Unlucky KSJ Team Finish Runners-up to KBC in Guinness Football Media Challenge

KSJ Team From L-R (Amos Abuga, Steve Ayoo, Fred Maingi, Joseph Shegu and Elvince Joshua - Photo:       michezoafrika)

Kenya Sports Journalists (KSJ) football team narrowly missed out on the 2013 Guinness Football Media Contest title after finishing runners-up to Kenya Broadcasting Corporation.

The team that included Team Manager Fred Maingi, Gregory Mulemi, Stephen Ayoo, Joseph Shegu, and Amos Abuga were beaten to the title by a mere 6 points after amassing 80 points to KBC’s 86.

KSJ started on a wrong footing posting only 4 points out of a possible 10 in the first round testing on general football knowledge before the six-man team improved gradually in the subsequent rounds.

With Kshs 50,000 and a big-eared trophy up for grabs for the winners, the 8 teams that registered for the competition including Nation Media, The Standard, Mediamax, Radio Africa, GBS TV, Royal Media, KBC and KSJ gave their best shots and early indications were that The Standard, led by Robin Toskin, were in the lead.

KSJ however turned the tables in the ultimate round on football skills when Stephen “Steifmaster” Ayoo stepped up and overwhelmed the rest of the field by converting two out of three penalties and juggling 79 times, over 20 more than his nearest challenger Alex Isaboke of KBC.

The judges gave KSJ and Nation Media Group, led by TV journalist Seth Olale, the same number of points (80). The two teams were separated on penalty shoot-outs where Ayoo converted two of his three penalties compared to one from the Nation Media Group player.

The event which was being used to launch the Guinness Football Challenge (GFC) Season 3 which will start airing from Wednesday 20^th March culminated with the winners being rewarded.

KBC went home with the winners’ trophy and a Kshs 50,000 bounty, KSJ were awarded Kshs 35,000 and a 1^st runners-up trophy while third-placed Nation Media Group grabbed Kshs 20,000 and a 2^nd runners-up trophy.

Keeping in tune with their “Everyone’s a Winner” adage, losing teams didn’t leave empty handed after the organizers awarded them with a ball and jersey.

KSJ Team Manager had this to say about the team; “It has been a wonderful year for our KSJ team considering we have won several friendly matches including the Road to Anfield soccer tournament held last month where two of our team’s did wonders.”

“We owe our great success to team effort and especially to one Steve Ayoo who has been a source of encouragement and a pillar in our team,” he added while revealing Ayoo will have the trophy for keeps following his superb performances and commitment to the team.

With the Guinness Football Media Contest out of the way, KSJ will now embark on training for upcoming games and has set up friendly matches against teams including Goodnews Broadcasting Corporation (GBS) and Kenya Premier League referees team.

And That’s thesteifmastertake!!