Kenya Sports Journalists Fall at Semi-Finals Level as Mary Happy Emerge Tops in 2013 Ingwe Fan Fest

KSJ members in a tug of war contest at 2013 Ingwe Fan Fest

Kenya Sports Journalists came to within minutes of qualifying for the 2013 Ingwe Fan Fest football finals but narrowly lost to eventual winners Loresho Branch at the semi-finals level.

KSJ were pooled in Group B alongside AFC Leopards Facebook Branch, Naivasha Branch and Mary Happy. The thin KSJ squad had Gregory Mulemi, Steve Steifmaster Ayoo, Erick Ochieng, Joseph Shegu, Dennis Kameni, Peter Shattaman Muchiri, Magero, sassy twins Sharon and Vivian as well as Fred Arocho who turned up for the second match.

The scribes played to an entertaining barren draw with Facebook Branch before beating Mary Happy 2-0 in their second match, Steve Steifmaster Ayoo converting a penalty before Joseph Shegu hit a sublime freekick past the Mary Happy custodian.

Steve Steifmaster Ayoo with Team Manager Fred Maingi

A barren draw against Naivasha was enough for KSJ to book a quarter-finals date with perennial arch-rivals, Legends FC, a match that KSJ won 1-0 courtesy of a sweeping move. Gregory Mulemi released Shegu on the left flank and the left-footed winger crossed the ball for Enrique Ochieng who squared the ball to Ayoo to squeeze it through the legs of the Legends’ keeper and into the back of the net.

The semi-finals match pitted KSJ against the well-drilled Loresho Branch. The two teams cancelled each other in both halves taking the game into penalties. Joseph Shegu and Enrique both converted but Steifmaster saw his effort saved by the opposing keeper. Loresho converted all their penalties to squeeze through to the finals 3-2.

KSJ’s thin squad would haunt them in the 3^rd place playoff where tired legs saw them lose 1-0 to Facebook Branch. Other competitions that KSJ participated in included tug of war which ended before it could start, KSJ proving a no-contest to the well-fed Facebook Branch who pulled them effortlessly into submission.

Vivian participated in the musical chairs contest for the ladies but left midway to play for the football team. Becky Magoma entered the egg race but dropped her egg just before the finish line while Enrique finished last in the men’s version.

Ayoo finished 3^rd in the back-race but was disqualified for stepping out of his line. He also finished 3^rd in the 100m race in controversial fashion after the starter fluffed.

Meanwhile guest team, Mary Happy, posted star performances in various events at this year’s Mumias Sprinkles Ingwe Fan Fest held on Sunday the 16th of June at the Nairobi Railway Club. Mary Happy collected a total of 30 points from 7 events beating their closest rivals Loresho Branch of Leopards who managed 28 points. Kawangware branch came in third with 25 points just one ahead of Facebook branch who managed a total 24 points.

Mary Happy won in the ladies’ football, the egg race and musical chairs. Their participants were also runners up in the backward race and newspaper race. In the Ladies Football Mary happy won against Loresho by a solitary goal.

Loresho Branch won the males football title beating FBFB by a solitary goal in the finals. FBFB had won 1-0 against Facebook branch in the semi finals while Loresho had beaten KSJ 3-2 in the other semi-final.

Joseph Shegu hits a freekick

Kawangware branch were the winners in Tag of War beating Facebook Branch in what was a repeat of the 2011 finals. Kazungu of FB FB was the winner in the day’s star attraction Scavenger Hunt that saw competitors compete in cake eating and Guinness drinking.

The event was also attended by three out of the four aspirants for the chairmanship post at the forthcoming club elections. Both Allan Kasavuli and Dan Mule separately attended and addressed the masses while Dr. Walter Onyino not only attended but stayed on to give an address at the closing ceremony. Members of Parliament Ayub Savula of Lugari and Chris Wamalwa of Kiminini who attended the closing ceremony rewarded winners in various categories with cash money.

Organized and hosted by CLAWS Trust, the event attracted participation of 18 teams and up to 500 hundred participants and spectators. In the meanwhile, Simiyu of Nakuru branch received the Trust chairman’s special mention for his fair play in various events.

KSJ players before their tug of war contest

And That's thesteifmastertake!!