR

Once, a famous tweet by President Uhuru Kenyatta in his twitter handle jokingly teased, “who am I to sack Ole lemku if Man United has not sacked David Moyes?” now I do not know the import of Moyes’ sacking and Ole Lenku prospects. Perhaps, the security CS needs to consult the fortune-tellers. Thankfully they no longer get the sack over 1pm news bulletin; but that is a story for another day.

So this past week, less than 360 minutes from the end of the season, a trophy less season and what’s more, a season Manchester United will finish with the lowest premier league points tally ever, David Moyes was sacked just after one season as manager.

All eyes this past weekend turned to the Old Trafford dug-out as Man-U began lie after David Moyes. Ryan Giggs assisted by three fellow members of united famed “class of 92”; took temporary charge of the troubled giants and led them to beat struggling Norwich 4-0.

At the Old Trafford, banners read boldly, “in Giggs we trust” as he made his way in a suit to seat at the former coach Ferguson’s seat at the dugout. He had time to smile and sign autographs for fans close to the dug-out. The 40-year old, surrounded by other gilded graduates of United’s youth academy, with Nicky Butt, Phil Neville and Paul Scholes, all helping their old colleague, those familiar faces inspired a win over Norwich and put smiles back on many faces.

With united starting the post Moyes ear, eyes turned to Anfield where Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho who carried out his threat to field a weakened team that beat the Reds 2-0. Liverpool’s red-hot from after reeling off 11 successive league wins, came to an abrupt end on Sunday.

But good news is that Luis Suarez, scorer of 30 league goals this season, after the defeat was declared the Season’s Player of the year.

With Liverpool’s defeat, now eyes turn to Manchester City and Chelsea who still remain favorites in the title race!

By Embukane Vincent Libosso.

MASAKU SEVENS 3RD EDITION SET FOR JUNE 2014

#254Rugby

RAEV UP YOUR ENGINES! Get your boys and girls ready! Machakos is once again calling! Get your vuvuzelas on board too for the 3^rd edition of the annual Masaku Rugby Sevens scheduled for June 27-29 at Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos.

Organizers confirmed that teams from Italy, Norway, Fiji, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Uganda will be involved. Kenya Harlequin are the defending champions of the 16-team competition. This year’s tournament will have its prize money doubled up to sh 1million.

All top teams in the Kenya Cup league have been invited alongside the British Army from the Nanyuki Barracks.

Apart from the main cup, there will be the schools and the ladies categories in the championships whose mission is to devolve rugby in all the counties.

And it is not just all play and no fun for all you Jacks out there! With the first edition attracting 7,000 spectators and the second 20,000-this year the target is 50,000. The games kick off will be preceded by a concert a day before at the newly established Machakos Peoples park.

By Embukane Vincent Libosso.

2014 EASTER WEEKEND GETAWAY: THE NAKURU 10-A-SIDE RUGBY TOURNAMENT

#254RUGBY

What are your plans for this coming Easter Weekend? Well, a drive escape from the CBD to Nakuru doesn’t sound bad, right? Well, the Top Fry Great Rift 10-A-Side Rugby Tournament is calling!

The event kicks off on April 18^th with the National Secondary Schools Championships before the main competition hits the ground the following day from april19-20.

Teams participating include all Kenya Cup League sides and South Africa’s Western Province and Makerere Impis from Uganda. But rivalry will be renewed once again since Kenya Commercial Bank are the defending champions, after defeating Mean Machine in last year’s finals.

Well, action will not just be on the field. There will be a kid’s corner and family section-with entertainment from The Homeboyz.

By Embukane Vincent Libosso.

the Biggest tournament south of the Sahara blowing your way this Easter 18th - 20th April 2014....... Top flight rugby entwined with Top notch entertainment. You just can’t afford not to ......attend. see the event details on Facebook-https://www.facebook.com/events/411311682339036/

KITUI SEVENS UNVEILED

#RUGBY254

Kitui county will host the inaugural Kitui sevens rugby tournament on May 31- June 1 at the former Kitui Agricultural Show Ground.

Launching the event at the Fuse Club in Kitui town on Wednesday; the East African breweries sales Director Kimani Mwaura; said they had partnered with other sponsors to support the competition through their “TWENDE KAZI” initiative to devolve the game to the counties.

He added; “as EABL; we are proud to be associated with the Kitui Sevens and we will continue to support the event to greater heights.”

The former National sevens rugby coach and who is the tournament director Benjamin Ayimba said 64 teams including defending champions Quins and Mwamba are expected to participate.

Ayimba who was flanked by Kenya Harlequin head coach Charles Cardovillis and Mike Mumo Mwendwa were encouraged by the Governor dr Julius malombe who assured them of total support.

By Paul Mutua for The Standard.

KENYA SET TO HOST CHAN 2018

#sports-stretch

As a local sports fan; I am one happy guy-Kenya will host the 2018 Africa Nations Championship(CHAN).T this was officially confirmed by Confederation of African Football (CAF) after an executive meeting held on Friday at the CAF headquarters in Cairo; Egypt.

With Kenya’s bid accepted; now the hard part comes in- to put together a working Local Organizing Committee (LOC) to seek funds and put in place other logistics starting immediately.

Kenya had missed out on the bid to host the 2019 Africa Cup of Nations finals after the Government failed to provide the necessary guarantees on time.

With such a magnitude event; my bet is on Nairobi; Mombasa; Machakos; Kisumu and Nakuru counties to step up and host the tournament.

Kenya last attempted to host a continental tournament in 1966; but pulled out citing lack of finances and Government support for the Africa Nations Cup. South Africa went on to host and win the tournament.

The federation will need close to 500M to host a successful event in 2018- it will be a plus for the fans and the national team too to play in a continental event if they miss out on 2015 Africa Cup of Nations in morocco and the 2016 CHAN in Rwanda.

BY EMBUKANE VINCENT LIBOSSO.

MEET MWANIKI WILSON OF MWANIKI PHOTOGRAPHY: THE MAN BEHIND THE SAFARICOM KASARANI STADIUM PHOTOS…

A branding deal of sh 55M by Kenya’s mobile giant company Safaricom and with a bone of contention in parliament and among Kenyans. But that is a story for another day. The mobile service company has done some splendid job there, giving the place a new coat of paint, some amazing photographic work capturing Kenya's best moments in athletics, and above all that distinctive green look.

Now, this photo by Wilson Mwaniki shows us just how the stadium looks at night. Amazing place, amazing photography…

Here are more of his works:

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mwaniki-Photography/167520809973006