Drum Magazine   fought tooth and nail to edge Veuve Clicquot 4-3 to emerge this year’s winner of the Chevrolet Kenya International Polo tournament at Nairobi Polo Club on Sunday.

Aberdair Aviation beat Samurai 6-4 to lift the Plate category. The bowl category was won by future tournament title sponsors CFC Stanbic, who scored three goals against Chev Cruze’s two and a fraction points.

Tack Rack beat Chev Captiva 5-2.5 to lift the Shield. Chev Utility were the subsidiary category overall winner were the.

Veteran player, polo coach and prolific captain Buster Mackenzie was on target three times as he scored a hat-trick, a brace in the first chukka and a single goal in the second, to steer Drum Magazine to glory against the Clicquot.

“Our team cherishes the win, we are hopeful to do our best in next week’s tournaments,” said handicap 6 Mackenzie, a father of three who has 12-years experience in coaching and owns a stable with 50 playing horses in Plettenburg Bay, the heart of South Africa’s polo game.

Rufus Camm scored Drum’s other goal to seal the deal but Jennie Camm’s role in the finals victory cannot be downplayed as her swings and runs up down from either side of the pitch earned her the  Most Valuable Player title.

South Africa’s national team captain and handicap 5 Selby Williamson managed to save face for runners-up Clicquot by hitting a brace scored in the second and fourth periods that were topped up by Dom Grammaticas solitary goal in the last chukka.

Kenya’s Jamie Murray was the hardest hitter in the race for the plate title for winners Abedair who used technical means to down impressive Samurai from the lead.

Powerful swings

The father of two who is a farmer in the Mount Kenya region scored each goal in the first three quarters with powerful unmatched swings and agility.

“Even though we missed the Main Cup we hope to rise up this coming weekend to reclaim it,” said Murray.

Aviation’s other goals were scored by handicap 0.5 Nikki Barlow (brace) and handicap -0.5 Rowena Stitchbury.

Samurai goals were scored by Captain Bryan Hein, Gordy Millar (brace) and Rafael Nzomo.

Handicap 5 (South African farmer), John Eustace demolished Chev Cruze to earn CFC Stanbic the bowl victory.

The father of three scored all his team’s goals spread from the initial to the third period.

Likewise, it was Chris Foot who gave Chev Cruze solace by scoring the two and a fraction goals in the hot tempered finals.

It was also undoubted that Archie Voorspy was the man of the match in the Shield finals pitting his winning side, Tack Rack against the Chev Captivas.

Voorspy scored four goals while the other sole goal was netted by Izzy Parsons to grant Tack Rack the win. Captivas goal scorers were Martin Waiganjo, who added the fraction and Kigen Moi.

By ERICK OCHIENG’, The Standard

The 2013 CAVB African Women’s Cup of Nations entered the second day with exhilarating matches at the Moi International Sports Centre,  Kasarani, on Sunday.

Mercy Moim during past action

Kenya maintained their good run in the tournament, beating traditional rivals Egypt in straight sets of 25-20, 25-20 and 25-12 to achieve second straight victory in the tournament.

Coach David Lung’aho opted to start with setter Jane Wanja in the first two sets of the match.

Kenya started the match aggressively and two points by Everline Makuto handed the home side a 2-0 lead before Egypt rallied to draw level at 2-2.

An attack by Elshamy Aya and wild attack by Makuto handed Egypt a 4-2 advantage.

Kenya responded with Violet Makuto attacking from the right to narrow the gap to 7-4 but Egypt checkedKenya’s onslaught after they gained one more point to take a four-point advantage at the first technical time-out.

A fast attack by Khadambi in the middle and double blocks by Violet and Mercy Moim narrowed the gap to 8-6.

Kenya took the lead for the first time in the set at 12-11, when the Egyptian defence failed to block Makuto on the left. The hosts had a narrow 16-15 at the second technical time-out.

Egypt capitalised on Kenya’s weak blocks and poor back court defence to gain quick points and take a 19-17 advantage.

Kenya scored seven successive points to take a 23-19 lead before cruising to their 25-20 victory.

Kenya picked up fast in the second set and good combination by on-form Bracksides Khadambi, Moim and Wanja gave the home team a 4-0 lead. Egypt, with purposeful game from Aya, scored own points to narrow the gap to 6-4 but Kenya maintained to take a four-point advantage at technical time-out.

Kenya then took a 16-14 lead at the next break against a strong come-back from Egypt.

Good service balls by Violet saw Kenya extend its lead to a comfortable 22-16 advantage and finally a 25-20 set victory.

Egypt missed the services of key player Ahmed Aya who returned home after sustaining a serious finger injury in their match against Cameroon.

Kenya dominated the third set that they went on to win 25-12. The match was watched by several dignitaries including Kenya Volleyball Federation chairman Waithaka Kioni, first vice chairman Charles Nyaberi and second vice Kipkemei Sirma.

Athletics ace Catherine Ndereba and Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen also graced the match.

Cameroon, inspired by experienced Moma Bassoko, achieved their second victory of the tournament following a deserved 3-2 (25-12, 20-25, 22-25, 25-17, 15-10) against Algeria in an epic five-setter encounter that lasted two hours.

Cameroon claimed the first two sets but Algeria, with good combination of play by Agreb Rahma and Ghoul Nihel, recovered to take the next two sets and push the match into tie-breaker.

Cameroon took command of the fifth set as they were 8-3 at change of courts before winning the deciding set 15-10.

The results brought Cameroon’s win-loss record in the tournament to 2-0 while Algeria dropped to 0-2.

In the first match of the day, Senegal overwhelmed Algeria in straight sets of 25-18, 25-15, 25-19 to bring their win-loss ratio to 1-1.

By OSCAR PILIPILI, The Standard

The monthly Mug snooker tournament continues to attract new sponsors and the September event to be held at the Dar es Salaam Gymkhana Club (DGC) is bankrolled by bongo5.com.

DGC snooker captain Firoz Yusufali told the ‘Daily News’ in Dar es Salaam over the weekend that about 30 players have registered for the competition which starts tonight. “We are happy to announce that bongo5.com will be our September Mug main sponsor,” he said.

“It’s an honour to have them and we thank them for their support that makes our section alive.” Yusufali added that they are happy that last month’s record entry of 30 players has been repeated and he congratulated those who have come forward to support the section.

According to Yusufali, Division A and Division B champions Kalpesh Lavingia and Hitesh Valambia respectively are among those who have confirmed participation.

Kalpesh became the first player to win the tournament back-to-back but he failed to maintain the clean-sheet last month when he allowed Munish Khattar to end his two-month dominance and be crowned the new snooker king at of the August Mug tournament sponsored by Sameer Essajee.

Khattar wiped all his sadness since the tournament was introduced in March this year and won his first title against the best player in the Division A battle and will be all out to look for a second title to tie Kalpesh’s record in the category.

Also in the lists are veteran Raju Kanabar, who is still searching for his first silverware in the tournament this year, Rupesh Soni, Ashik Merchant, Nikhil Sangani, Jay Shah alias ‘Pocho’, Kishore Ramanuj, Sajjad Salehbahi, M. Hassanal and M. Adamjee.

Others are Arun Pattani, Suman Madalia, Mukesh Joshi, Mukesh Kanabar, Suril Shaha, Akhil Yusufali, Joseph Tango, Ramesh Lathigra, Akil Akberali, Nawaz Ladha and Yusufali himself. Since its introduction in March several sponsors have assisted the snooker section in sponsoring the event every month.

The first event in March was sponsored by R & K Trucking and youngster Arjun Lavingia and Valambia emerged winners in Division A and B respectively.

In April the event was sponsored by Joseph Tango as Lathigra and Gugi took Division A and B top prizes as the May event bankrolled by A.A Power was won by Kalpesh and Firoz Yusufali in Division A and B respectively Cargo Stars Ltd sponsored the June event with Kalpesh and Hussein Zavery taking top prizes before Khattar and Valambia won last month’s competition sponsored by Sameer Essajee. The tournament did not take place in July due to the Holy month of Ramadhan.

By MBONILE BURTON, Tanzania Daily News

Kenyan girls demolished Algeria 3-0 (25-19, 25-15, 25-13 ) on the third day of the African Cup of Nations women volleyball tournament at the  Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani.

Kenya team players celebrate winning their match against Egypt at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani. PHOTO: TABITHA OTWORI/STANDARD

The hosts displayed great form during the match that extended their win-loss record at the tournament to 3-0. Makuto sisters Evelyn and Violet attacked ferociously from antennae positions, captain Bracksides Agala and Ruth Chepng’etich were outstanding at the middle and Jane Wacu’s setting skills were admirable.

Libero player Elizabeth Wafula defended well in back court while Mercy Moim’s powerful spikes penetrated Algeria defence with military precision.

Earlier, red hot Cameroon team maintained it’s winning ways following 3-0 (25-17, 25-15, 25-21) set victory against Senegal.

The victory brought Cameroon’s win-loss record in the tournament to 3-0 while Senegal dropped to 1-2 on third day of the event yesterday.

In the second match of the day, Tunisia handed Egypt its third straight loss after they beat them 3-0 (25-21, 28-26, 25-18) in an entertaining North African derby.

Tunisia’s win-loss record now stands at 2-1 while Egypt dropped to 0-3.

With Cameroon chasing its third straight victory and Senegal out to achieve its second win, the opening set was a cracker right from the first minute.

The match involved players with similar physical ability, tall and muscular, but Senegal played well to take 8-6 lead at the first technical time out.

Senegal’s Gueye Sokhna, who stands at 193cm tall and Dagne Marieme were outstanding at the net frustrating the Cameroonian attackers with solid blocks.

However, Cameroon was outstanding in back court defence where Libero player Mekonga Iroune picked up all balls with perfection.

The set was closely contested but the exuberant Cameroonian girls managed to open a four point lead at the second technical time out.

Cameroon displayed a purposeful game and through the powerful attacks of Ngo Yomkil and Nana Tchoudjang raced to a 21-16 point advantage before claiming the opening set at 25-17.

Cameroon started the second set on positive note with a wild attack by Diagne Lall of Senegal giving them the first point.

Cameroon stepped up their attacks and gained quick points to leave Senegal trailing 8-4 at the first technical time out. Cameroon maintained great form to take a 16-8 advantage at the next break. Cameroon, attacking from all positions, overwhelmed Senegal to open a 10-point lead at 20-10 and held on to win 25-15.

Senegal fought back gallantly in the opening minutes of the third set to make the contest hard as Cameroonnarrowly led 8-7 at the first technical time out and 16-15 at the second break.

Senegal lost steam after Cameroon opened a four – point lead at 23-19 in a set that ended at 25-21. Tuesday is rest day with action resuming Wednesday.

By OSCAR PILIPILI, The Standard

Hosts Rwanda dominated the inaugural regional Taekwondo tournament dubbed ‘Ambassador’s Cup’ that took place over the weekend at Amahoro indoor stadium in Kigali.

The two-day event attracted fighters of different age brackets and weight in both genders. Times Sport / J. Mbanda.

The Rwandans won 11 out of 20 medals up for grabs.

The two-day tournament attracted four other countries namely; Burundi, DR Congo, Kenya and Uganda.

In total 170 players took part in the competition, more than a half of them from Rwanda.

The competition saw fighters divided into categories according their weights; Featherweight (-68kgs), Bantam (-63kgs), Fly (-58kgs) and Fin (-54kgs).

The Rwanda Taekwondo Federation Secretary General, Placide Bagabo, who also won a medal in the men’s Bantam (-63kgs) category, told Times Sport, “This tournament represents a very important step forward for Rwandan Taekwondo.”

“The tournament was very tough, all countries brought competitive athletes but we prepared well enough and our hard work paid off,” Bagabo added.

Rwanda won three of the four categories; men’s adult category and both junior categories (boys and girls) while Kenya dominated the women’s category.

Team Ugandan won the fair play award, while upcoming team award went to Burundi, with Kenya winning the most disciplined team award.

By Richard Bishumba,The New Times

Rwanda men’s volleyball national team will start preparations for the Zone 5 World Championship Qualifiers on 15 October, ahead of the tournament slated for November 25 to December 1 in Kigali.

The national team which will battle for last round qualification spot during the Zone V world qualifiers in November. The New Times / Courtesy.

The Zone V World Championships Qualifiers which will be hosted  by Rwanda has attracted countries like  Egypt, Kenya, Uganda and Burundi.

The Rwanda Volleyball Federation chairman Gustave Nkurunziza told Times sport yesterday that the team will go into residential camp starting October, 15. a month and half before the tournament kicks off.

“ We want to have the national team prepared in the best way  possible such that they can stage a victorious tourney,” he said.

The tournament was supposed to attract seven teams, the other two being Ethiopia and Sudan, but both pulled out at the last minute.

According to the team  head coach, Paul Bitok, the team’s target is  to finish in top two so that they can qualifier for the last round.

“We need to prepare well for this tournament and make a difference here in Rwanda since we will have an advantage of playing in our own backyard.”

Two teams including Egypt, which has already qualified will go into the final round, which will see the top three teams qualify for the World championships.

The International Volleyball Federation has guaranteed three places for Africa this year.

By Peter Kamasa,The New Times

Akhil Akberali and Joseph Tango fired warning at the bongo5.com September Snooker Mug tournament at the Dar es Salaam Gymkhana Club (DGC), after winning their Monday night Division A and B opening matches in style.

Akberali cause a big upset at this month’s tournament after ousting August Division A champion Manish Khattar by a 2-0 victory in an entertaining match.

Akberali, who is still searching for his first silverwire this year, took about one hour to end Khattar’s dream of emulating Kalpesh Lavingia’s record of winning the title consecutively.

The winner started strongly to win first frame in blue ball before he repeated the feat at pink ball to progress to the tournament later stage. Akberali said after the match: “I’m glad I won against defending champion.

I now feel like am champion elect.” In another Division A match Raju Kanabar went through without hitting the ball after his opponent Suman Mandalia failed to turn to his scheduled match.

Kanabar was set to be in action yesterday night against double champion Kalpesh in a big test of his skills. Tango, who is also a Tanzania Golf Union (TGU) Vice-Chairman, ousted Nawaz Ladha by a 2-0 in a one sided Division B opening match. Tango is in his sparking form. Ladha said: “It was a difficult day and nothing went well for my side…

it was not my day that’s simple.” Tango started all frames well and won the first frame by 55-46 points before finish the game with 76-26 victory as his opponent surrendered while brown, blue, pink and black balls still on the table.

Tanga has set up today’s Ashik Merchant showdown. Merchant progressed after he ousted Sameer Essajee by a 2-0 victory in another exciting match. Also in winning streak on the opening day was Captain Firoz Yusufali, who beat Jay Shah in 2-0 frames.

He will Thursday face Akil Kasamali alias “Lobilo” who got a bye in the first round. The long-week bongo5. com sponsored tournament played every day will reach its climax on Sunday.

By MBONILE BURTON, Tanzania Daily News

Kenya have one hand on the African Women’s Cup of Nations crown after they dismissed Cameroon in straight sets yesterday at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani.

Kenya beat Cameroon 3-0 sets of 25-22, 25-20, 25-22 to keep their record clean. The victory was Kenya’s fourth in the tournament and it enhanced chances of the home team retaining the title. Kenya is the only side that remains unbeaten in the round robin tournament that brought together top six African teams.

Earlier, Tunisia recorded its third victory following a 3-1 set scoreline (25-14, 25-16, 18-25, 25-22) against a shaky Senegal side in the 2013 CAVB African Women’s Cup of Nations tournament at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani.

The victory brought Tunisia’s win-loss record in the tournament to 3-1 while Senegal dropped to 1-3.

Egypt’s team achieved its first victory of the event after beating Algeria 3-2 (20-25, 25-21, 25-19, 24-26, 15-12) on the fourth day of the tournament. The victory brought Egypt’s win-loss record in the tournament to 1-3 while Algeria dropped to 0-4.

Several dignitaries including Nairobi County Women Representative Rachel Shebesh and Webuye East legislator Dan Wanyama graced the  tournament.

Rwanda-based coach Paul Bitok used the opportunity to donate playing kits and Sh10,000 to the Under-23 national team that will play at the FIVB World Championships in Mexico next month. Wanyama gave a personal donation of Sh50,000 to the Mexico-bound side.

Shebesh promised to table a motion in Parliament aimed at compelling the Government to support volleyball teams while on national duty.

“With me around you can rest assured you have an ambassador,” said Shebesh.

Back on the court, Tunisia gained the first three points to take a 3-0 lead before an attack by Diagne Lall of Senegal brought the score to 3-1.

The more experienced Tunisia side, with the help of star players Agreb Rahma , Lengliz Maissa and Ghoul Nihel, cruised to a 8-4 lead at the first technical time out and held on to 16-6 at the next break.Tunisia won the set 25-14.

Tunisia started the second set on the offensive and gained seven straight points to open a seven-point gap at 7-0 and then 8-1 at time out. A wide serve by Maissa handed Senegal its first point but successful blocks by Jemmal Kouathar handed Tunisia a 8-1 lead at first technical time out.

Tunisia maintained form to take a 16-6 lead at the second technical time out before advancing to win the set at 25-16. Senegal was more clinical in its finishing arm to win the third set 25-18. But any doubts of Tunisia’s intent was cleared as they won the fourth set 25-22.

In the second match, Egypt suffered a setback after inspirational player Elshamy Aya sustained an ankle injury during the match. Aya played on with pain to inspire her team to victory. Egypt dug deap to beat Algeria 3-2 (20-25, 25-21, 25-19, 24-26, 15-12).

The Egyptian coach Ahmed Fathy said: “We may not win the overall title but we have won against our biggest opponent Algeria.”

By Oscar Pilipili, The Standard

National volleyball team coach Sammy Mulinge says Kenya’s participation in the  forthcoming Under-23 FIVB World Championships is aimed at preparing the players for the future.

The tournament is scheduled to run from October 3-12 in Mexico.

“Kenya has missed out on most international age group tournaments. The Mexico Championships are a great opportunity to expose our players,” Mulinge told FeverPitch during training at Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani yesterday.

Mulinge said that despite not competing in international junior events, most players in the side have played at competitive level with their respective clubs.

Team captain Gaudencia Makokha has played in the African Clubs Championships with Kenya Commercial Bank and so has Libero player Agripina Kundu, who played for Kenya Pipeline at the last competition in Madagascar.

Mulinge identified fast rising star, Violet Makuto, who is a member of the national senior team as another talented player on his team.

“Some of my players have experienced international matches before and I expect them to use the expertise gained there to achieve better results in Mexico,” Mulinge said.

“Makuto is one of the top players in the ongoing African Cup of Nations and I believe that she will leave the event having gained new skills.”

The Federation of International Volleyball (FIVB) nominated Kenya and Algeria to represent Africa in the globals by virtue of their good world ranking.

Kenya is grouped in Pool “A” alongside some of the top volleyball playing nations in the world. They are China, Cuba, Turkey, Brazil and USA.

Mulinge said: “It’s true that the competition would be very tough for us but at the end of the day we shall have exposed our junior players at the highest level.”

The head coach said that he would name a traveling squad of 12 players before the end of this week.

The team is scheduled to jet out on October 2 ahead of the Championships that will run from October 3-12.

Meanwhile, the second round men’s qualifiers for the 2014 World Championships will be staged in Kigali on October 20-25.

By Oscar Pilipili, The Standard

Rwanda Taekwondo Federation (RTF) says the country will be ready in time to host the 2013 Africa Taekwondo Championships, scheduled for November 22-25 in Kigali.

The continental event is expected to attract about 35 countries from across Africa and, according to the Secretary General of the local Taekwondo governing body; Placide Bagabo, Rwanda will be ready to host the three-day tournament.

“We have over ten hotels in the vicinity of the stadium which sorts out the issue of accommodation, one of the main issues that the Africa Taekwondo Union is normally interested in,” he said. “On our part we are good to go.”

The tournament will be played at the Amahoro Indoor Stadium and the National Paralympics Gymnasium, while boxing gymnasium will be used for warm-ups. The International Taekwondo Federation and Africa Taekwondo Union are the main sponsors of the tournament.

The local Taekwondo federation, over the weekend, organised a two-day regional tournament dubbed ‘Ambassador’s Cup’ as a dress rehearsal for the African Championships.

The event attracted 183 participants from Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, Kenya and hosts Rwanda.

Rwanda won both the girls’ and boys’ categories as well as the men’s senior title. Kenya won the women’s senior trophy.

By Peter Kamasa, The New Times

Left-hand Sanjay Jd joins those who progressed at Division A September Snooker Monthly Mug Tournament after winning his match against Nikhil Sangani by 2-1 on Tuesday night at the Dar es Salaam Gymkhana Club (DGC).

Sanjay started the game well and took first frame by 44-18 points in an exciting match. After losing the first frame, Sangani, who is searching for his first title came back strongly to take second frame by 43- 34 points and forced for the decider.

But he could not hold his nerve and allow Sanjay to correct the second frame mistake and steal the winner. Other Division A Tuesday scheduled match between Raju Kanabar and double champion Kalpesh Lavingia was rescheduled for yesterday’s night. Also on action on Wednesday night was Akhil Akberali against Ramesh Lathigra.

In Division B match Rupesh Soni alias ‘Gugi’ went through to the quarter finals after his opponent failed to honour his scheduled match.

Gugi, who is March Division A champion will now face Mukesh Kanabar for the place to the semi finals.

Captain Firoz Yusufali, who beat Jay Shah 2-0 frames on Monday, will on Thursday face Akil Kasamali alias ‘Lobilo’ in the another quarter final match. Joseph Tango, who had a bright start to the tournament in the opening day was in action yesterday night against Ashik Merchant.

The long-week bongo5. com sponsored tournament will reach its climax on Sunday.

Source Tanzania Daily News

Rwanda men’s volleyball team will miss the Africa Championships due in the Tunisian city of Sousse from September 22 to 30.

Rwanda Volleyball Federation chairman Gustave Nkurunziza said yesterday, “This tournament is not a qualifying event and, besides that, we were not even informed on time to allow us prepare ourselves accordingly.”

“The competition needs a budget yet we did not plan for it,” he added.

Asked if Rwanda wouldn’t have used the event as a platform to prepare for the upcoming Zone V World Championships Qualifiers, the former volleyball player said, “Ideally, that would be a good opportunity to prepare the national team but we cannot ignore the fact that we are not in position to raise the required funds for our participation.”

Countries that have confirmed their participation include; Egypt (holders), Algeria, Cameroon, Morocco, Libya, Congo and the hosts Tunisia.

The winner will represent Africa at the 2013 World Cup scheduled for November in Japan.

By Peter Kamasa, The New Times

Former US heavyweight boxing champion Ken Norton, who beat Muhammad Ali, has died at the age of 70, his son says.

Ken Norton last year at a gala dinner for old foe Muhammad Ali’s 70th birthday

Norton, who had been in poor health following a series of strokes, died at a care facility in Las Vegas, Nevada.

He broke Ali’s jaw in their first bout in San Diego, California, in 1973, which Norton won.

In their last meeting on September 1976 at New York’s Yankee Stadium, Ali won a narrow and controversial decision to retain the heavyweight title.

“I’m sure he’s in heaven now with all the great fighters,” Gene Kilroy, Ali’s former business manager, told the Associated Press news agency. “I’d like to hear that conversation.”

Norton began boxing during his time in the US Marines, and turned professional shortly after he left the military in 1967.

He won a heavyweight title in 1977, but lost the following year in a classic 15-round fight with Larry Holmes.

After his boxing career ended, Norton appeared in several movies and became a fight commentator.

He had five children, one of whom went on to play professional football and now coaches in the National Football League for the Seattle Seahawks.

Agencies

Kenyan volleyball queens braved harsh conditions to wallop other African teams during the just-concluded African Cup of Nations at Moi Sports Centre, Kasarani.

The five-time African champions’ sterling performance was marked with poor support from the government.

The Nairobian can now reveal that during weeklong championship the government did not come to their aid.

Although flying the flag high, the team was kicked out of Kasarani and made to play without getting any allowances.

Our sources reveal that a few well-wishers including Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen came to their assistance with a donation of Sh200,000 while Coca Cola donated training kits, water and sodas.

The team also lacked transport from their hotel to the venue.

They were apparently subjected to a 2km walk from the prestigious Sports View Hotel to the stadium daily.

Stadia Management Board also came under sharp criticism over the availability of their facility. The teams could not access training rooms all the time due to blackouts.

“The blackout was caused by Kenya Power who were on site doing maintenance. We were not aware,” said an SSMB staff who declined to be mentioned.

To maintain the team spirit the girls spent their time playing games with the officials and technical bench just to wish away their frustrations.

“They hid the team manager’s shoes and team doctor’s mobile phone. They took it (the phone) and hid it away from him making the physician go through traumatising moments just to tease him,” said coach Lung’aho

“Sisi ni team ya federation sio gava kwa hivyo tunajipatia tu morale sisi wenyewe (we find ways of encouraging ourselves even though we have been abandoned),” added Janet Wanja

Team captain Brackcides Agala thanked KVF chairman Waithaka Kioni for continued support for the team in the past tournaments.

“For a long time, we have played for the love of the country but it is so unfortunate that no one recognises our efforts even after great wins and victories over the continent. Only the federation fends for us.  Are we not Kenyan enough or we are lesser citizens,” posed Agala.

Wanja, a veteran player in the national team, feels that perhaps complacency has got into sports management. The Kenya Pipeline setter believes that the government and the corporate firms alike do not see the need to sponsor the team due to their success.

“We are overlooked due to the fact that we normally perform well and no one sees the need to invest in the team because (it seems) we will always win,” Wanja said.

One of the players in the youth team, who requested that he remains anonymous, talked of her fears of not achieving her dream to play overseas should the current state of affairs continue.

“I would love to play in the professional leagues overseas but where does my future lie if the current national team is not well taken care of?”

The five-time African champion had a few words for the sportsmen and women who tend to think that it is all rosy playing for the national team. “Winning is not magic, it is hard work and that is how champions are made,” she said.

By John Lawrence, The Standard

Four foreign teams are expected in Kigali on Thursday ahead of this year’s Tour du Rwanda, which gets underway on November 17, according to the organisers, Rwanda Cycling Federation.  The competition will run through November 24.

They include; As Be Co of Eritrea, Avia Crabbe (Belgium), Rhone Alpes (France) and South Africa’s MTN Qhubeka, which features top Rwanda rider Adrien Niyonshuti.

Team USA Novo Nordisk, who used to participate as Team Type 1, were the first to arrive for the continental race – on Wednesday.

Rwanda’s Kalisimbi, Akagera and Muhabura teams will also relocate to Kigali on Friday from the Team Rwanda’s training camp in Musanze.

Other teams expected to take part in the 2013 Tour du Rwanda edition include; UCI Continental Centre (South Africa), Ethiopia, Egypt, Kenya, Algeria, Gabon, and DR Congo, with most of them expected on Friday.

Last year, Team of Rwanda’s Kalisimbi and Akagera finished in sixth and seventh positions, respectively, while Niyonshuti was the hosts’ best finisher in ninth position in the 894.8km race.

The race was won by Team South Africa’s Lill Daren.

By Peter Kamasa,The New Times

The Zanzibar Budokan Toyota Cup 2013 will be held at the Amaan Stadium in the isles on December 15 this year.

The Zanzibar Judo Association (ZJA) said the event is a weight category national championship that will be used to select the national team for the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland.

“We expect 90 judo players from 10 clubs in Tanzania Mainland and Zanzibar will take part in the championship,” the association said in a statement.

“They will compete in 10 categories – seven for men and three for women.” ZJA said it will be an exiting championship and they have prepared fabulous prizes to motivate judo players in the country.

Winners of each category will take home a gold medal and 300,000/-, first runners-up will get a silver medal and 200,000/- while the second runners-up will receive a bronze medal and 100,000/-.

All the participants will also get gifts. ZJA has been organizing the championship every year for more than 10 years in a bid to motivate the players and promote the standard of Judo in the country.

ZJA president Tsuyoshi Shimaoka has been trying his best to organize the Judo championship and his Japanese comrades also continue to support the game. Toyota Tanzania has agreed to sponsor the championship, hence the change of name to Zanzibar Budokan Toyota Cup 2013.

Six regions have so far confirmed their participation in this year’s Tanzania Darts Championship scheduled for November 22-23 in Mbeya.

Tanzania Amateur Darts Association (TADA) Secretary General Kale Mgonja told the ‘Daily News’ in Dar es Salaam yesterday that all is going well and that Mbeya is ready to host the event.

“We have six regions that have already confirmed to take part, but we hope others will join them before Monday’s deadline,” he said. Mgonja named the regions that have confirmed their entries as defending champion Mwanza, Dar es Salaam, Arusha, Kilimanjaro, Morogoro and hosts Mbeya.

“We’ve already received a call from new region Katavi who have shown interest in participating in the championship but we are waiting for them to confirm officially and we hope they will do so,” he said.

Mgonja said that each region is allowed two teams, but Dar es Salaam, who had requested to send four teams, are permitted up to six teams as each of its three districts can participate as a region.

TADA has directed Dar es Salaam to ensure each district has elected leaders and all three have already done so. The Dar es Salaam Amateur Darts Association (DADA) Secretary General, Lambert Rwihula, was recently quoted as saying that all they want in Mbeya is the trophy.

He said that the region has already started their preparations ready for the championship. “Our focus is to end defending champions Mwanza’s supremacy during the forthcoming championship,” Rwihula said.

“We are well prepared to win all titles; the players are undergoing extensive preparations and are in a spirited mood ahead of the competition, which has for a long period been dominated by teams from Mwanza — the country’s second largest city.”

Mwanza has been dominating the tournament in recent years, but Rwihula said that Dar es Salaam is capable of silencing the defending champions this time around, although they are aware that they should not expect an easy ride.

It’s about time Rwandan women started playing a major role in development of sports in the country, an official with the Ministry of Sports and Culture, Guillaume Serge Nzabonimana, has said.

Nzabonimana, an advisor to the Sports and Culture minister, was speaking at a two-day workshop organised by the ministry in partnership with the National Olympic Committee in Kigali.

Addressing 50 sportswomen in attendance, Nzabonimana encouraged them to strive to be at forefront of sports development in the country “just as you do in other sectors”.

“You (women) need to play a bigger role than you’re currently doing in developing sports in the country. Women are known for being at the forefront of Rwanda’s rapid development, you also need to embrace sports (development) and make it a priority as well,” he said.

Nzabonimana added, “We need more women in various sports disciplines at every level, be it in playing, coaching and administration.”

Felicite Rwemalika, in charge of sports at the Rwanda National Olympic Committee, said, “We need women to be part of sports, that is why we are organising these workshops to show them that they have the capacity to do it, just the same way men do.”

By Peter Kamasa, The New Times

Volleyball national team coach Paul Bitok says his team has improved a great deal ahead of the Zone V Qualifiers championships slated to run from November 25 through December 1 at Amahoro Indoor Stadium in Kigali.

Paul Bitok

The Kenyan coach made the remarks on Wednesday after seeing his team beat a select side made up of local players in a friendly match 3-1 (25-19, 27-25, 21-25, 25-23) and extra set 25-8.

He said, “We have improved a lot in defence, reception and for the setters; the players have responded well in training and I hope we will do well in the tournament. There is now a spirit of competitiveness in the team than I have seen in the past.”

Meanwhile team skipper Christophe Mukunzi, who plays for Algerian first division side El Fanar, joined camp on Thursday, while Lawrence Yakan Guma, from Etoile Sportive de Setif (Algeria), will link up with his international teammates on Saturday.

The team, currently undergoing the final phase of preparations at Amahoro Indoor Stadium, is camping at La Pallisse Hotel Nyandungu.

The Zone V Qualifiers tournament will attract five countries, including Burundi, Egypt, Kenya, Uganda and hosts Rwanda. One team will join Egypt in the continental final qualifying round for next year’s world championships.

The final round, which will be played at the start of 2014, will decide the top three teams that will represent Africa at the 2014 FIVB Men’s Volleyball World Championships to be held in Poland.

By Peter Kamasa, The New Times

As preparations for Tour du Rwanda reach final stages, the country’s representatives have been tipped to go a notch higher than their past showing.

Team Rwanda riders in training in Musanze ahead of the 2013 Tour du Rwanda which begins on Sunday.

National cycling team assistant coach Nick Travis says Team Rwanda 2013 are far stronger than the team that participated in last year’s edition.

This year’s Tour du Rwanda gets underway on November 17 through November 24.

Unlike in the last two editions when Rwanda was represented by two teams, a third (Muhabura) has been added to make it three teams in this year’s edition. Each team will comprise five riders.

Last year, Team Kalisimbi and Akagera finished in sixth and seventh positions, respectively, while South Africa-based Adrien Niyonshuti was Rwanda’s best finisher, in ninth position, in the 894.8km race.

Travis now reckons the home riders will do better this time round.

“We have trained for five months, and I think we are ready to do a good job this time round. I expect them (riders) to do better than last year because they have had better preparations,” he said recently.

He added, “The riders are in a strong position to compete for top spots this year, we know the field is going to be very competitive but the boys are in good position to finish high.”

“We know everyone around the country expects them to do better, and rightly so because most of them now have more experience competing at the highest level; I also expect home advantage to play some part for the boys to push themselves to the limit,” Travis explained.

Some of the foreign teams expected to take part in this year’s Tour du Rwanda include; As Be Co of Eritrea, Avia Crabbe (Belgium), Team Haute Savoie (France) and South Africa’s MTN Qhubeka, which features homeboy Niyonshuti.

Others are; UCI Continental Centre (South Africa), Ethiopia, Egypt, Kenya, Algeria, Gabon, and DR Congo. All these were expected in to arrive today.

Team USA Novo Nordisk, which used to participate as Team Type 1, were the first to arrive for the continental race on Wednesday.

By Peter Kamasa, The New Times