Sports

NAIROBI, Kenya, Oct 2 – One of the country’s oldest Cricket club Kenya Kongonis A has been promoted to the elite Super League after winning the Nairobi Provincial Cricket Association (NPCA) Division One title.

Kongonis achieved the feat without touching a bat at the weekend as they had finished their matches the previous weekend.

Their league title victory came to fruition after their closest crease adversaries Ngara Sports Club A failed to surpass their Net Run Rate.

Ngara played their hearts out, beating SCLPS YL B by 50 runs but their dream of returning to top flight status came a cropper with an inferior Run Rate difference which worked in favour of Kongonis.

Kongonis and Ngara tied on 46 points but the former prevailed much to the latter’s chagrin.

Kongonis wrapped up their league fixture on the weekend of September 24 with a deserved 7 wickets victory over Stray Lions B.

Ngara led by skipper Rajiv Sutaria won the toss in today’s match against home team Samaj B and elected to bat first; scoring 299 for the loss of 9 in their allotted 50 Overs.

In reply, Samaj B side were bowled out for 249 in 46.4 Overs.

Ngara’s opening batsman and skipper Rajiv smacked a century which sadly couldn’t salvage their spirited title chase.

But Kongonis prevailed with a Net Run Rate of 1.621 against Ngara’s 1.411.

In the other Division One match, Swamibapa B beat hosts Goan Institute A by 7 wickets.

Asked about their good run in the season, Kongonis Captain Thomas Ojijo quipped: “It’s the best feeling ever.”

Ojijo is happy that Kongonis: started off really well by winning 5 games in a row and here’s how he described their season: “We lost to Samaj on our first leg, on a game that I felt like we could have won anyway and that was our first loss in the league.”

“Losing momentum wasn’t in any of our plans and this loss to Samaj made the boys switch on better and bounce back much stronger.”

The Kongonis: skipper is grateful for the resilience his teammates displayed, by and large.

“I can’t talk much about the Swamis game, honestly, it was a mistake by everyone in the team …but I’m glad all and sundry kept their head down and kept fighting on for the title.”

Meanwhile, Ojijo believes their grand march to top flight action will open the mighty windows of opportunity for his teammates.

“Our pre-season preparation was the main thing. We elected to play friendlies with other top clubs before the league started, so we went into the competition with the much need confidence and enthusiasm.”

“The mood at Nairobi Club feels great, at least now most of the boys will get spotted and get call ups to the national team. Everyone is excited and anticipating to play top level to improve on our careers. All the players in the side are eager for national call ups,” said Ojijo in finality.

Kenya Kongonis was founded in 1927, and is one of the oldest and most prestigious cricket clubs in Kenya.

It takes part in the Nairobi-based NPCA (Nairobi Provincial Cricket Association) Leagues and in the national cricket tournaments.

Increasing bilateral trade between Kenya and China has prompted Absa Bank to re-introduce China Desk which offers tailor-made financial services to traders and investors in the two countries.

Absa Bank Chief Executive Officer Abdi Mohamed says the desk which has Mandarin-speaking staff will enable the bank to provide banking services among others, project financing, trade financing, foreign exchange and hedging, and access to a global network of experts.

“The establishment of the China Desk is a response to the increasing demand for financial services and expertise in facilitating trade and investment between Kenya and China. As the trade relations between the two nations continue to flourish, Absa Bank is well-positioned to offer specialized support to businesses and individuals engaging in cross-border transactions” said Mohamed.

Last year, the value of Kenya’s exports to China grew 29pc to reach Ksh 27.5 billion while imports from the world second largest economy amounted to Ksh 452.6 billon.

According to Mohamed, the reintroduction of the desk is aligned to Absa’s strategic priority to become a regional powerhouse in Corporate and Investment Banking, leveraging its regional presence to provide enhanced efficiency for clients looking to grow and expand their businesses.

“Indeed, China has been a critical participant in Kenya’s economic growth and development story over the last two decades, supporting modern infrastructure projects that have laid a solid foundation for Kenya’s long-term economic growth. We recognize the immense potential for growth in this area and provide the financial tools and expertise required for businesses to thrive in both markets” added Mohamed.

In Summary

• A massive pool collapses in an open field
• The pool was claimed to be used as a show for the famous Tanzanian artist Rayvany
• Luckily, no lives have been lost so far

Rayvanny loses all 70 Million Tanzanian shillings

Rayvanny has just posted on his Instagram that he has lost over seventy two million Tanzanian shillings.

This happened after the pool he had constructed for his coming concert collapsed in an open field. He had used more than the amount to put it up.

A whole side of the pool collapsed. Most people are blaming the constructors and the engineers. They say that the foundation wasn’t well laid .it was not even built in the first place.

READ Also:Rayvanny Honors Harmonize In His Mtwara Backyard

This is now a developing story in Tanzania .The good news is that no lives have been lost so far.  The legend had invested in it generously as he wanted to use it as a show ground.

Deep investigations were done by a Kenyan federal team and a conclusion was made. They said that the concrete was not well cast.

The investigations showed that the concrete was left permeable to water.  This made the concrete become weak. This made the pressure at the bottom of the pool to become intense.

They went ahead and questioned why the pool was raised. This was a result of poor foundation which could be the main reason for collapsing of the Mbeya pool.

Engineers from Tanzania need to wake up. The investor has also been blamed for improper planning. Imperative lessons have been learnt from this tragedy.

READ Also:Blackout Stops Diamond’s Show, Repeats Amid Losses.

An example is to guide future construction practices and prioritize the safety of the structures, including pool foundation.

To prevent such devastating incidents from occurring again we should kindly adhere.

Rayvany says that there are times when things go right and there are times when things don’t go as expected. He insisted that nothing was wrong but he lost 70 million Tanzanian shillings which is 4million Kenyan shillings.

NAIROBI, Kenya, October 2 – The chairman of the StanChart Nairobi Marathon admits they are worried about the El Nino rains disrupting this year’s edition of the annual road race, to be held on October 29 along the Southern Bypass.

Peter Gitau said the committee is cognisant of the impeding challenge and are working with the National Disaster Management Unit (NDMU) and the Meteorological Department to develop a contingency plan in case that happens.

“We have sat down with NDMU, and other stakeholders like Athletics Kenya to look at what we would do in case it becomes untenable to get to the starting point on that day (because of the rains). What the NDMU were telling us is that the biggest challenge during El Nino is travelling. We are hoping and keeping in touch with the Meteorological Department so that we know how the weather will be on that morning so we plan accordingly,” Gitau said.

He further said that the expected bumper rainfall will be a blessing in disguise for the marathon’s environmental agenda of planting and sustaining two million trees.

“I think all of us are quite aware now that we need to do all we can to avoid further damage to the environment as possible. Climate change is a real thing in Kenya today. I know everybody is worried that October is here and El Nino is coming. All of can contribute to improving the environment and reducing the impact of climate change. That’s an opportunity for all of us to take,” he said.

Worries about weather notwithstanding, Gitau encouraged as many people to continue registering for the 20^th edition of the road race, which will begin and end at the Uhuru Gardens in Nairobi.

He said their ultimate target is 25,000 participants across the different categories including 42km, 21km, 10km, 5km, and the wheelchair race.

“We have come down to what we are calling satellite runs. We are going to have one in Mombasa, Kisumu and Kakamega and we have partners we are working with to deliver and to ensure more participation. Having said that, we want to get many people as possible to Nairobi. When the Covid-19 restrictions were lifted and we received feedback, most people said they want to run in the main event,” Gitau said.

He further spoke of the importance of maintain integrity and transparency of the marathon even as they angle to make it a World Marathon Majors event.

“If we keep on raising the bar for the standards of the race and have ambassadors like Luis Garcia (former Liverpool midfielder) what that means is we can attract international runners. It is something we are thinking about with all our sponsors…how do we make or create a path for the race to be given a World Major,” he said.

Continental giants Wydad Casablanca, TP Mazembe, Esperance and Mamelodi Sundowns are among the teams to have reached the group stage of the TotalEnergies CAF Champions League on Saturday.

But other notable sides like Moroccan club FAR Rabat and Guinean side Horoya failed to advance following the day’s other second-leg matches of the second round of the preliminary stage of the competition.

In Morocco, Wydad Casablanca continued their dominance of Hafia Conakry with a 3-0 second leg win sealing a 4-1 aggregate success.

Yahia Attiyat Allah and Hamdou Elhouni struck in the first half before Abdellah Haimoud completed the job after the break.

Wydad extend their remarkable run of reaching the group stage to nine consecutive seasons as they chase a third Champions League title.

However, their compatriots AS FAR suffered Champions League heartbreak, crashing out after a 3-1 aggregate defeat to Tunisia’s Etoile Sportive du Sahel.

Etoile won both legs 1-0 and 2-1 respectively to eliminate the shocked Moroccans.

Elsewhere, Tunisian powerhouses Esperance dispatched Ivorian side AS Douanes 1-0 on aggregate to progress.

A goalless draw in the second leg in Tunis proved enough after last week’s solitary away goal sealed the tie.

Mamelodi Sundowns safely navigated past Burundian minnows Bumamuru to reach the CAF Champions League group stage with a 6-0 aggregate win.

Goals from Mothobi Mvala and Teboho Mokoena earned the South African giants a 2-0 second-leg victory at home, rounding off a comfortable passage against limited opposition.

Sundowns remain in the hunt for a second Champions League crown after winning the tournament in 2016.

TP Mazembe marked their return to the group stage after a two-year absence by thrashing Nyasa Big Bullets of Malawi 4-0 to go through 5-0 on aggregate.

But Guinean side Horoya paid the price for a 3-1 first-leg deficit, exiting despite beating Ghana’s Medeama SC 2-1 in the second leg.

Tanzania’s Young Africans also reached the group stage, edging Al Merreikh of Sudan 3-0 on aggregate after a 1-0 home win on Saturday.

Beyoncé’s RENAISSANCE WORLD TOUR has come to an end after 56 shows.

It is the highest-grossing tour by a female artist in HISTORY.

Beyoncé is bringing the Renaissance World Tour to the big screen!

1. Shortly after the last stop of the tour concluded in Kansas City, Missouri, on Sunday night, the singer, 42, debuted the trailer for the upcoming film, which will hit theaters on Dec. 1­

Titled Renaissance: A Film by Beyoncé, the project “accentuates the journey of Renaissance World Tour, from its inception, to the opening in Stockholm, Sweden, to the finale in Kansas City, Missouri,” according to an official synopsis.

“It is about Beyoncé’s intention, hard work, involvement in every aspect of the production, her creative mind and purpose to create her legacy, and master her craft,” the synopsis continues. “Received with extraordinary acclaim, Beyoncé’s Renaissance World Tour created a sanctuary for freedom, and shared joy, for more than 2.7 million fans.”

In the film’s trailer, which was released online after it debuted following Beyoncé’s final tour stop, the “Halo” singer can be seen behind the scenes of the show and performing onstage.

“When I am performing, I am nothing but free,” Beyoncé says in the clip, as scenes of herself with her three kids — Blue Ivy Carter, 11, and twins Sir and Rumi Carter, 6 — flash onscreen.

“The goal for this tour was to create a place where everyone is free and no one is judged,” she adds, as other clips from the tour play.

“I feel liberated. I have transitioned into a new animal,” Beyoncé concludes the two-minute-long video.

KISUMU, Kenya, Oct 1 – They came, they saw and conquered! Playing infront of their massive fans that filled the Moi Stadium Kisumu, Obunga FC rose to the occasion ruling the boys Nyanza region and book a slot in the national finals.

Here is how it went down in Pictures;

-Girls final; Plateau Queens vs Victoria Sports Academy –

Summarised weekend golf results