Giants to Clash in 2015 Africa Cup of Nations after Draw is Released

The stage is set for the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations showdown, the 30^th edition in the competition’s history, after the draw was conducted in Malabo, the capital of host country Equatorial Guinea.

The prolonged ceremony in Malabo served up some potentially blockbuster fixtures especially in Group C which has three former winners and a finalist. South Africa who topped Group A and locked defending champions Nigeria will headline the group as they hunt for their first title since the 1996 triumph. Four-time winners Ghana were seeded first in the group and they will be joined by 1990 winners Algeria as well as the star-studded Teranga Lions of Senegal who are still searching for their maiden title.

Group D looks equally tricky with Cote d’Ivoire set to battle it out with a rejuvenated Cameroon side as well as Mali who have reached the semis on the last two occasions. Guinea, beaten by Morroco in the 1976 final are the group’s dark horses.

Hosts Equatorial Guinea headline Group A and will play the opening match against Congo in Bata. Last year’s beaten finalists Burkina Faso are also in the group alongside Gabon.

Zambia who won the 2012 edition are drawn in Group B alongside 2004 winners Tunisia, two-time champions DR Congo and Cape Verde. Honoum Janza’s Zambia already clashed with the Blue Sharks of Cape Verde during the qualifiers with the Chipolopolo losing the first leg 2-1 before exacting revenge on Rui Aguas’ men with a 1-0 home win, Ronald Kampamba with the solitary goal.

The 2015 edition will start on 17^th January with the finals set for 8^th February. All the Group A matches will be held Bata, Group B in Ebebiyin while Group C and D matches will take place in Mongomo and Malabo respectively. Nigeria are the defending champions but they failed to qualify after finishing third in Group A, four points adrift of South Africa who topped the group.

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No Sserunkuma, No Problem: Gor Mahia's Ready Replacement for Mzee

Danny Sserunkuma is officially a Simba player. The pint-sized Uganda international has signed a two-year contract with the 18-time Tanzanian Premier League champions ending his hugely rewarding stint with Gor Mahia.

His departure to the Ligi Kuu Bara will potentially leave a big hole in the Gor Mahia set up, something that the club’s hierarchy needs to address before they start their continental campaign in mid January.

Be it a transfer driven by the player’s quest to add more bucks on top of what Gor Mahia has been offering (the more likely reason) or a plain desire to test his resolve in a different league, Sserunkuma’s departure might harm the club’s ambitions.

And here is why.

Since joining the record champions midway into the 2012 season, the former Nairobi City Stars forward has been a vital cog in the club’s year on year title charge. In his first full season with Gor, the Ugandan found the back of the net on 17 occasions, just one short of the 18 Sofapaka’s John Baraza netted to claim the golden boot. His goals pushed Gor to within a whisker of claiming their first League title since 1995 only to be beaten to it on the final day by Tusker FC. However, he took home the Premier League Player of the Year gong.

His goals dried up a bit last year but his contribution was still immense in Gor’s title winning season. He scaled up to top the goalscoring chats this season, his 16 goals helping K’Ogallo become the first team in the last decade to defend the KPL crown.

You may be wondering why the article thus far has concentrated on his goalscoring exploits but that’s what he is paid to do. Since signing for the 1987 CAF Cup Winners Cup champions, Sserunkuma has finished as their topscorer in the last three seasons with 41 goals in total. His nearest challenger during that period is Rama Salim with 17 goals, almost two and half times less.

With such statistics, the Gor Mahia topbrass should be panicking, and if they are not, they must be feeling they have someone within the club who could fill up his boots, or that they can acquire the services of someone who  could do even a better job.

A few names have been thrown in the air but there has been no official communication from the Chris Omondis of the K’Ogalo world. That notwithstanding, the Green Army should look no further than a player within their rank.

George Blackberry Odhiambo has always been a darling of the Gor faithful and his performances towards the tail end of this season showed just why. Playing alongside the Ugandan, Blackberry was a joy to watch sometimes with his dribbling and willingness to take on defenders setting him apart as from many of his peers. Before leaving Gor in 2010 for Danish Superliga side Randers, the Thur Gem born player had already cemented his place in the Gor Mahia folklore and it wasn't a surprise that he re-signed for his boyhood club in January.

Odhiambo’s one-year contract expires at the end of this year and Gor could do far worse than adding more years to it because in the absence of Sserunkuma, the 22-year-old has the ability to make ‘Mzee’s’ absence feel insignificant. His biggest asset is versatility. He is comfortable on both the left and right channels, could play in the hole behind the striker but also do the job as the main man upfront.

So while the Yin may have already jumped ship for more mullah, the Yang is still very much a piece of the K'Ogalo cake and it might not be rocket science finding his support cast.

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Shabana Launches New Kit as their Preparation for Topflight Football Continues

Shabana FC Chairman Jared Niverton, centre, pose with models during the Club branding ahead of next KPL season at Hotel SixEighty Nairobi on Monday, December 1st, 2015.

As the embers of discussion on whether or not they deserved to be promoted to topflight Kenyan football dies its natural death, Shabana FC are already rolling their sleeves in preparation for the coming season.

The Kisii-based team today Monday launched their official kits ahead of their return to the Kenya Premier League after an 8-year absence. Going for a retail price of Kshs. 1500, the home kit (dominantly white) and away kit (dominantly red) will be available in leading stores countrywide.

The designers of the kit went the extra mile of exemplifying the Abagussi culture in the kit by adding a banana touch to the multi-coloured club logo. The club’s rallying cry, ‘Tore Bobe’ was also made apparent in the new kit.

The club’s chairman, Jared Niverton rallied the fans to continue supporting the club by purchasing the official kits in a bid to improving the club’s warchest ahead of the new season.

Niverton further confirmed the club is doing its final touches in trying to land key players for the coming season. “Kisii and Nyamira counties have come on board with sponsorships. This is indeed a big thing for our club as we look forward to facing some of the top clubs in the local league,” he said.

Meanwhile the club has made defender Andrew Ongwae among its first major acquisitions. Ongwae, a former Gor Mahia and Congo United defender but who was hitherto plying his trade with relegated Nairobi City Stars joins Shabana on a two-year contract.

Shabana were promoted to the topflight after finishing at the zenith of the National Super League Zone B alongside Poster Rangers who topped Zone A division.

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