Kyanika Girls, Kitui Stars Shine as COPA Coca-Cola 2014 Edition Kicks Off

The 2014 edition of the global grassroots youth football tournament, COPA Coca-Cola, kicked off in Machakos this past weekend.

The tournament which has been running in the country for over 7 years was launched at a colourful ceremony at Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos. 

Speaking during the launch of what is one of the longest-running youth football tournaments in the world, Coca-Cola Senior Marketing Manager Mona Karingi said, “We are glad as a company to be associated with this tournament which has produced some of the best players in world football. The likes of MacDonald Mariga, Danny Sserunkuma, Ronaldinho, Robert Lewandowski, and Javier Chicarito all started their careers participating in the COPA tournament.”

The tournament which features both boys and girls team who are less than 15 years will see teens set their sights on becoming Kenya’s and indeed the world’s next generation of football heroes. 

This year’s COPA Coca-Cola tournament will be executed in 10 countries in Africa. The winning boys and girls teams in the Kenyan edition will walk away with Kshs. 500,000, runners-up Kshs. 200,000 and second runners-up Kshs. 100,000 each. The Most Valuable Players will be awarded with Kshs. 30,000 each with the best goalkeeper and top scorer walking home with Kshs. 20,000 each. 

The tournament kicked off in earnest with 5 games played at the venue. Kitui Stars and Kyanika Girls were the biggest winners of the day. Kitui thrashed a hapless Makueni Boys outfit 6-0 in the opening match. Salim Ibrahim netted a brace before Wambua Mutie and Christopher Joseph also registered their names on the score sheet. The other two goals were scored by Ng’ang’a Mulwa and Nzuki Mutunga. 

Kilonzo Ndanu and Peter Kalunda both netted a brace as county giants Kyanika Girls romped past Matithini 7-0. In other matches, last year’s provincial finalists Mukuyuni thumped Machakos Queens 4-0 while far-traveling Sultan Hamud were given a 3-0 humbling by newcomers Migwaini. Machakos Talents pipped Machakos Youth 2-1 in the last match of the day.

Other games were played in North Rift and North Coast. 

Meanwhile the exhibition match between the Sport Journalists and the Machakos County team ended in a 3-2 win to the media. The scribes went 1-0 behind early in the half courtesy of Mohammed Abdala but Steve Obuya drew level five minutes later. Abdala netted his second before the breather. A rejuvenated Media team controlled the second half with Steve Ayoo finding the back of the net to make it 2-2 before Kevin Otieno netted the winning goal from the spot kick. 

The COPA Coca-Cola games will be played every weekend with the National finals scheduled to take place in August.

And That's thesteifmastertake!!

2014 Edition of COPA Coca-Cola to Kick Off in Machakos

The 2014 edition of the global grassroots youth football tournament, COPA Coca-Cola, will kick off tomorrow at the Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos County.

The tournament which has been running in the country for over 7 years will be launched at a colourful ceremony which will be graced by high ranking county officials, members from the Football Kenya Federation as well as representatives from tournament sponsors, Coca-Cola.

Six boys and four girls teams from Mwingi, Kitui, Makueni and Machakos Counties who make up the extensive Southern Branch will contest for the honours on the day.

“We are ready for kickoff. Everything is set and we are inviting fans from Machakos County and beyond to come in large numbers and rally behind their teams,” said tournament Coordinator, Gerald Chege.

The 6 boys’ teams who will aim to have a good start to their 2014 campaign include Sultan Hamud and Makueni Boys from Makueni County, Machakos Talent and Machakos Youth from Machakos and Kitui Stars and Mwingi All Stars from Kitui County. Kyanika Girls from Kitui County will renew their longstanding rivalry with Makueni based Makueni Red Shooters in the girls’ category which also has Machakos Girls and Matithini Girls.

Entry to the stadium will be free. Fans attending the day-long games will be treated to a host of gaming and entertainment led by local boy Ken Wa Maria. Mejja will also perform with comedian Chipukizi MCing the event.

Games will also kick off in North Coast and North Rift branches.

This year’s COPA Coca-Cola tournament will be played in a round-robin format with the winners and runners-up qualifying for the advanced stages of the tournament as they build up for provincial and national finals which will see them test their resolve against teams from other regions. Nairobi County are the defending Champions after JMJ Academy and Otto Benecker won the boys’ and ladies’ national titles.

Meanwhile there will be an exhibition match between Kenya Sports Journalists (KSJ) and a locally-based team. KSJ have upped the tempo in their training at the Nairobi University with the scribes to take home the grand prize after losing out last year to Wazee wa Kazi at City Stadium. The two teams will be fully kitted by Coca-Cola.

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Champions League Quarter Finals: Chelsea, Dortmund at Risk after Costly Defeats to PSG and Real Madrid

La Liga side Real Madrid and Ligue 1 outfit, Paris Saint Germain, both took giant steps towards qualifying for the semifinals of the UEFA Champions League after both registered huge wins against Borussia Dortmund and Chelsea.

Madrid won 3-0 at the Bernabeu with first half goals from Gareth Bale and Isco and a third one from Cristiano Ronaldo in the 57^th minute and look set to earning sweet revenge on Borussia Dortmund who bundled them out at this level last year. The Spanish side surged ahead with only three minutes on the clock, the world’s most expensive player, Gareth Bale tucking in inside the penalty area to give the 9-time champions a perfect start.

The hosts continued pressing the Dortmund defense and were duly rewarded in the 27^th minute, Isco beating Roman Weidenfeller from the edge of the area. The German keeper would face more tests before the interval but could do nothing thereafter as Ronaldo pounced in the 57^th minute to give the hosts their third goal which almost guarantees Carlo Ancelloti’s side entry into the semis bar a miracle in the return leg next week.

Chelsea’s job won’t be easier when they host PSG at Stamford Bridge next week after the Blues conceded three goals against the Ligue 1 Champions elect. Like Real Madrid, PSG scored early in the game, Ezequiel Lavezzi netting the opener in the 4^th minute. Jose Mourinho’s men leveled matters through an Eden Hazard penalty in the 27^th minute. However, that’s as good as it got for the visitors who conceded an own goal through David Luiz before Javier Pastore made sure the London side will have an uphill task in the return leg with a goal in stoppage time. 

The Tuesday night quarter finals matches ended on 1-1 stalemates. Manchester United drew first in their clash against defending champions Bayern Munich, Nemanja Vidic rising above the rest to score with just 13 minutes on the clock. The visitors dominated possession but could not breach the United rearguard until the 67th minute when Bastina Scheweinsteger netted what could be a vital away goal. However, the German will miss the return leg in Munich next week after getting a booking.

Nothing could separate Barcelona and Atletico Madrid in the all-Spanish clash at the Camp Nou. Brazilian Diego Ribas netted a stunning goal for the visitors five minutes after the hour mark but Neymar ensured the spoils were shared with a goal in the 71st minute meaning there will be everything to fight for in the return leg at the Vicente Calderon

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