Top Five Stories From Sunday You Must Read Today

18th February 2019

Gor beat Sofapaka, Wanga relishes return to Harambee Stars set up as AFCON 2019 preliminary squad is named

Portu (R) of Girona celebrates with his teammates Alex Granell (L) and Douglas Luiz (C) after scoring a goal during La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Girona at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium on Madrid, Spain on February 17, 2019. PHOTO/AFP
Portu (R) of Girona celebrates with his teammates Alex Granell (L) and Douglas Luiz (C) after scoring a goal during La Liga soccer match between Real Madrid and Girona at Santiago Bernabeu Stadium on Madrid, Spain on February 17, 2019. PHOTO/AFP
SUMMARY
  • Bitter rivals AFC Leopards SC remained embedded in the relegation zone after going down 0-1 to Ulinzi Stars FC at the Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos as Sony Sugar FC also brought the unbeaten run of KCB FC to an end with a 1-0 victory at the same venue
  • Kakamega Homeboyz FC interim coach and striker, Allan Wanga, earned a recall to national team Harambee Stars that will start preparing for the Egypt 2019 Africa Cup of Nations finals on Tuesday
  • Kenya will be among the countries that will send a team to the new Basketball Africa League launched by America's National Basketball Association on Sunday where 12 sides from the continent will battle out in the elite competition

NAIROBI, Kenya- The SportPesa Premier League (SPL) action continued apace on Sunday with champions Gor Mahia FC beating Sofapaka FC 1-0 in Nakuru to snap the 2009 league winners' five-game winning streak.

Bitter rivals AFC Leopards SC remained embedded in the relegation zone after going down 0-1 to Ulinzi Stars FC at the Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos as Sony Sugar FC also brought the unbeaten run of KCB FC to an end with a 1-0 victory at the same venue.

Sticking to domestic football, SPL outfit Kakamega Homeboyz FC interim coach and striker, Allan Wanga, earned a recall to national team Harambee Stars that will start preparing for the Egypt 2019 Africa Cup of Nations finals on Tuesday where there was no place yet for former captain and Gor marksman, Dennis Oliech to make a sensational return.

Kenya will be among the countries that will send a team to the new Basketball Africa League launched by America's National Basketball Association on Sunday where 12 sides from the continent will battle out in the elite competition.

Further afield, Ethiopia's Samuel Tefera proved he was no one hit wonder by smashing the men 1500m indoors world record on Saturday in Birmingham as the hopes of European football champions Real Madrid to overhaul bitter rivals FC Barcelona in the race for the 2018/19 La Liga title took a hammer blow when Girona came from behind to stun them 1-2 at the Bernabeu.

Those are the top five picks on SportPesa News from Sunday to get your sporting week rolling. Enjoy

Sammy Onyango The Hero As Gor Silence Sofapaka In Nakuru

NAKURU, Kenya- Samuel Onyango was the hero as SportPesa Premier League (SPL) champions Gor Mahia FC made another telling statement in their bid to retain the crown when they snapped Sofapaka FC’s winning streak in a 1-0 victory at the Afraha Stadium in Nakuru on Sunday.

Onyango’s well taken first half goal was enough for Hassan Oktay’s side who dominated proceedings and earned themselves a valuable three points that lifted them to third on the log on 25 points, three adrift of pace setters Bandari FC with a game in hand. READ MORE

Wanga Hails Harambee Stars Comeback, No Oliech Return Yet

NAIROBI, Kenya- Kakamega Homeboyz FC interim head coach and striker Allan Wanga has welcomed his return to national football team Harambee Stars after he was listed among 25  local based players called up by head coach, Sébastien Migné on Sunday.

The squad will start preparations on Tuesday for the Egypt 2019 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) finals as the team marks its return to the continental showpiece after a 15-year absence. READ MORE

Kenya To Feature In NBA 12-Team Basketball Africa League

NEW YORK, United States- The NBA is launching a professional basketball league in Africa that will feature 12 teams from several countries across the continent.

The league will debut next year, and will be referred to as the Basketball Africa League. It will include teams from several African countries, including Angola, Egypt, Kenya, Morocco, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa and Tunisia. READ MORE

Samuel Tefera World Record Burst Proves He Is No One Hit Wonder

BIRMINGHAM, England- Of all the athletes who were crowned champions at the IAAF World Indoor Championships Birmingham 2018, 1500m winner Samuel Tefera was one of the least known at the start of that year.

But instead of building on his indoor triumph, Tefera endured a frustrating outdoor campaign that was hampered by illness, winning just one of his seven races and finishing outside of the medals at the IAAF World U20 Championships Tampere 2018 and the African Championships. READ MORE

Girona Shock Real Madrid: Ramos Sent Off, La Liga Hopes Fade

MADRID, Spain- Real Madrid threw away their lead and perhaps their hopes of catching Barcelona as Girona came from behind to pull off a shock 2-1 victory at the Santiago Bernabeu on Sunday. 

Girona had not won in 13 matches and looked on course for a seventh straight defeat when Casemiro headed a dominant Madrid ahead in the first half. READ MORE