Kisauni Youth, Makadara Juniors Edge Closer to COPA Provincials, Tia Hope Girls Qualify

South Coast’s Kisauni Youth and Nairobi East’s Makadara Juniors edged closer to their respective COPA Coca-Cola provincial finals after collecting crucial points this past weekend.

Kisauni needed just one win and a draw from their two matches to book their slot in the coast provincials but their celebrations were put on ice after they suffered a shock 4-2 defeat by an unpredictable Changamwe outfit in the first match. They however bounced back with a 4-1 thrashing of Taita which ensured they will be on top of the standings heading into the final leg of the group stage matches. 

Wayzata’s participation in this year’s tournament all but ended after they drew 1-1 against Taita before losing 2-0 to Mvita Youth in their second assignment, Alfasy Suleiman grabbing a first half brace. In the girls’ matches, Chizi Omar and Antonina Mwarabu both found the back of the net as Bright Stars beat Kwale Girls 2-0. Kwale lost their second match 1-0 against Mombasa Starlets through a 26th minute strike from Beth Waithera.

In Nairobi East, Makadara Juniors extended their unbeaten run in Nairobi East after edging out Indomitable Boys 2-1. Collins Amutala put Makadara in the lead 7 minutes into the game only for John Kimani to draw level three minutes later. Solomon Kimanzi netted the winner at the half hour mark to give Makadara the three points.

Young Rovers outclassed Ajentos Youth 3-0 to record their first maximum points of the season. Rovers’ topscorer Calvin Trevor netted his third and fourth goals of the campaign with Brian Ochieng netting the third. However, the lost 1-0 to Kariobangi Combined in their second fixture, Erastus Otieno’s strike at the half hour mark proving the difference. Kariobangi drew their next two games, a barren draw against Ajentos was followed by a 1-1 stalemate against Kamukunji.

Tia Hope Girls qualified for the provincials with a 2-1 win over Kayole Starlets. Lydia Awuor and Wanjiru Esther found the back of the ent for Tia. A Shantel Mwende hat-trick helped Golden Angles maul St. Anne Girls 3-0.

Collated Results

Lower Eastern
Kavengero Juniors 0 0 Maara United

Tharaka Youngsters 3 0 Embu Youth

Embu Starlets 0 0 Tharaka Starlets

Embu Youth 0 4 Maara United 4

Black Cats 2 0 Black Stars

Girls

Muminji Starlets 2 0 CI Starlets


Nyanza West
Asumbi All Stars 0 0 Awendo Youth

Aspire 1 0 Mbita Little Stars

Kuria Stars 4 0 Ugari FC

Mbita Little Stars 1 0 Ugari FC

Girls

Orwa Ojode Girls 3 0 St. Julianne


South Rift
Ujuzi 3 0 Kilgoris

Kapkatet Boys 1 1 Kericho Township

Bomet Youth 3 0 Maasai Boys

Bomet Youth 1 0 Kilgoris Youth

Ujuzi Stars 5 0 Maasai Boys


Girls

Nyasita Queens 0 0 Chebo
Konoin Starlets 1 0 Maasai Girls

And That's thesteifmastertake!!

Kisumu Lakers, Queens in Action as COPA Matches Resume

After taking a breather last weekend, the COPA Coca-Cola Under-15 youhth football tournament resumes this weekend with last year’s losing finalists, Kisumu Lakers, in action.

Lakers who lost to JMJ academy 3-1 in last year’s national finals will have revenge on their minds when they start their campaign in Nyanza North branch. Their first assignment will be to navigate past city rivals Kisumu United in their first tie. The two met in last year’s group stages with the match ending in a stalemate.

Lakers’ second match will be against Siaya United as Kisumu United tackle hosts Muhoroni Stars in Muhoroni. Muhoroni will then play Siaya United as Bondo Combined clash with debutants Gem Center Maliera.

Kisumu Queens had it easy qualifying for the national finals last year and will be favorites to win the girls’ group. They will face Bondo Girls as Onjiko Girls Talent take on Siaya Queens in the ladies’ fixtures.

Railways Club will host the Nairobi East branch matches. Last year’s provincial finalists Makadara Juniors could book their slot into their second provincial finals in a row. To achieve that feat, they will have to take all the three points in their clash against Kariobangi Combined.

The runners-up slot is still open with all the remaining five teams capable of joining Makadara to the advanced stages. Ajentos boys who lost 2-1 in their first match will take on Young Rovers in their first match before meeting Kamukunji Combined. The latter will take on Kariobangi Combined in the last assignment of the day.

Kayole Starlets and Tia Hope Girls are deadlocked at the top with only goal difference separating the two in the girls’ category. The two will clash in a winner takes all match as Golden Angels and St. Anne Girls meet in the other match.

Kisauni Youth won their opening two matches and could qualify for Coast provincial finals should they collect four of six points available in their clash against Bright Stars and Wayzata Boys. Other matches will pit Mvita Youth against Changamwe Youth who will also battle with Taveta Heroes. Bright Stars second and third matches of the day will be against Mvita Youth and Taveta Heroes. Kwale Queens will play two matches in the ladies’ category, first against Bright Starlets then against Taita Queens. The latter will tackle Mombasa County Starlets in the last assignment of the day. The matches will be played in Changamwe.

Kuinet Girls from North Rift and Kyanika from Southern Branch are the only teams who have booked their slot in the provincial finals set for July.


Collated Fixtures

Nyanza West (Migori Stadium)

Kuria Youth v St. Julian Lugari Boys

Aspire Youth v Mbita Little Stars

Awendo FC v Asumbi

Mbita Stars v St. Julian Lugari Boys

Aspire Youth v Kuria Youth


Girls

Moi Girls SIndo v St. Julian Lugari Girls

Kuria Ladies v Orwa Ojode Girls

South Rift Branch (Bomet)

Ujuzi Stars v Kilgoris Youth

Bomet Youth v Maasai Boys

Kapkatet Boys v Kericho Township

Ujuzi Stars v Maasai Boys

Bomet Youth v Kilgoris Youth



Girls

Nyasita Queens v Konoin Starlets

Chebo Girls v Maasai Girls


Lower Eastern (Kibugua Chuka)

Kavengero Juniors v Maara United Boys

Embu Youth v Tharaka Young Stars

Black Cats v Black Stars

Kavengero Juniors v Tharaka Young Stars

Embu Youth v Maara United Boys


Girls

CI Starlets v Muminji Starlets

Embu Starletsv v Tharaka Starlets

And That's thesteifmastertake!!

Joachim Loew Names Germany’s 30-Man Provisional Squad for World Cup

German coach, Joachim Loew, has excluded Fiorentina forward Mario Gomez from his 30-man squad that will be cut down to 23 players who will  compete in the 2014 FIFA World Cup set for Brazil next month. 

Loew overlooked Gomez who has been suffering from injuries all season as he continued with his philosophy of giving youngsters a chance while also dropping in a few unknown faces in a squad that has only two out-and-out strikers. Manuel Neuer look set to be Die Mannschat’s first choice keeper and the Bayern Munich man will face competition from Borussia Dortmund’s Roman Weidenfeller and Hannover’s Ron-Robert Zieler.

The 30-man squad will be reduced to 26 and finally to 23 players who will compete at the World Cup. The final list must be submitted by June 2nd, 10 days before the competition kicks off in Brazil. 

Among the new faces in the 53-year-old’s squad include Schalke 04 teenage sensations Leon Goretzka and Max Meyer. Sampodiria defender Shkodran Mustafi and Freiburg’s Mathias Ginter also received their maiden call-ups. The squad is dominated by players from Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund who have 7 and 6 players respectively. English Premier League contributed four players into the squad with Serie A and La Liga the only other club competitions contributing to the German squad with one each.

German Provisional Squad

Goalkeepers: Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Roman Weidenfeller (Borussia Dortmund), Ron-Robert Zieler (Hanover 96)

Defenders: Jerome Boateng (Bayern Munich), Philipp Lahm (Bayern Munich), Kevin Grosskreutz (Borussia Dortmund), Erik Durm (Borussia Dortmund), Mats Hummels (Borussia Dortmund), Marcel Schmelzer (Borussia Dortmund), Benedikt Hoewedes (Schalke 04), Marcell Jansen (Hamburg SV), Per Mertesacker (Arsenal), Shkodran Mustafi (Sampdoria) 

Midfielders: Julian Draxler (Schalke 04), Max Meyer (Schalke 04), Leon Goretzka (Schalke 04), Matthias Ginter (Freiburg), Mario Goetze (Bayern Munich), Thomas Mueller (Bayern Munich), Bastian Schweinsteiger (Bayern Munich), Toni Kroos (Bayern Munich), Andre Hahn (Augsburg), Sami Khedira (Real Madrdi), Mesut Ozil (Arsenal), Lukas Podolski (Arsenal), Marco Reus (Borussia Dortmund), Andre Schuerrle (Chelsea), Lars Bender (Bayer Leverkusen)

Forwards: Miroslav Klose (Lazio), Kevin Volland (Hoffenheim)

And That's thesteifmastertake!!