Kenyan Football Scene- Jab or Jive?

After a chaotic season Premier League and equally disorganized end of the League games, the Kenyan football takes a break for a few months. This is despite the fact that most Leagues in other parts of the world are in their 1st halves. To make it more interesting is the CECAFA Senior Challenge Cup scheduled for early December in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania. This is the ONLY serious tournament Kenya will hope to play until after the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers as a national team, having been bundled out of the qualifiers earlier this year.
The item that has seen some positive sentiment on the scene is the recruitment of the Technical Director for KFF- Mr. Patrick Naggi- currently the Tusker Sports CEO and also Kenya Premier League Limited chairman. Having beaten 7 other applicants to the job, he seems destined for what might be things to come for Kenyan football. But is it really?
Thinking critically and in hindsight, let me show my pessimism with the said job;
First, as seen in the Premier League played this season, the Kenya Football Federation officials have been changed more than 3 times this year. The current crop of officials came through some court action and some letter and announcement made through the media. How legit do we think they are?
Secondly looking at the top officials almost all have served the federation before with any sterling performances. 20 years on while the game has grown in leaps and bounds ours has been reduced to a battle between the young men, a pair of shoes and roughshod grass on poorly maintained stadiums (with a few exceptions from those run by the Stadia Management Board). Doesn’t it hurt to see Kenyan stream to the local mabati kiosk with satellite TV to watch a game from overseas and the guys can name the whole squad, reserves and event the 3rd team if need be?
Third, some of these officials as is the norm around here have used their places as platforms for politics. I can’t see why these ones will be any different. I can swear to have seen one of them I the many political rallies that have been going on in these times.
Fourth, what structures are in place from the officials for the Director to take over? My goodness, this is one big task which requires enormous amounts of resources and also time and patience. If history serves me well, my Kenyan brothers will not spare his limb one bit if it doesn’t happen sooner than they expect. Ask any of the national team coaches both current and former.
Lastly and though not intending to belittle his achievements, he may not quite fit the bill for the task. Comparing with the likes of the German tactician who helped mould the Kenyan team of the 1980s & 90s, he can’t hold much ground. Exposure especially international, youth development and also commercializing the sport (which I hope he’s learnt in the 2 firms he’s worked with; Exclamation Marketing and Tusker Sports) might be points to give the sport much impetus needed to restore order and the shine it deserves.
Update:
FIFA has announced that they will not offer any more grants to the national team for any preparations or participation in the tournaments as they may come. The said monies will instead be channeled towards development of youth structures and infrastructure for the game in Kenya. Have they been reading my post or something……?
A FIFA development official Mr. Ashford Mamelodi also announced the renovation of one of Nairobi City’s stadium (incidentally called City Stadium-can’t they be more indigenous and innovative?) to the tune of over KShs. 39 million. This will help in laying the first artificial turf on Kenyan football grounds ( sic)....damn it has taken us that long ( and am not sure whether to cheer or cry since it ain’t fixed yet !)

Barry Bonds brawls

In what seems to keep coming back bigger and ugly, one of sports supposedly icons seems to be headed for the bins. After warding off the wolves from the lamb, the journalists and US public seem to be going for the kill on this one.
After managing to keep off the media and fellow sports practitioners from his life, they seem to have found the one knife that might do the most damage. In the last week, the court (finally) seems to have credible evidence proving that Barry Bonds –US baseball player who broke the home runs record of America’s beloved kid one Babe Ruth- may actually have been using performance –enhancing drugs for the last few years. What with the ever increasing weight and outstanding performance, it just can’t be your normal well-rounded player. He must be getting that from some place ……..!
For fear of sounding racist does it have anything to do with the colour of his skin? Anyway coming so soon from the confessions of a star whose smile endeared her to the world and made the US public believe she was innocent only to turn around on this and betray their trust. She could afford some tears claiming forgiveness but you and I know once you take the rope, you can hang yourself or the public domain does what it does best.....
It doesn’t make it better that the game needs one leading light to make an example of what ought to be accorded drug cheats of which there have been a few in this sport but none this big.
Note/Disclaimer*:
I am not advocating for drug cheats here, but why does it take this long for the various sporting bodies to catch the culprits? In any case, they usually have collaborators who live off them and move on to another individual once their moneybag dries up.
Or give it a thought, why not go the wrestling way, legalize and use at your own risk!

Volleyball vestiges

After a woeful performance the Kenyan volleyball ladies come back to a quiet and disappointed reception. This is after winning ONLY 2 sets (even though it was loss in the game against Thailand) against an accumulated 33 sets (that is, 11 consecutive losses). I had said anything short of a miracle is what we were expecting from our ladies.

Some interesting bits for me though were the fact that the one player the officials had initially axed was to emerge the best Kenyan player and even getting the ‘Player of the Match’ award in the game between Kenya & Thailand. She had the best stats as a well-rounded individual.I guess she was trying to prove a point here.
I won’t dwell on what went wrong here but I wish to send barbs on to the Kenya Volleyball Federation officials on this one. They may try to put the blame on poor preparations, lack of resources and all that balderdash they keep using. But then again why are you in office if you can’t take care of some of these things? Kenya being in the World Cup for like the 5th time, surely this ain’t learning experience anymore. Make me shout myself hoarse for once and let me ogle at the ladies as they fly our colours in Japan (or wherever they decide to host future volleyball World Cups).
Are they taking notes? For starters, let me see the ladies in Beijing next year for the Olympics, and yes it’s not an easy trip !

East African Classic Safari Rally

Anytime I read about the Safari Rally, I have this tear hanging out my eye. There are 2 reasons
Reason No. 1:
About 17 years ago, when the Safari Rally was part of the World Rally Champion (WRC) circuit, I remember the cars were to use a route which was like 800m from our humble abode. To make more interesting those machines would fly past a stretch of like 1km at high speeds of +200km/h along this driveway and at night to boot. They were on their final leg as they headed back to KICC for the podium and pop of the champagne. Being a Sunday and the next day being a Monday (funny enough Easter Monday…the rally almost always used to coincide with the Easter weekend, lots of rains and mud, what a joy to watch them splash this around!), I was obliged to wake up at some ungodly hour of 3-4 a.m. to watch these ruts get their thing done on the road. I even set up the alarm in my excitement to shatter my sweet dreams and make them come true, alas! It never happened; I woke up the next day at the hour of 8 only to find the last of the cars had gone by at 6.30a.m. Much to the chagrin of the rally enthusiasts!
What made worse for me, that was the year one of my all-time rally drivers and Safari rally legend last won the rally, none other than the ‘Flying Swede’ Bjorn Waldegaard driving a Toyota Celica GT4 breaking the 2-year reign of the Italian Miki Biasion.
Reason No.2:
5 years ago, a friend of mine who later flew out of the country was around town and I was scrounging in their digs. This was at a time I had lost my job and was busy doing what guys call –“in-between-jobs “. This pal of mine lets call him Nerd also had a friend of his called Josh. They had managed to organize for a trip out of town and this was to be near Naivasha- a town about 50 km from Nairobi in the Rift Valley- where the 2002 Safari Rally was taking place. Right there the route was making the cars go through twice, once during the day & the second just before sunset. What a break it would have been from all the stress of the City. To make it even more interesting my pals had secured 2 rides and my oh my, was I jumping up & down my bed. There was a small rider though: Only “Couples” were being allowed on this trip. Bring along a partner and a small fee for the fuel, drinks and snacks to be taken on the trip. A night was also planned for at the said town.
That just blew my sails off and I had to settle for the unenviable task of house-keeping for the weekend. The only chance I had of watching the rally cars live in action was blown away. That year saw some of the most memorable images being broadcast across the globe but the most painful must have been one of Richard Burns getting stuck a few metres from the final check-point at Suswa and trying in vain (and tears) to get his Subaru Impreza WRC from a dust pan. He was thus time-barred and out of contention a stone's throw away from the final checkpoint for that Leg.
Why do I shed tears you ask?
- the former would have had me watch the cars at the most comfortable of places and in one of the most spectacular of ways,
- the latter was to be the last time that the Safari Rally was to feature as a WRC series rally.

Please don’t get reasons to shed your tears, get your boys (and girls who care) to the hotspots and watch the East African Classic Safari Rally! Catch all the splash and shine, classics and former classy drivers too as they relive the original rally frequently referred to as a test between man and machine!

Interesting Facts:
The Rally was originally set as the East African Coronation Rally in the 3 Eastern Africa countries of Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania as a celebration of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth the II. She’ll be around this part of Africa for the CHOGM-Commonwealth Heads Of Governments Meeting being held in Kampala, Uganda. I’m sure they can spare sometime to watch these oldies as they take a break from the talk-show that is the conference held.

It was renamed EA Safari Rally in 1960 before changing to Safari Rally in 1974 after being reduced to the Kenyan circuit ONLY. Up until 2002 the rally was part of the WRC circuit but is now on the lesser known African Rally (ARC) and this year was part of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC).
The Classic Rally version started in 2003 as a way of commemorating the original rally and also showcasing the prowess of man and machine under minimal service and power. This is more like the 1950s & 1960s.
For more details check out

www.eastafricansafarirally.com

Kenya Rowing scores a major boost for sports in Kenya 2008

Sometime back I was visiting one of the distant places in parts of the Eastern province of Kenya on a training mission when I bumped into some dudes purporting to be training to representing Kenya in the rowing competition for the All-Africa Games ( held in Aug this year in Algiers see……). I let go a hiss thinking that this guy was pulling my leg but I decided to check them out.
This place was Masinga Dam, one of the Seven Fork Dams which forms the country’s largest power generating project started way back in the late 1970s. I walked down to the dam and true to his word , I came across 3 canoes ( or is kayaks ?), I wouldn’t know I ain’t rowing man yet. These guys were going through the motions and throwing their paddles as if they were on some mission to the end of the Seas. I took time to watch them & I had to feel a bit embarrassed for my earlier doubts.
To prove that the Rowing Club is even more serious, they will be hosting the 5th Africa Canoe-Kayak Championships at the same place from 24th-27th January 2008. This event is expected to attract at least 20 countries with the Northern Africa countries leading the charge and South Africa putting forth its paddle.
A major boost has been given by the Tourist Trust Fund (TTF) which is using sports tourism to promote Kenya as a destination of choice, not just for its usual hospitality and game but as a sporting nation both by being a powerhouse in athletics among other sporting disciplines and also as host. KShs. 14.8 million (approx. US $ 225000) has been given to the Kenya Water Sports Trust to develop key water bodies with Masinga being one of the targets. TTF has also approved a grant of KShs. 22 million ( approx.US$330000) to Tana River & Athi River Development Authority (TARDA) to develop a tented camp at the Masinga resort to provide additional high quality accommodation to the tourists. Having been there before they spruced up the place, I would say, it’s one of the under-utilised scenic places in the country. It’s a nice getaway from the city hassles and also one of the larger man-made attractions. It will be a deserving site for the games as intimated. It will also serve the national team well mixing the well-tested nations with their raw talent and hopefully help select the team to represent the country in Beijing later next year in the Olympic Games. Having hosted the Cross-Country championships earlier this year, the country will be in the limelight again next year for the right reasons. As noted by the MD of TTF,
“……the championship will provide a great opportunity to further market Kenya as an ideal destination for international sporting events”.
Surely no laughing matter!
(Acknowledgements: The Daily Nation Mwaniki Wahome’s story appearing on Nov 6th 2007, Kenya Rowing Club’s information:www.magicalkenya.com)

GTV does another 1st

GTV DOES ANOTHER FIRST
Money talks! Well GTV talks these sides of the Sahara! In what seems to be an aggressive drive to take the sports world in East & Central if not the greater Africa, GTV signed what is up to now the biggest sponsorship deal with any sporting body an estimated KShs. 402 million deal with CECAFA-the body that runs football in East & Central Africa. This contract’s details are as follows;
o 4-year deal for the coverage and exclusive rights for the screening of any event organized by CECAFA i.e. both the club championships and national teams challenge cup;
o Travel, accommodation and related costs for the hosts and playing nations (& clubs);
o Prize money at KShs. 2.04million (approx. US$30910) for the winners of the Senior Challenge Cup, 1.02 Million (approx. US$15455) for the runners-up and KShs.510000 for the third-placed team for the same.
This covers a period of 4 years starting this year. I’m sure some sports officials are already salivating with the hungry ones maybe planning an assault on the goodies. But GTV executives have made it very clear; this commitment is to enhance the growth and appreciation of the game in the region after suffering a serious lull in the last few years.
After the Ethiopian millionaire pulled the plug on the sponsorship which he had done for 3 years running and the non-committal nature of the Rwandese president Paul Kagame who had helped mould the championships in the late 1990s and early 2000s. As one Nicholas Musonye, the Secretary-General of CECAFA noted, this couldn’t have come at a better time. With the World Cup coming to Africa in 2010 (that’s if South Africa doesn’t jeopardize its chances), the region badly needs a tournament to play to be able to compete with other countries on the continent. The incentive though small goes a big way in helping bring together the teams most of which have had dismal pasts in the continental challenge.
I’ve always advocated for greater involvement from major corporates in the region. This is a wake up call again and again. With the countdown for SA 2010 on, I can assure you this ain’t the last we hear of them big boys throwing some few bucks towards the game. But who minds anyway?

Kenyan Women’s Volleyball agony

As if to make a replica of other sports associations, the Kenya Volleyball Federation are at it again. For those who love watching our lady spike their opposition, hold your horses just for awhile. The team is meant to represent Africa in the Women’s Volleyball World Cup in Japan starting this weekend. But as usual the drama has to start even before serving any ball;
First the team’s selection in Nairobi last week was left to the federation which chopped out the longest playing volleyball in Kenya currently Dorcas Nandasaba and dealing the team a panic attack only for them to reinstate her after appeals from Kenyans across the board. They did include her name in the squad and even book her on the flight, but whether she will play in Japan or not, is not yet confirmed since the list had already been sent before they rescinded their decision.
Some reason as to why she had axed was that she had incited the players to boycott playing due to non-payment of their allowances and a cash reward of KShs. 1million promised by the President after a successful Africa qualifying championship held in Nairobi in August. She may have been justified trying to rally the players since it’s their right and the officials have developed a penchant of having to wait till players boycott or strike to act on the most trivial and obvious obligations in the game.

Secondly, reports from Japan indicate the team had failed the quality test (this is undertaken to determine the team’s peripheral preparations such as team kit, team preparedness and also weigh-in among a couple of rigorous tests). They were asked to re-kit the team since the uniforms they had were sub-standard. I can’t believe this! An official from the Kenyan contingent even had the audacity to claim that why they had such a uniform was because the ladies have adopted to doing what football players do when a game is over, exchange shirts. That’s why they didn’t have their best kits. My goodness what nonsense!
I’m made to believe that the team is kitted by Nike as are most Kenyan national teams’ performing national duty in international assignments. Unless these guys got their kit from illegitimate sources, then there is no way they can have such an excuse. OK, I’ll admit some official could have sneaked some fake (probably from China or from such place) uniform and is now trying to save face.
Another issue that may even kill the team further is the fixtures. In the first 2 games, they face Cuba and Brazil. Given that they have never won any match (set even) in the World Cup in previous postings, then they’ll need a miracle to rise to the occasion.
With the slapdash preparations I’ll be holding a rosary for their redemption at every game. Not even friendlies with top teams in Africa could be organized….the usual story, lack of these funds and that logistic. As it is, the first 3 teams automatically qualify for the Olympic games to be held in Beijing, China next year.
The ladies are at their lowest ebb and any miracle here would serve the country well. Any consultants? (Wherefore art thou Kalonzo Musyoka-ye of the Park and crowd miracles?)

2014: FIFA World Cup goes to Brazil

As expected the 2014 will be held in Brazil. Being the only country for South Africa that bid for the games, well not without arm-twisting other minor countries which had shown interest in hosting the event from the sub-continent; it was only fair that it goes back to the country which has won it more times since the first World Cup in 1930.
FIFA had also insisted on having a rotation system where the event goes from one continent to another e.g. from Asia (2002) to Europe (2006) with Africa (2010) and Americas (2014). But given the resources especially financial and availability of playing grounds, infrastructure to support mammoth crowds and transport to & from the venues to filling the stadiums, media rights; they’ve had to scrap the rotation method. This as noted by the capitalist per excellence Joseph ‘Sepp’ Blatter, will deny the richest sports management organization its much-needed revenues and would put a ceiling on the earnings made from sale of rights to advertise during the World Cup depending on where it is held.
It’s worth noting that there are other issues which seem to plague the game including security (as evidenced by South Africa’s high crime rate which may cause it to forfeit its chance to host the 2010 event). Another issue is the host country’s performance, where if the country hosting the event exits too early there maybe problems filling the stadiums. But if the trend is to be watched, in the last 3 World Cups have seen the hosting countries reach semi-finals( 2002-South Korea,2006 Germany) if not the Finals and winning the World Cup ( 1998- France).
Brazil did successfully host the Pan American Games this year, but some issues need to address for it to be able to prove its worth in the World Cup. One of the hallowed grounds of Maracana Stadium (capable of hosting over 100000 fans at a sitting) needs to be renovated badly to restore its glory. The country also needs to develop proper road and transport infrastructure in smaller cities of Brazil. It has some of the most notorious roads with traffic jams and pollution plaguing it. Alternatives also need to sort.
It was amusing to hear a cheeky reporter as the head of Brazil bidding team Ricardo Texeira what he intends to do with the security issues and he promptly got his answer to the effect that ‘ while there are security concerns it is not to the level of US where school children are shooting each in learning institutions’. He also gave the example of the Pan American Games where no major security breach was reported.
Aside:
My concern is not even Brazil but South Africa; with security spiraling (what with the recent killing of one of their music icons, Lucky Dube) and a mis-performing national side, will Africa’s main hope redeem itself?

Rugby Sevens Series is on

After having a well-deserved break from the rugby 7s, the series is back on the calendar with the 2007-8 season starting later this month. The Kenya team which performed fairly well after a few false starts in the first rounds has its work cut out. Having been seeded with top dogs Wales and Samoa in the coming tourney in Dubai, it can’t get any tougher for the boys.
Having made it to the semi-Finals in the Adelaide Sevens in the 2006-7 seasons, they should aim even higher with this season’s games. The preparations may not have been up to class but then the determination of the team maybe the saving grace. It may also be saved by the fact that the team has been playing as a unit for sometime now and most of the players are well exposed. The Kenyan rugby 7s circuit also started 2 months ago thus some players playing for the national 7s team are warmed-up and ready to go.
How I’d wish to read of a major upset like we saw in the World Cup in France last month, but then again I keep dreams alive.

Is this the recovery!

Having suffered defeats to some of previously easy opponents, Kenya has had a fairly good tournament going in the last 2 weeks. Coming from the Twenty 20 tourney in South Africa, where all the major cricket playing nations sent their teams, it was poor show from a country which a few years ago was applying for Test status- for the uninitiated Test playing nations in cricket means the crème de la crème of the cricket world. It’s an exclusive club of teams with regular one-day internationals (ODIs), small 3-nations tournaments and assured financial support for the national governing body along with major sponsorship and media rights. Initially most of these nations were former British colonies, given that the game was made popular by British colonialists in the different continents they occupied. But now a couple of other countries have come up and are making a mark on the scene including, USA, Netherlands and Namibia.
But since getting to the semi-finals of the Cricket World Cup in 2003, held in South Africa & Zimbabwe ( and Kenya, thanks to some boycott from some Test playing nations such as England), the cricket scene has lost both its shine and steam. A couple of scandals have riddled the game, both the officials and some top players, loss of public interest, financial constraints and also a less than competitive national league. A coach’s stunted approach made it worse with over-reliance on a certain crop of players.
But in the last few weeks, I have been able to smile when I read the news and find the national team making us proud once again. A couple of new players have been added to the team and the Bermudans and Canadians have had their respective whooping by the Kenyan team. A change on the technical bench has also seen some spark added to the players who had more or less lost psyche. I do hope this can be sustained and a more careful approach. The Kenya Cricket Association (KCA) also needs to develop a more vibrant local league where youthful talent can be tapped. The need for more international games can not be more urgent. With these, any local or international corporation will only be too willing to thrown in some money for the support and growth of the game.
A wicket for the light at the end of the tunnel, KCA!

Standard Chartered Nairobi marathon- 5th Edition

Funny how time flies! 4 years ago, the City of Nairobi got its first edition of a fully fledged race in the form of a marathon. This came at a time when the only other major marathon in the country was suffering from lack of support from both sponsors and competitors alike. This was Mombasa Marathon. Given the lack of proper logistical work, humidity and high temperatures the race had seen a slow death. But Kenya’s status as an athletics’ powerhouse, it badly needed a marathon race to showcase both local and international talent.
Thanks to Standard Chartered, the Nairobi Marathon was born. Coming to the City for the first time, there was bound to be a change on the activities of the city residents. The organizers have always had it held on a Sunday to avoid logistical problems such as traffic jams(what with a resurgent economy, it would only aggravate an already precarious situation) due to closure of the roads, fans’ areas, start & finish location. To make it symbolic the organizers decided to have the start right at one of the best and well-maintained street Harambee Avenue and finish at the City’s Seat-City Hall (home of Nairobi City Council) and KICC (Kenyatta International Conference Centre).
Of course, if you’re a strict church-goer, this was not your fun event. True to form, for the next 2 editions, the church leaders complained insisting that the event was not affording their ‘flock’ time to make it for their weekly experience. Some even went to the extent of claiming that the collection (alms) was not good at all, thus it didn’t aid ‘God’s work’. Others complained that the coverage of major roads in the City, from Waiyaki Way, James Gichuru, Ngong Road, Langata Road all the way to Mombasa Road and Uhuru Highway was too much to persevere for a day. Hence last year, the event was radically changed to cover only 1 major road (Mombasa Road) from Nyayo National Stadium with the start outside the stadium and the finish inside. This meant less interference with the city activities for their Sunday outings and also reduced logistical problems since it would be concentrated in one area.
Well my sentiments are that given the event comes once every year; it would have stuck to its original route. For all races the route was scenic and quite trying, especially for the 21km half-marathon and the full marathon. What we have now is a marathon modeled around a circuit race (like Formula One), with competitors and enthusiasts alike running around a stretch, 2 or 3 times, what boredom! It always felt good running (more or less jogging or walking for majority of the participants) on the roads which are normally a preserve of crazy Nairobians. It also did a lot of good to those who would be running from foreign countries since it meant knowing a bit of geography of the City. Alas the church and majority of the city dwellers had their way.
Having run the new route last year, I couldn’t help see the disappointment of other enthusiasts as they felt cheated. To make it worse, all 3 major races ( 10 km,21 half-marathon and 42 km marathon) were run at a few minutes difference making it crazy for some of those slow runners to be asked to give way to the ‘elite runners’.
This year the sponsors, StanChart found it within themselves to raise the entry fee 100% to KShs. 1000 (approx. US $) per entry for the major races. It has not gone down well with most of the devotees and though they might record at least 15000 people, the number would have definitely been higher if they maintained the fee at KShs. 500 (US$8). Presidential & parliamentary elections to be held later on this year have also diverted some attention from the race but I’m sure some of the aspiring candidates will make mileage from making special appearances.
For the 5th year again, the money raised will be going to a charitable organization that deals with eye and sight problems within the city’s proximity. My projection is that in the next few years, the event must be self-sustaining as indicated from the increase in the event’s fees and also attract a regular flow of sponsorship from logistical support, PR, advertising, media coverage to entertainment and refreshment provision.
All the best to all participants, and watch out I might be the guy who sprints past you in some spirited run!

What a Sporting Weekend

For what some like calling their favourite days' of the week, well you'll be pleased to learn this weekend's sports action will serve up just that -depending of course on what pleases your palate.
First up,
Football:
The English Premiership is back on the cards after last weekends internationals (with some in the mid-week too). There are interesting fixtures as teams meet on their potential Rubicons.
Arsenal vs Bolton Wanderers
Aston Villa v Man Utd
Blackburn v Reading
Fulham v Derby
Middlesbrough v Chelsea
Everton v Liverpoolare some of the fixtures tommorow,
Rugby:
The Rugby World Cup comes to an end tomorrow with the Final pitting South Africa and England who coincidentally met in their first game of the pool A which they were grouped in. Who have the last laugh ?
The 3rd place game is on today ( for those who can make an excuse not to go to work...good luck !)with hosts France hoping to restore some pride against the Pumas of Argentina.
At the local scene, the 7-a-side round takes the teams to the Coast for the Driftwood Sevens. Mean Machine, KCB,Impala, Quins and Nondies seek to outdo each other to score important points in the circuit.

Motorsport:
For those who are as crazy as the F1 drivers on the road, please watch this weekend's title decider race in the Brazilian GP at Interlagos, Sao Paolo. The new kid Hamilton will hope to shock the Formula 1 world by becoming the first rookie to win on his first season. He's been a phenomenon that's for sure. But his team-mate whom they never see eye-to-eye, Fernando Alonso will be hoping to spoil his party along with Ferrari's Felipe Massa (wild chance methinks). Watch the race on Sunday.
The Rally fans will be in Kiambu and Ngong respectively as KCB round of national rallies take place with the Guru Nanak Rally starting off tomorrow and finishing on Sunday.

At least, I'll be saved of all political shenanigans for the weekend after a tiring 3 weekends full of this launch and that rally. I really wish there was a way to block out these guys for like the next 10 weeks ! Help !

Rugby World Cup :Curtains about to be drawn

While two of my friends will be having an uneasy time as they watch the Final game of the Rugby World Cup being held in France, it will interesting to see who wins the bet. South Africa play England. As if knowing which teams would make it to the Final, one let's call him Shacusi boasted of the strength and depth of the South African Springboks while the other let's call him Rewadi ,quite literally wore the English game-shirt.
Well, given that some of the other favourites including, New Zealand, Australia,Argentina and hosts France have been bundled out ( Argentina play France for 3rd place or what is usually called Bronze Final.
I'll try hold my choice between the 2 teams as I weight the comments from my friends as each of them tries to convince me of the team's prowess but I'll yield at some point.
Game is on Sunday, be there !
BIG CORRECTION: The FINAL is on SATURDAY & the 3rd place game on FRIDAY. Apologies for any misrepresentation.

Didn't I say so..?

Reading one of the dailies editorials yesterday made me think that someone had lifted a story out of this blog and sort of sugar-coated it to sound different and distinct. But since we are both in the industry of sharing and spreading information, then no daggers drawn. For us Kenyans, it's a time that we're taken on some 'paradise-to-be'journey by our politicians as they promise their countrymen this and that. Some even throw a few shillings here as they sponsor football and volleyball tournaments while others have suddenly remembered we have sporting heroes in our midst. Wow !
All I can say for now is that sports is bigger than any of those noisy,nosy Parkers and I throw enormous and chilli barbs at each of one of them....how I wish someone would make me wake in the middle of 2010 at some stadium in South Africa as I root for my country wearing those big straw hats and shouting myself hoarse as I join in the chorus of the day....(let's keep dreaming)
By the way , read this the editorial from yesterday's news at www.nationaudio.com (editorial,click on the left hand-side of the website at the homepage).

Some Moments .....

Ahhh for those who thought we've gotten too quiet....well you ain't seen nothing yet !( OK am bad at plagiarism as you can see...). Well it's been a quiet week for me but I couldn't help be set on some thinking by various sporting events;
1. As if by coincident, SportsKenya had carried an article about doping and it's sudden resurgence in sport only for it to get another kick from a sports legend (don't stone me yet...she is on the wrong side of the divide right now ! And I ain't crucified her yet) to come out and say she's sorry for what she did 7 or so years ago. OK for starters, I feel nothing for her. She ought to have known the consequences of her actions so shedding tears in front of the cameras, she ain't seen nothing yet.
Let me jog her memory to 1987 to one Ben Johnson who was caught twice using banned substances he was decimated by the heaps of bad press. Now here in this time and age, someone decides first to lie to a court, then go around and say no she's sorry. Then admits guilt in an offence she'd been trying to cover up...oh she will be so buried by the sports organisations and Press alike.
2. Being an election year in Kenya, we're bound to have enough drama on all fronts as people get promised and others promise paradise unlimited. I had said it here earlier,sports is a unifying factor all the reason why people like Hitler tried to swing it their way and even popular dictators like Mussolini and Idi Amin of Uganda managed to get their countrymen to perform well in major sporting events under the rules. But it goes beyond that, for sports to have a lasting impression, it must go beyond the rhetoric, populist statements and such nonsense. So when one former Kenyan national team player and a host of former footballers decided to endorse some presidential candidate for reasons stated as improving the game and some immaterial reasons, I was left bemused by the whole episode. For the uninformed, even Pres. Bush can't touch the US' equivalent of the KFF ! FIFA has consolidated its power so much that football federations across the world operate like fiefdoms for the officials involved. In as much as you'd want to dissolve and endorse your own officials, FIFA has the last say on the going-ons of football in a country. And anyway, most of those goons who call themselves Kenyan football officials have made quick retreats and gone into politics as some familiar 'euphoria' grips the nation. Ask Najib Balala, Ochillo Ayacko and now Maina Kamanda what they haven't tried !
3. Watching the Rugby World Cup as it reaches the penultimate stages of the semi-finals, I was shocked to some extent to watch the top seeds being bundled out. It was like child's play watching the New Zealanders fumble with the ball against the French and the Australians lacking that crunch play that is always characteristic of the Southern hemisphere nations as they got 'kicked' by their nemesis Johnny Wilkinson. As a friend of friend of mine would say, we haven't barked the tree yet so don't salivate about the timber yet. New Zealand keep its trend of being the top seeds on paper and going into the World Cup and again being bundled out so unceremoniously. Well now let's wait and see what the remaining powers in the semis will do. I surely hope that this won't be a boring Final like in the last 3 World Cups, but again who am I humouring ?