Sports
Kenya Successfully Defend Rugby Africa U20 Barthes Trophy In Nairobi
Kenya U20 Vice-Captain Matoka Matoka put on a man-of-the-match performance as Kenya beat Madagascar 21-20 in the final match of the U20 Barthes Trophy played at the Nyayo National Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
Both teams went into the match buoyed by huge wins over third-placed Senegal and everyone had their work cut out if they were to be crowned champions.
Tries from Maxwell Atera, Matoka Matoka and Captain John Baraka complimented by two penalties from Matoka Matoka were enough, in the end, to cancel out Madagascar’s three tries, one conversion and one penalty.
Kenya had already qualified for the 2022 World Junior Trophy and now they will feel they are more than prepared for a tougher test.
Speaking after the game, an elated John Baraka could not hide his joy as he attributed the team’s success to teamwork. “The game was a bit tense in the first half, the scores were tight, but we managed to widen the gap in the second half,” says Baraka.
“We gave in to pressure in the last minutes but in the end our teamwork and defence won it for us,” adds Baraka.
Former Kenya international scrum half Peter Mutai who is the team manager is glad they managed to win despite the late flurry by the Junior Makis. “We went off the script, but we were lucky we started the game on a high, much better than our last game against Senegal. We succumbed to pressure in the final minutes, it is a final anyway, but the good thing is that we went ahead early,” says Mutai.
“Congratulations to Madagascar, we respect a good challenge. Those guys play like sevens using their width so much. At the end of the day a win is a win so congratulations to the boys,” concludes Mutai.
Kenya has now successfully defended the title they last won in 2019 at the KCB Sports Club when they beat Namibia 21-18 in the final.
Dennis Ombachi, popular rugby player and chef has set tongues wagging after sharing a snippet of his toddler son showcasing that he can float on water and swim to safety.
Ombachi took to his Instagram page to share a video throwing the little boy into the water, leaving many in shock.
In the short video, the rugby player lifted his son up, kissed him, then he tossed him into a swimming pool by the leg.
“Four weeks since we started water safety classes and my son graduated today, officially water safe!” Ombachi gushed on Twitter about his son’s abilities.
Once in the water, the baby boy quickly gets himself to a floating position and kicks his feet moving forward steadily. It appears that he can get himself out of a pool and even keep his head up to breathe after having been taught the life skill early on.
Following the child’s accomplishment, Ombachi said that he is a “proud father”
“Proud of you my naughty boy, you’re finally Water Safe, less worries for us when you are out of our sight having successfully completed your water safety class. Happy graduation day,” he wrote on Instagram.
Since his early Monday morning post, the self-taught chef has been trending on Twitter, with over 5000 tweets being made about him, with netizens sharing mixed reactions.
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Athletics Kenya (AK) is impressed with the progress made by inferior athletes at the ongoing vacation camp.
The camps are aimed at preparing athletes for the World Under-20 tournament in Cali, Colombia.
AK President Jack Tuwei who was speaking in Kapsumbeiywo All4Running youth camp which is headed by former world
800m champion Janeth Jepkosgei, said he was impressed by the turnout of the youth in colorful camps.
“We have 26 camps across the country and we are happy because they are training well thanks to the government who have helped in funding them. As a federation we shall do our part and make sure we get some of the best from these camps,” Tuwei said.
Kenya will be seeking to retain the title for the younger team for the third time in a row in the tournament set for August after winning in Tampere, Finland in 2018 and again last time in Nairobi.
AK youth head trainer Robert Ngiserei said the early medication will enable the country to present a strong platoon across the all events.
“At the Youth Sub Committee, we have embraced this program as it will help us improve more on the development of talent which will ensure our country remains as an athletics powerhouse,” Ngiserei said.
Funding Partnerships and Grants Manager at Northern Rangelands Trust
Legal Counsel at Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund (AECF)
