Sports

Somalia elects new Football Federation President

Published

2 years ago

February 23, 2023

In a bid to revamp its football and get back into the international soccer community the Somali Football Federation (SFF) has elected a new President for the body.

At the SFF General Assembly held at the Elite Hotel in Mogadishu on Wednesday, Ali Abdi Mohamed was unanimously elected as the new President for a period of four years.

The Assembly which was presided over by the General Secretary, Yusuf Mohudin Ahmed, officially handed over to Mohamed after an announcement by the Electoral Committee.

Mohamed was declared the President unopposed by the Electoral Committee after 34 delegates all voted yes to the new executive committee that will serve for four years out of the 46 delegates that attended the Congress while 12 did not show up for the Assembly.

The elections had been stopped twice in November last year and on February 1 by the government due to the turbulence in the country.

But after several meetings led by the Prime Minister, the Somali Football Federation (SFF) was given a go ahead to hold the General Assembly.

Mohamed, a former Vice President of the Federation who has been serving as the acting President thanked voters for having trust in him to lead football in the country.

“I thank the football Congress who have chosen us to lead the Football Federation for the next four years.

“The football community always needs to be together if we are to take football to a better level in Somalia,” Mohamed said.

“There have been challenges in Somali football in the past. Football will bring people together. I call upon everyone to be together. We are ready to work with everyone for the betterment of football in Somalia,” he added.

He made it clear that it is now time to work and make sure football in Somalia keeps growing.

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Sports

Kenyan court jails killers of Ugandan Olympian Kiplagat for 35 years

Published

8 hours ago

November 5, 2024

Isaac Dachen

A Kenyan court sitting in Nairobi on Tuesday sentenced two men, Peter Ushuru Khalumi, 30, and David Ekai Lokere, 25, to 35 years in prison each for the murder of Ugandan Olympic athlete, Benjamin Kiplagat, who was stabbed to death last year.

Khalumi and Lokere were both found guilty by Justice Reuben Nyakundi of the Kenyan High Court in the northwestern city of Eldoret for stabbing the 34-year-old steeplechaser to death.

In his ruling, Nyakundi said overwhelming evidence from CCTV cameras showed the pair intentionally killed the athlete, adding that they had not shown any remorse for the pre-meditated crime and deserved a harsh sentence.

“Your actions were cruel to a defenceless person whose life you cut short contrary to God’s plan, where God intended man to live for a minimum of 70 years,” Nyakundi said while announcing the 35-year sentence for each defendant.

The judge however, rejected a plea from Kiplagat’s mother, Elizabeth Chemweno, and his two brothers who wanted Khalumi and Lokere to be given life sentences.

The two convicts were arrested a day after the athlete’s body was found in his car on the outskirts of Eldoret on New Year’s Eve with a deep wound to his neck in a murder that shocked the country and Africa in general.

Kiplagat who was born in the Eldoret region in Kenya, had an illustrious career spanning almost two decades, and had represented Uganda internationally in the 3,000m steeplechase, including at several Olympic Games and World Championships.

He won the silver medal in the 3,000m steeplechase at the 2008 World Junior Championships and bronze at the African Championships in 2012 and made the semi-finals of the event at the 2012 Olympics in London and also competed in Rio in 2016.

Sports

Chepkirui leads Kenya to podium sweep at New York City Marathon

Published

1 day ago

November 4, 2024

Isaac Dachen

Kenya had a clean sweep of the podium at the 2024 New York City Marathon on Sunday as Sheila Chepkirui clinched victory in the race, clocking 2:24:35, with the defending champion, Hellen Obiri, securing second place, while Vivian Cheruiyot finished third.

In just her fourth marathon, Chepkirui ran a ferocious last half mile to win the race ahead of Obiri, the 2024 Olympic bronze medalist.

Chepkirui, 33, came into the race with the fastest personal best in the field, 2:17:29, which she ran at the 2022 Valencia Marathon though this is her her first win at a world marathon major.

Speaking in the post-race press conference the race, she said:

“Winning means a lot to me. It means my training has been going well, and I’m really happy for the win.

“The last turn was really tough. I was still with Hellen. I told myself I had to push up at the finish line.

“In the last mile, it was really hard. I pushed myself. I’m so happy. I pushed myself to the limit.”

This Kenyan dominance underscores the nation’s strength in long-distance running, particularly in major marathon events.

The 2024 New York City Marathon featured a competitive field, but the Kenyan athletes’ performances stood out, reaffirming their status as leading figures in women’s marathon running.