Category Archives: Sports

General sports news

SOCCER | Who will sit out for Sanchez?

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After weeks of speculation and numerous rumors linking Sanchez to at least four top European clubs, Alexis Sanchez finally put pen to paper on Monday and signed for Barcelona . The sensational Chilean forward has been taunted as one of the best prospects for the beautiful game, with some going as far as saying he is better than Lionel Messi, the current FIFA player of the year. Well, without demeaning  the speedy, skilful 22 year old forward, his national team coach Claudio Borghi, is obviously taking sides when he says Sanchez is better than Messi. With the deal sealed and Sanchez -who scored 12 goals and made 6 assists in 31 matches- now a Barcelona player, the next question is; who will Sanchez  replace from the star studded Barcelona team?

Alexis Sanchez

Last season, Barcelona virtually won anything and everything that was there to compete for, and they did so in such prolific form earning much bragging rights for their millions of supporters worldwide and putting on a show for their rivals’ supporters alike .Their starting eleven was consistent for most of the campaign with a few changes mainly due to injuries. Alexis Sanchez has proven himself as a forward  despite turning out as a winger in his first season at Udinese. However it is problematic determining  whom he will replace in the Barcelona front row which was dominated by Pedro, Villa and Messi last season. Sitting out the current best football player would be next to impossible unless something tragic happens to him, thus we are left with Villa and Pedro. David Villa is more of a central attacker whereas  Sanchez is arguably less fit to play in that position. My guess is that it would prove quite a task to get Villa’s position. So we are now left with Pedro, I think Sanchez can fit in Pedro’s shoes and impart  a bit more of  speed and flare.

We shall have to wait and see what Pep Guardiola does with this array of talent. However, if his thinking is close to mine, then Barcelona’s  4-3-3 formation, with Sanchez, Villa and Messi forming the final third, will be a force to reckon with.

 

References:
Udinese forward Alexis Sanchez on the road to greatness telegraph.co.uk, 18 June 2011

Barcelona signs Chile forward Alexis Sanchez sportsillustrated.cnn.com , 20 June 2011

KENYA PREMIER LEAGUE | The Kenyan El Classico

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In Argentina we have Boca Juniors and River Plate, in England Manchester United and Liverpool while in Spain it is Real Madrid against Barcelona .These are some of the world’s fiercest rivalries in football each with its own unique history as well as numerous glittering silverware to show for. In Kenya any time you talk about club football two names come to mind, AFC leopards and Gor Mahia.  As far as filling the stadium, a match up between these two teams is as good as when the national soccer team plays at home or during a good political rally. Both are community clubs with a huge fanatical following from their respective communities. Both teams have won 24 Kenyan league titles split right down in the middle with 12 a piece.

Whenever derbies take place anywhere in the world there is always a lot at stake for both clubs. Most players say they play their hearts out in such matches compared to other fixtures. Pride off course plays a huge part and in most cases they end up to be low scoring games. The last time these two teams met Gor Mahia won by a solitary goal to nil. Sadly, the match ended in a tragedy after 7 people died while dozens were injured in a stampede at the Nyayo national stadium as fans tried to force their way into the stadium without paying. This time round the organizers of the Kenyan version of the EL Classico have promised to put up more stringent measures to ensure the safety of players and fans a like. About 500 security officers will be deployed around and within the stadium while tickets are going to be made available day prior to the fixture.

Both sides are beaming with confidence promising their fans victory at ‘’all costs”. Come Sunday afternoon and the Nyayo national stadium will be a carnival of blue green and white, the dominant colors of the two most decorated teams in Kenya. Will it be Ingwe’s day or will K’ogallo take advantage of the huge home support and claw the leopard once again?

References:

Glorious chaos in Gor, AFC Leopards match of the season
Top 10 Soccer Club Rivalries of all Time
Deaths in Kenya football stampede

ATHLETICS | Kenya’s athletics heroes

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On 22nd August 2010, Kenya’s 800M athlete, David Rudisha broke the men’s 800M world record at an IAAF world challenge event held in Berlin.

On Saturday last week, the world record holder won the 800M race at the National Bank of Kenya National Athletics Championships that saw him book a ticket to next month’s World Championships in Daegu, South Korea, besides nursing a left foot injury that has barred him from participating in several recent events. Last year BBC World Service put Rudisha on record saying, “I have been running fast and I now have the world record but I have not won any major championships yet. It is time to focus on that now and to win a medal at the 2011World Championships. And then I want to be the Olympic champion. That is my focus from now on.”

David Rudisha

Frankly, he’s walking the talk and being good at it! Watts Wacker et al (1999) The Visionary’s Handbook: Ten Paradoxes That Will Shape the Future of  Your Business, wrote, “no one is less ready for tomorrow than the person who holds the most rigid beliefs about what tomorrow will contain.” At jijuze, we celebrate our fallen hero Samuel Wanjiru-the first Kenyan to win the Olympic marathon, and applause our rising star, David Rudisha. Going by his word and form, he could just be the next Kenyan icon on the international stage, going into the London 2012 Olympic games.

Whats Your Say?

The Conversation begins…

References:

Rudisha qualifies for World Champs Super Sport July 16,2011

David Rudisha breaks 800m world record BBC Sport August 22, 2010

 

 

Replacing Paul Scholes

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Former Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes

Paul Scholes decided to hang his boots at the end of last season, 2010/11; ending a successful career of 17 years dominating the midfield. This has left the Manchester United manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, with a huge task of finding a replacement for Scholes. The United boss says that it is impossible to replace Scholes, a player he ranks among the top four midfielders in the world.

The United boss is in the efforts of rebuilding a team that was out classed in all possible ways by FC Barcelona in the Champions League Finals. Having already made a combined £50million signing of Phil Jones, Ashley Young, and David de Gea; United have more room and money for at least one more signing to fill the position left by Scholes. Manchester United is targeting Inter Milan’s Wesley Sneijder as a possible Scholes replacement. Sneijder’s eye for goal, good vision, and accurate passing are some of the qualities the United boss is interested in.  Sniedjer, however, will not come cheap. Inter Milan are demanding an estimated £35million to release the player. The deal will also see Sneijder pocket £190,000 a week. Arsenal’s Samir Nasri and Luka Modric of Totenham were the other names linked with a move to United, but Sneijder is the main priority at moment with a deal expected to go through within the next 48 hours.

Manchester United and the fans expect the new signings to help the club clinch their 20th Premier League title and possibly the Champions League. A rebuilt Manchester United will face the ultimate test when the play Barcelona, arguably the best football team ever, in a friendly on 30th of July.
References:
An expensive gamble by Sir  Alex Ferguson FootballFanCast.com July 13th, 2011
Sneijder agrees terms with United Mirrorfootball.co.uk July 13th, 2011
Man Utd confident of landing £ 35m top target Footylatest.com July 13th, 2011

Kenya Dominates Rome Marathon

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Kenyans dominated the 17th Rome Marathon- “Marathon di Roma” held on 20 March 2011 that saw 15,000 marathoners from eighty countries participate.  The event that is rated world best city marathon, by Runners World UK, and also an IAAF, Gold Label event, set the moment for Kenyan’s glory at the podium.

Kenyan Dickson Kiptolo Chumba clocked 2hr 8min 44sec at the tape to deny arch rivals Ethiopia a clean sweep on the podium places with Amda Siraj Gena (2:09:20) and Dawit Shami Abdulahi (2:09:41), in second and third-place respectively . Among the gobs of scenic landmarks on the 42KM course were: The Coliseum, Forum Romanum, Pyramid, St. Peter’s Square and Basilica. Further, Kenyans won six of the eight gold medals on offer at the world-cross country event.

It is always great to have heroic personalities to identify with on the international arena, especially when it attracts human interest. “Charity begins at home.” As we celebrate our victors in foreign challenges, the main focus should still remain on developing grassroots talent, not only in athletics, but indeed all faculties of social development.

 

References

Maratona di Roma 20/03/2011
Kenya Dominates world cross in Rome 20/03/2011