Black Cats, Tharaka Reign Supreme as Teams Book COPA Coca-Cola Provincial Finals Slots

Last year’s COPA Coca-Cola national finalists, Black Cats, proved why they remain the team to beat in Eastern region after they easily made their way to the provincial finals this weekend.

Cats held a three point lead heading into the critical weekend matches which had Tharaka Young Stars and Black Stars hot on their heels. However, the Sammy Githinji led side proved a class above the rest winning both their matches to finish top on maximum points. 

Two second half goals from Wilson Nduati and Alex Mukundi saw them claim an easy 2-0 win over Embu Youth before they swept aside Kavengero Juniors 3-0, Antony Macharia’s second half goal completing the rout which started with Dennis Murimi’s first half brace. The two wins saw Cats finish on maximum points and custodian Newto Njue keep a clean sheet in all the five matches.

Tharaka grabbed the other remaining slot after their nervy 2-1 win over Maara United Boys saw them relegate Black Stars to third place, Kevin Mugendi netting both goals. Stars painfully crashed out even after registering the biggest scoreline of the day, a 6-2 mauling of Kavengero in a highly entertaining end to end game. A 2-1 win over Embu Youth did little to save their course.

In the ladies’ matches, Tharaka Starlets scored a first half penalty to beat Muminji Starlets by a solitary goal to nil but both teams advanced to the provincial finals set for early next month.

Defending champions, JMJ Academy, also qualified for the provincials after sharing a barren draw with Kibera All Sports. Both teams advanced with Kibera leading the standings. Beijing Girls and Kibra League Queens qualified from the ladies' category after beating Vapour Girls and Kabagale Girls 2-0 and 4-0 respectively. 

Murhanda Youth and Bulimbo Boys qualified from Western branch alongside Ebusiloli Girls and Ibinda Girls. 

Collated Results

Western
Murhanda 0 0 Bulimbo
Shinyalu 4 0 Ebusiloli
Busia Olympic 2 0 Muungano
Gladrab 2 2 Busia Olympic
Gladrab 3 1 Ebulonga
Muungano 3 1 Ebulonga

Girls
Ibinda 2 0 Buluma


Central RiftGunners 0 0 Flamingo Youth
Kabarnet Youth 0 0 Koibatek Youth
Naivasha Youth 1 1 Boca Juniors
Flamingo Youth 3 1 Koibatek
Gunners 1 0 Kabarnet Youth



Girls
Site FC Naivash 2 0 Nakuru Starlets

Ravine Ladies 2 0 Eva Star Ladies

NorthwesternKitale Youth 2 0 Elimu
Saboti 1 0 Kitale Youth
Cherangani 3 1 Saboti Youth

Girls
Kitale Young Starlets 2 1 Kiminini
Cherangany Starlets 1 0 Kitale Youth

And That's thesteifmastertake!!

VISA Rewards Lucky Kenyan with a Trip to Brazil for World Cup

Global payments technology company, Visa, will sponsor Kenyan Polycarp Otieno to the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil that is due to kick off in less than a week.

Polycarp was announced the winner of a Visa-run nationwide competition beating thousands of Kenyans to the coveted all-expenses paid trip in a campaign which was aimed at driving awareness of the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

“Football has the unique power to inspire people everywhere and Visa couldn’t have been more excited to be a sponsor,” said Jabu Basopo, Area Country Manager, sub-Saharan Africa after presenting Polycarp with his winning ticket. “Africans are passionate about football and we will be rallying behind the five African nations to do well at the football gala,” he added.

Polycarp will join other winners drawn from sub-Saharan Africa who will also have an experience of a lifetime witnessing the greatest game on earth.

“I am really grateful for this opportunity. I am an ardent football fan and I feel really privileged to have gotten this opportunity to be in Brazil,” revealed the Mombasa-based IT Specialist.

Polycarp and other lucky winners from Africa will travel to the Samba nation in early July.

Visa’s relationship with the FIFA World Cup began six years ago and is one of the World football governing body’s only six global partners.

And That's thesteifmastertake!!

Kariobangi, Kisumu Lakers Storm to Provincial Finals, Kisauni Fall at Last Huddle

Kariobangi Sports and Makadara Juniors became the first boys’ teams to qualify for the Nairobi provincial finals. The two sides held an unassailable lead heading into the last round of Nairobi East branch matches and ensured their progress after with crucial results at the weekend.

Kariobangi cruised past Indomitable Lions 4-0 to all but end the Lion’s slim hopes of advancing while Makadara Juniors were even more ruthless skinning a hapless Ajentos Youth side 6-0. The wins for Makadara and Kariobangi set up a tense finale between them with the winner guaranteed to finish top of the standings. The class in both sides was in display but it was Kairobangi who grabbed the bragging rights after toiling to a 1-0 win. Indomitable Lions mauled Ajentos 5-1 to finish third while bottom two Young Rovers and Kamukunji shared a barren draw.

Golden Angels joined Tia Hope Girls into the provincials with a 6-1 thrashing of Kayole Starlets. Already qualified Tia Hope drew 1-1 with St. Anne Girls.

Mvita Youth and Changamwe took the boys’ honours in South Coast. Mvita needed to win both their matches against Brighstars and Taveta Heroes and so they did beating the former 2-0 through goals from Kasim Mohamed and Mohamed Ali. The latter was on the scoresheet again in Mvita’s 3-1 win over Taveta, Wilsam Junior and Abdalla Kidula with the other goals. Changamwe battered Taveta 4-1, Kevlin Senya netting a brace ethier side of December Mwasigwa and Said Nassir’s goals. Idd Ramadhani netted the consolation goal for Taveta.

Kisauni who were leading the standings until the last match day crashed out after losing to Wayzata 1-0, Salim Hamisi with the goal for Wayzata. Changamwe and Mvita will join North Coasts’ Malindi United and Tana Boys in the Coast provincial finals alongside qualifiers in the girls’ category, Moving Goal Post, Malindi Action Girls and Bright Starlets.

Last year’s runners up, Kisumu Lakers, topped the Nyanza North Branch league to book their slot in the provincials alongside Bondo Boys Combined who beat Kisumu United to second position. Lakers finished on 11 points, two ahead of Bondo with Kisumu United a further three points adrift. Kisumu Queens drew 0-0 with Onjiko Girls Talent but both sides qualified for the provincials.

Collated Results
North Rift
Kunji Santos 3 1 Kayodester

Uprising Stars 2 1 Langas

Patuso Youth 2 1 Kunji Santos

Uprising Stars 1 1 Kapcherop Youngstars


Girls

Simbolei 2 1 St. Elizabeth
Kuinet 4 0 St. Birech

And That's thesteifmastertake!!