LIFE

What is unique about the Kingdom of  God is that you r assured of victory,u av won! if you have no faith in the present,then u av no power in the present. if u av no faith in the life beyond this life, then your present life is going to be powerless. but if u believe in the future n r assured of victory then there should b a dance in your step n a smile on your face.

Kisumu Girls Run Riot

Hosts Kisumu Girls ran rampant last weekend as they outplayed and outscored their opponents in the COPA Coca-Cola Kisumu inter-branch matches played at Kisumu Polytechnic.

The home team taught Bondo a bitter football lesson in the first match with a deserved 13-0 thumping, a scoreline that totally reflected their dominance over their far-travelling opponents. Jacinta Atieno opened the floodgates for Kisumu with just three minutes on the clock and by the quarter hour mark, it was already 5-0 with Rose “Macheda” Atieno hitting a brace and Melvin Awuor and Jacinta adding the other two.

The three kept Bondo Girls’ on the back foot from the onset, terrorizing their defence with Rose making mazy runs down the left channel as Melvin impressed on the opposite flank. Jacinta scored two more to make it a quartet of goals for her and Rose finished her hat-trick with a delicate chip as the first half ended 8-0 in favour of the home team.

A brace each from Lavenda Munari and Anne Dola plus one more from the skillful Rose ended the rout. Kisumu found the going a little tougher in their second match against Nyando but they still ran out 2-0 winners. In other matches, Siaya were also on a scoring mood evidenced by their 5-0 mauling of Bondo but they needed Mercy Atieno’s solitary first half goal to edge out Nyando 1-0 in their second encounter.

In the boys’ matches, Nyando Boys were a class above the rest as they won both their matches with a four-goal margin. Eugene Ogaso scored a hat-trick and Geofrey Alwala added another as they beat Kisumu Day 4-2 in the first match. Idi Ramah scored both goals for Kisumu. In their second matches, Nyando mauled Bondo 4-1 as Kisumu Day bounced back from their defeat with a clinical 2-0 win over Siaya who made the long trip back to the county a disappointed lot after losing the second match 2-1 to Bondo.

In Migori inter-branch matches, local boys Migori finished top of the table after winning their first match 2-1 against Kuria boys before they were held 1-1 by Homa Bay Boys. The latter finished runners-up with another 1-1 stalemate against Kuria.

Kuria Girls surprised everyone but themselves as they hit both Migori and Homa Bay Girls with an identical 2-0 win.

Migori Girls outshone Homa Bay 2-0 to clinch the second position.

With the inter-sub-branch matches complete in most sub-branches across the country, the 16 players selected each sub-branch by COPA scouts are now bracing themselves for the inter-branch finals that will begin in earnest.

ENDS

Kabarnet High School Steals the Show in Baringo Copa Games

A David Wandera hat trick was enough for Kabarnet High School to thrash Aiyebo Secondary 3-0 at the COPA Coca-Cola Baringo sub-branch games that took place at Kabarnet Stadium on Sunday.

Wandera put his side ahead in the ninth minute after Aiyebo goalkeeper Vincent Kosgei failed to deal with a Kabarnet free-kick. Kabarnet dominated the rest of the half as they bossed ball possession and left their opponents at sixes and sevens with an incisive passing game.

Wandera doubled his side’s lead nine minutes into the second half with a brilliant header. Kabarnet winger Washington Kiplagat tore down the touchline and launched a cross into the Aiyebo penalty box for Wandera who rose over the opposing defense to make it 2-0.

The Kabarnet talisman made it 3-0 a minute later with a simple tap in after his side launched another counter attack through the heart of Aiyebo’s defence. Wandera was on the score sheet helping his side beat Sacho High School 1-0.

In other matches, Ainamoi High beat Kabarnet Hurth 1-0 with a strike from Alex Kimutai. Hurth lost their second match to Karbotonjo Secondary 3-1 with Nick Kemboi scoring a brace for the latter and Evans Kiplagat adding the extras. Lawrence Kipyego scored the consolation for Hurth.

In the girls’ match Kapropita Girls beat Kabarnet Hurth 1-0 with Vivian Kiloo scoring for Kapropita.

Other Results:

Meru Sub Branch:

Boys:

Kaaga High 0-2 Kirige

Nkubu 3-0 Githongo

Meru School 4-2 Kaaga

Meru School 1-0 Kirige

Nkubu 1-1 Meru School

Githongo 1-1 Meru School

Girls:

Gikumene Girls 2-0 Yururu

Teso Sub Branch

Boys:

Father Okidoi 0-0 Kolonya Boys

St. Pauls Amukura 1-1 Father Okidoi

Kolanya Boys 3-1 St. Pauls Amukura

Malaba Youth 0-0 St. Joseph Kocholia

St. Joseph Kocholia 1-3 Rwatama

Rwatama 2-0 Malaba Youth

Girls:

St. Mary’s Amukura 2-0 Bishop Sulumeti

Brookside Dairy Announces Kshs. 7 million Sponsorship for Term One School Games

Brookside Dairy today announced sponsorship of this year’s Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) Term One games which is expected to kick off Monday April 16^th

The Term One school games main sponsors over the last seven years announced a Kshs. 7million boost to the games which will be held in Maseno School.

Speaking during the announcement, Brookside Dairy Marketing Manager Peter Wasonga said the sponsorship will go a long way in not only ensuring the success of the games but also show their commitment in developing youth talent in the country. “Over the years, we have been increasing the stakes involved in the championships which has upped the competition,” he observed. 

“We have been striving to ensure the games grow in stature and this year is no exception,” he noted. “This is the final year of our four-year sponsorship and we are looking into renewing it next year where we will introduce new rewards for the students, the teachers and the coaches” he said.

Wasonga also revealed that Brookside dairy will extend scholarships for excelling students beyond basketball and include rugby and hockey. 

This year’s sponsorship is Kshs. 0.5 million higher than the Kshs. 6.5 million that the company extended to the games last year which were held in Kakamega. Wasonga also revealed that all the teams participating in the competition will be provided with refreshments throughout the weeklong event that ends on April 22^nd.

“To complement the Kshs. 7 million sponsorship, we have also extended an additional amount of Kshs. 2 million that has gone towards renovations and repairs at the Maseno School,” said Wasonga. “Besides constructing an new basketball court in Maseno, we are also providing additional equipment for other sporting disciplines such as hockey and rugby,” he noted.

Besides perennial participants like Maseno School, Shimba Hills, Buru Buru Girls and Western giants Tigoi, this year’s games have attracted new entrants among them Moi Nairobi Girls and Alliance Boys.

The two teams will both be making a comeback after a 5-year absence. The teams will represent Nairobi Province in girls’ hockey and Central Province in boys’ basketball respectively.

“We are satisfied with the progress we have made so far and we know this year’s games will be a huge success and cement our position as the company that supports youth development in sports,” Wasonga said.

Mr. Johnstone Ikiugu, the Deputy Director Assurance and Standards in the Ministry of Education said the money will be put into proper use and thanked Brookside Diary for investing in the youth.

Chelsea angered by FA Cup semi-final schedule

Roberto di Matteo today complained of a failure of common sense after it was announced Chelsea's FA Cup semi-final against Tottenham will kick off 6pm on Sunday April 15 - 48 hours later than the club had pleaded for.

The FA announced the kick-off times for the two semi-finals at Wembley, and there will be an early start for 70,000 Merseysiders with the Liverpool v Everton match kicking off at 12.30pm on the Saturday.
Interim Chelsea manager Di Matteo had wanted their semi-final to be on the Friday night to give Chelsea more time to recover ahead of a possible Champions League semi-final first leg against Barcelona or AC Milan on Wednesday, April 18.
Those hopes have been dashed however and with ITV pushing to show the match at prime time on Sunday rather than lunchtime, the FA have decided it will start at 6pm.
That kick-off time will also avoid a clash with Manchester United's Premier League match against Aston Villa which is being screened live on Sky at 4pm.
Di Matteo said today: "We've tried to communicate with the FA and co-operate with the FA.
"It's probably disappointing, I'd say that common sense hasn't prevailed.
"We've tried to cooperate with the authorities and given them our point of view. It seems that it's not been really taken into consideration.
"I'd be happy with a Friday night kick-off, yes. That's what I'd be happy with."
The all-London semi-final could not be on the Saturday either because Liverpool had asked not to play on the Sunday as it coincides with the 23rd anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster.
FA sources say the timing of the Liverpool v Everton match was partly to do with engineering works on the railways later that day - if it had kicked off any later fans would have been unable to return to Merseyside by rail.

UEFA hits Wenger with three-game ban Three-game ban for Wenger

Arsene Wenger has been banned for three European games and fined 40,000 euros (£33,000) by UEFA as a result of comments he made following the club's Champions League exit to AC MILAN

Wenger was unhappy with the performance of Damir Skomina and accused the Slovenian official of awarding too many free kicks to Milan, who lost 3-0 at Emirates Stadium in the second leg of the last-16 tie on March 6 but progressed 4-3 on aggregate.
"I was not happy with the referee because I felt he gave many free kicks in the middle of the park," Wenger said after the match.
"Every time (a Milan player) went down a free kick was given for them, and they sensed that very quickly and they used it very well."
Wenger is also alleged to have abused Skomina in the tunnel after his side were eliminated from Europe and will now be forced to watch from the stands for Arsenal's first three European fixtures next season, should they play that many.
A statement from the governing body read: "Arsenal FC manager Arsene Wenger has been suspended from carrying out his function for three UEFA competition matches by the UEFA Control and Disciplinary Body.
"Wenger has also been fined 40,000 euros. He was facing a charge of improper conduct in relation to the UEFA Champions League round of 16 second leg against AC Milan in London on 6 March.
"The suspension applies to the next three UEFA club competition matches for which Wenger will be eligible. An appeal may be lodged against the verdict within three days of the dispatch of the reasoned decision."
Speaking just before the news of the sanction was made official as he prepared for the Premier League trip to QPR, Wenger confirmed his intention to appeal if punished.
He said: "If I am [suspended] then it is not justified and I will appeal straight away. I believe that they have transformed UEFA competition referees to be untouchable icons, where you cannot even have a word.
"The only thing they understand after the game is the report. I believe that when you have 25 years consecutively in Europe you can still ask the referee that you can have some discussion with him. It is very difficult to understand."
Wenger was also banned for one match following his outburst at referee Massimo Busacca in the wake of Arsenal's Champions League exit to Barcelona last season.
He was then hit with a further two-game ban for contravening the initial suspension during the first leg of the club's Champions League qualifier against Udinese at Emirates Stadium at the start of this season

Truth of the matter

People are created to be loved, things are made to be used. But now, things are being loved and people are being used.

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Barcelona Draws AC Milan in Champions League Quarterfinals

Champions League holders Barcelona will play Italian side AC Milan in the quarterfinals of the competition. The two teams already met in the group stages with Barca coming out tops after winning the second leg 3-2 having drawn 2-2 at the San Siro in the first leg encounter.

Nine-time winners Real Madrid will have a fairly easy game against surprise Cypriot side APOEL Nicosia. Madrid will play away first before welcoming the cat among the pigeons, APOEL, to Santiago Bernabeu for the second leg.

The only English side remaining in any European club football competition this year, Chelsea, will first travel to Portugal for an encounter with two-time winners Benfica while Bayern Munich will hope to get a good result at Marseille in the first leg before welcoming the French outfit to Allianz Arena in the second leg. It is the first time Marseille will be competing at the quarterfinals stage since 1991.

Besides the AC Milan versus Barca game, none of the other sides drawn against each other have ever met. The quarterfinals first-leg matches will be played on March 27-28, and return matches are on April 3-4.

The semifinals draw avoided the potential meeting of Barcelona and Real Madrid, meaning that the final could be an El Classico encounter.

Marseille or Bayern will play debutants APOEL or Madrid while Benfica or Chelsea will host Milan or Barcelona, meaning that the only way Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid can meet Barcelona or face his former club Chelsea is at the May 19 finals at Bayern Munich’s Allianz Arena.

Should holders Barcelona win the competition this year, they will become the first team in UEFA Champions League era to win the trophy back-to-back. 

Europa League Quarterfinals Draw 

Meanwhile the pick of the quarterfinals draw will see Athletic Bilbao lock horns with German side Schalke 04. Bilbao qualified for the last 8 with a convincing 5-3 aggregate win over Premier League side Manchester United in the last 16 while Schalke overturned a 1-0 loss to Twente in the first leg to beat the Dutch side 4-1 and 4-2 aggregate.

Other matches will see Valencia first travel to the Netherlands to AZ Alkmaar while Manchester City's conquerers Sporting Lisbon will welcome Ukraine side Metalist Kharkiv for the first leg.

Athletico Madrid, who had the biggest aggregate win in the Round of 16 with a 6-1 demolition of Besiktas will face off with German side Hannover 96.

The first legs of the quarterfinal matches will be played on 29 March, and the second legs will be played on 5 April 2012.