SPORTS DIGEST

Gitonga rules Limuru as eyes turn to the Muthaiga leg of the Safaricom Golf Tour.

The second leg of the Safaricom Golf Tour took place this past weekend at the scenic Limuru Country Club in Kiambu County. The tournament featured the Corporate tournament on Saturday, the Juniors tournament and golf clinics for young kids on Sunday.

Leo (Jnr) Gitonga, 15, a student at Crawford International school overcame other 240 golfers to produce an outstanding score of 45 points and claim the overall title. Gitonga, playing off handicap 24 only needed 5 pars to claim victory and earn a place for the grand finale to be held at the Vipingo Ridge Golf Club, Kilifi County on the 6th of August 2022.James Kihiu and James Kabiru were second and third respectively.

The Junior tournament had a total entry of 125 kids from different parts of the country and featured different categories in respect to their age brackets. Junior Golf Foundation President Larry Ngala alluded the success of the tournament to the partnerships with Safaricom and NCBA while urging parents to allow and support their kid’s Golf ambitions. He further thanked the U.S Kids Golf Foundations for the support accorded to the junior tournament.

The junior golf clinics led by Pro-golfer Njuguna Ngugi and a host of other coaches sought to enlighten the kids on the critical techniques used and other basic regulations in Golf. The clinic registered an overwhelming number of kids, including students from the Nairobi Primary school and the Limuru Children’s Centre.

According to Safaricom CEO Peter Ndegwa who participated in the corporate tournament on Saturday, the company will be conducting an outreach programme open to the public in different areas across the legs to ensure that the youth and young kids are introduced to the sport as a way of demystifying the notion that Golf is an elites game.

The Safaricom Golf Tour which kicked off at the Nanyuki Sports Club in Laikipia County, will be headed to the Muthaiga and Nyanza golf Clubs on the 12th and 26th of March. The next legs thereafter will see the series head to the Nyali and Eldoret golf clubs on the 9th and 23rd of April 2022 respectively.

Guardiola feels the heat as United, Arsenal battle for fourth.

To many, at least a couple of weeks ago, Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City were clearly on their way to defending the premier league title but not anymore. Klopp’s Liverpool who’ve won their games in hand including a 6-0 thumping win over Leeds United, with City dropping points to struggling Tottenham Hotspurs and an in form Southampton in recent weeks only means the gap at the top has been reduced to just three points from the previous twelve.

The icing on the cake will be a mouth watering clash on the 10th of April as both sides take on each other at Anfiled in what could be the title decider if both teams continue with their fine run of form until then.

Both sides still are battling it out in the FA Cup and the Champions League, but certainly they boast of a sizeable squad full of quality players. However, Liverpool who’ve been rejuvenated by the return of Mo Salah and Sadio Mane from AFCON could have more firepower at their disposal with the $37M acquisition of Colombian attacker Luis Diaz from FC Porto.

As eyes focus on who will be crowned champion come May, another fierce contest is surely on the cards in the race for champions league football come next season. Manchester United and Arsenal are among the favorites for the fourth spot with Westham, Wolves and Spurs also angling for the the same position. The Red Devils currently sit fourth with 46 points with both Arsenal and Wolves closely behind them with three and two games in hand respectively. However, they play against each other on Thursday night at the Emirates.

Manchester United and Westham could possibly face hard times with both teams still battling for glory in Europe’s biggest competitions. Conte’s Spurs have recently looked out of touch in the race for top four with a loss to minnows Burnley despite causing an upset over Manchester City at the Etihad a week ago.

This could be the most entertaining race for top four yet with all the four teams battling for the fourth spot are yet to play against each other in the second leg of the premier league. Wolves, however, are the most in form team with only one loss this year and United unbeaten in seven games, but face a tough run of fixtures in coming weeks including Spurs, City and Liverpool. The gunners who have been solid defensively in recent weeks could occupy the fourth spot if they manage to secure at least five points from their games in hand against Chelsea, Wolves and Tottenham.

At the end of it all, Manchester United can avoid the fight for top four only if they manage to do the almost impossible and win the UEFA Champions League, which Cleary is a long shot with their woes this season.

However, as managers love to say, it’s a game after the other but only the team that can be solid defensively and prolific in front of goal will be in the company of Europe’s elite in the UEFA Champions League next season.

And then they were two,it’s Salah Vs Mane at the 2021 AFCON finals.

The host nation curse struck yet again as hosts Cameroon were bundled out 3-1 on penalties in the Semi finals by seven time champions Egypt, in a game marred by controversy at the Olembe Stadium.

Cameroon who were not clinical in front of goal paid the price in the hands of a buoyed Egyptian side who had won the previous knock out round matches on penalties and in extra time over Ivory Coast and Morocco respectively, having to take only three penalties against the hosts to advance to the finals.

However, the stage is set for a clash of titans pitting the Pharaos of Egypt against the lions of Teranga who have made it to back to back AFCON finals after losing to Algeria at the 2019 finals in Egypt.The highlight of the finals will be a tantalizing affair between Liverpool super stars Sadio Mane and Mo Salah.

Both sides were utterly unconvincing in the early stages of the tournament picked the pace in the knockout stages with Senegal going on a goal scoring spree with eight goals in the knock out stages and only conceding two while Egypt having to go to extra time in all the games and eventually penalty shoot outs in two of the matches, only scoring two goals and conceding one through the knock out faces.

Aliou Cissé’s side will be hunting for their maiden title on Sunday at the expense of record seven time champions Egypt, who will be without their portuguese tactician Carlos Queiroz after he was sent off against Cameroon with their main shot stopper Mohamed Elshanawy injured and their penalty shoot outs hero Mohamed Abou Gabal together with their experienced Centre Back Ahmed Hegazi all doubts for the final.

Even as Egypt await response from the Confederation of African Football having requested the finals to be pushed to Monday as Senegal have had a day more of training, questions are being raised about the behaviour of their technical bench on the touchline having received at least six yellow cards in the tournament.

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp came under fire last year for disregarding the African Cup Of Nation, terming it a “little tournament” and now Liverpool’s African superstars Mo Salah and Sadio Mane meet in what promises to be a mouth-watering clash, ajust who will lift the AFCON 2021 title?.

Parity in Saudi, Bring on Abu Dhabi.

Lewis Hamilton yet again outwitted Max Verstappen in Saudi Arabia to walk away with maximum points and level things up at the championship standings as eyes turn to the final race at the Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi.In a race full of crashes and drama, Mercedes pair Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas were separated in the podium by Red Bull’s Max Verstappen.

The Saudi Arabian grand prix was surrounded by controversy on an evening that F1 race director Michael Masi was on the spot for making major calls on red flags, handing positions back, bartering with Red Bull over grid slots with the race red flagged thrice and virtual safety cars deployed more than five times in the 50 laps in Jeddah.

Max Verstappen collided with his arch rival Lewis Hamilton in lap 37/50 that saw Hamilton’s rear wing damaged and the Red Bull driver handed a five seconds penalty for the incident on track and another ten seconds penalty for dangerous driving when the duo were summoned by the stewards after the race.

The collision,however, did not deter the 7-time world champion from securing top spot and an additional point for the fastest lap to ensure both drivers are level on points and set up a mouth watering season finale in Abu Dhabi.

Video courtesy:Formula 1

This will be the first season since 1974 that the Formula 1 title battle will go to the last race with two drivers joint top, only that Max Verstappen is ahead of Hamilton on head to head basis having won 9 races this season compared to Hamilton’s 8.

As the dust settles in Saudi, Mercedes and Red Bull Racing retreat as Toto Wolf and Christian Horner prepare their teams for the final charge of the season in the title deciding race in Abu Dhabi.

Max Verstappen will be pumped up for Abu Dhabi having won the race in 2020 and giving Red Bull Racing their first win at Yas Marina in 7 years.However, Lewis Hamilton who is on a fine run of form with three wins in a row having won in Brazil, Qatar and Saudi Arabia will seek to continue with the same momentum in his quest for a record 8th world title.

It has been a topsy turvy but surely an entertaining F1 season and as the curtains fall in Abu Dhabi, just who will reign supreme?

Hamilton, Verstappen chase glory in the Middle east

Lewis Hamilton will attempt yet again to cut Max Verstappen’s lead at the summit of the F1 championship in Qatar this weekend after a much needed comeback win at the Sao Paulo grand prix in Brazil last Sunday.Despite starting 10th after the FIA found the DRS slot gap on his W12 exceeded the maximum gap of 85mm needed to comply with the technical regulations, Hamilton proved yet again why he is arguably the greatest driver of all time by beating his arch rival this season Max Verstappen to glory in Brazil to slash the Red Bull’s driver lead on the standings.

The Losail Circuit will host the inaugural edition of the Qatar grand prix,which was arrived at in October 2021 after the cancellation of the Australian grand prix due to COVID-19 restrictions in the country.

78 points are up for grabs as the reigning champion Lewis Hamilton trails Red Bull’s Max Verstappen buy 14 points,leaving him with no option but to at least clinch top spot in all the three remaining races in the middle east in one of the most entertaining F1 championships in recent years.The Qatar grand prix slated for the 21st of November sets the pace for the Saudi Arabia grand Prix on the 5th of December and the Abu Dhabi grand prix on the 12th of December which will mark the end of the F1 2021 calendar.

Having won last years championship with three races to spare, Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton who has seven world titles to his name alongside Michael Schumacher and is hunting for a fifth consecutive F1 championship will have to be on top of his game in the remaining races to defend his title as Dutchman Max Verstappen seeks to bring the Briton’s dominance by winning his maiden F1 championship.

There could be a twist in the standings as Mercedes have requested for a review of lap 48 incident, which invloved Lewis and Max with the FIA having earlier ruled that No investigations was needed.However the German based team now claim there is new evidence that the stewards missed and could help incriminate the Red Bull driver.

Will Max Verstappen protect his lead or will Hamilton come out on top yet again and cement his place in F1 history? Just who will reign supreme in 2021?.

Chelsea, Arsenal and United flourish as City, Liverpool drop points.

It was yet another blockbuster round of fixtures in the Premier League with European champions Chelsea cementing their position at the summit with a 3-0 away win over Newcastle as fellow title hopefuls Liverpool and Manchester City dropped crucial points. It took a Reece James second half brace and a penalty converted by Jorginho,who is the only player in the league history to have 10 consecutive goals from the spot to seal the three points for the London based outfit.

Reece James(left) celebrates with Ross Barkely after scoring against Newcastle.(Photo Courtesy)

Defending champions Manchester City were outclassed 2-0 by Crystal Palace with goals from their talisman Wilfred Zaha and Conor Gallagher.City who had their spanish Centre back Aymeric Laporte sent off are now five points adrift of league leaders Chelsea.Elsewhere Brighton Hove and Albion came from two goals down with goals from Enock Mwepu and Leandro Trossard to earn a point at Anfield against Liverpool,which ensured the Seagulls are now on a three game unbeaten run against Liverpool who are now sitting second on the premier league table.

Brighton Manager Graham Potter celebrates after Leandro Trossard scored the equalizer at Anfield.(Photo Courtesy)

Arsenal’s ressurgence continued with a 2-0 win over Leicester City at the King Power stadium with goals from Emile Smith-Rowe and Gabriel Maghalaes.The win left the gunners 6th on the log, 8 points off the top and are now unbeaten in 7 premier league games with five wins and two draws.

On the other hand Manchester United bounced back to winning ways with a 3-0 win over troubled Tottenham Hotspurs.Cristiano Ronaldo opened the scoring with a stunning volley before setting up Edinson Cavani for the second.Substitute Marcus Rashford sealed the win for united after slotting the ball past an Helpless Hugo Lloris in the dying minutes of the game.The Red devils now sot 5th and they face their city rivals Manchester City next weekend

Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates after scoring against Tottenham.(Photo Courtesy)

All eyes now turn to the UEFA Champions League this week as Manchester United travel to Italy to play Atalanta, Liverpool host Atletico Madrid, Manchester City will be at home against Club Brugge KV as defending champions Chelsea play Malmo.

Is time running out for Solskjaer at Man united?

Manchester United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is walking on a tightrope with his side having secured just one point out of a possible nine in the last three premier league games, with just two wins from last seven games in all competitions.The Norwegian is now under immense pressure as united are set to face free scoring Atalanta, Liverpool, Tottenham, Atalanta and Manchester City in the next five fixtures.

It has been a tough spell for the Manchester outfit with the manager coming under fire after the latest 4-2 demolition by Leicester City, which left the Red devils who have the second most expensive squad with a little over £1B languishing in sixth place,five points adrift of league leaders Chelsea who have already played City, Liverpool, Arsenal and Tottenham with united yet to play any of the traditional big six.

Solskjaer who has been critisized for his decision to rush a seemingly unfit Harry Maguire into the side that lost to Leicester will be seeking to solve his defensive woes,with the Reds major problem being giving away easy goals having conceded 14 goals in nine games this season with only one clean sheet in the same period.This comes at a time when their newly acquired french centre back Raphael Varane is set to miss in action for a few weeks with a groin problem.

The 20-time premier league champions lack identity in their playing approach, a problem which has made it difficult for them to dominate games this season.All that in addition to Solskjaer not being able to find a suitable midfield combination that can make the team click and produce results with further questions from the fan base for not deploying Dutch playmaker Donny Van De Beek who has been given little or no game time in recent weeks.

United have been struggling in front of goal despite having excellent attacking firepower including their new signings Cristiano Ronaldo and Jadon Sancho, who is yet to register a goal contribution so far this season with the manager heavily relying on talented youngster Mason Greenwood and their Portuguese magnifico Bruno Fernandes, as Cristiano Ronaldo is facing a dry spell infront of goal.

However the side will be rejuvenated by the arrival of Marcus Rashford who scored on his comeback from injury this weekend against Leicester City and will be looking to continue with his fine form in front of goal from last season.Edinson Cavani could provide further boost in solving Solskjaer’s side struggles in front of goal having missed the weekend fixture due to international commitments.

Manchester United’s board are reportedly having faith in their manager as things stand but the question remains, will Solskjaer turn things around or is he living on borrowed time?

NAOMI OSAKA THRIVES IN MELBOURNE

Japanese star Naomi Osaka has bagged her fourth Grand slam title after seeing off American Jennifer Brady 6-4 6-3 in the finals of the Australian Open, just months after winning the 2020 US open.

Osaka rose to fame after beating Serena Williams in the 2018 US open finals to win her maiden grand slam title, a year later she saw off petra Kvitova in the finals of the Australian Open to win back to back grand slam titles.

She now joins a list of six other active elite players to have won four major titles including the William sisters,Nadal, Djokovic, Federer and Kim Clijsters.

On course to winning the Australian Open,Osaka had to go past two-time spanish champion Garbine Muguruza and Serena williams who has 23 grand slam titles to her name.

Naomi Osaka will now be seeded second just behind Australian Ashley Barty as eyes turn to the men’s singles final pitting world No.1 Novak Djokovic against Russian Daniil Medvedev.

UNITED TITLE CHARGE SUFFERS ANOTHER SETBACK

Manchester united title hopes was dealt a major blow after Carlo Ancelotti’s men came from down twice to secure a 3-3 draw, at Old trafford on Saturday night.

United were in cruise control after an Edindson Cavani header and a spectacular strike from starman Bruno fernandes gave them a 2-0 lead at half time. However, they conceded twice in three second half minutes to make it 2-2.

Scott McTominay’s flicked header looked to have given united all the three points, before Calvert-Lewin slotted the ball home with the last kick of the game to make it 3-3.

The red devils missed the chance to go joint-top with city rivals,on a day they paid tribute to the victims of the Munich Air Disaster on the 63rd anniversary of the tragedy.

United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who was hoping for a win on his 100th game in charge said that they should not be considered title contenders at the moment admitting that united have to do better defensively.

Manchester United host West Ham next in the FA cup on Tuesday before travelling to the Hawthorns next weekend.

Deflated liverpool face a red hot city

Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool who have been struggling for the past few weeks face a resurgent City side who are unbeaten in 13 games across all competitions including six straight clean sheets in the premier league and four straight wins on the road.

With the champions suddenly looking beatable at their crumbling fortress having lost two straight top-flight games at Anfield for the fist time since September 2012 after a run of 68 games unbeaten at home host Pep Guardiola’s men who are currently sitting at the summit of the premier league, three points ahead of city rivals United with a game in hand.

Both teams will be missing key players in Kevin De Bryune and Virgil Van Dijk in a mouth watering contest that could add yet another twist in the premier league title race with Jurgen Klopp claiming that city had a two week covid break while the reds didn’t, claims that Guardiola has rubbished saying they even played with 14 players in their 3-1 win against Chelsea at Stamford bridge.

A win for the reds would be an advantage to Manchester United as they try to cut city’s lead on the table while a City win would further dent Liverpool’s hope on retaining the title and would tighten their lead at the top of the table.

Question is, who will have the last laugh, Klopp or Pep..??