Klopp starts Germany reign by threatening to quit
ByEmily Salley
BBC Sport journalist
- Published1 hour ago
Jurgen Klopp started his reign as Germany’s head coach by threatening to quit if the media invades his family’s privacy.
The former Liverpool manager was appointed on a four-year deal on Friday to replace Julian Nagelsmann, who resigned this month after Germany’s shock World Cup defeat by Paraguay in the last 32.
But the 59-year-old issued a warning to the media as he held his first press conference as Germany’s head coach.
“If you behave badly and don’t leave my family in peace then I’ll be gone, I’ll just turn away,” Klopp said.
“I know there are other countries where national team coaches are treated even worse.
“I love this job but I am always ready to call it quits if need be.”
Klopp’s appointment was widely expected for weeks and his contract will see him through to the 2030 World Cup, co-hosted by Spain, Portugal and Morocco.
“Jurgen Klopp is not going to have any ‘career’ after the national team,” he added.
“This is the pinnacle, the absolutely high point of my footballing career as coach. I will give everything I have got.”
- Messiah or papering over cracks? Klopp must sway doubters in Germany rebuild
- Published2 hours ago
It is Klopp’s first coaching job since ending his nine-year tenure at Liverpool in the summer of 2024 after “running out of energy”.
He said he feels “the time is right” for his return to coaching and to take up his first role in international football.
“Over the last few days it was almost like a movie happening to myself,” he said.
“I have always surmised the job of Germany head coach is really big but now it is really dawning on me what being the national team head coach is all about.
“For many, many years it was unimaginable for me to assume this position. As the years went by, it became more or less evident that sooner or later I would be asked to do this job.
“Now I think the time is right.”
His first game in charge will be against the Netherlands in a Nations League group-stage match on 24 September.
Newcastle seal £34m move for Monaco’s Bamba
Newcastle United have signed Monaco midfielder Aladji Bamba for a fee which could rise to £34m.
The Frenchman has joined the club on a five-year deal after undergoing a medical on Tyneside on Thursday.
“I was very excited when I heard Newcastle were interested in signing me,” the 20-year-old said.
“I know about the history of the club and I’ve visited the stadium already, which is amazing. I can’t wait to be on the pitch there and hope to have some great times with the fans.
“I’m excited to test myself in a new league, the biggest league in the world. I learned a lot last season and now I feel ready for this new opportunity. I will give my all for this club.”
Bamba only made his professional debut last season, but caught the eye of Newcastle with his performances in Ligue 1 and the Champions League.
Among Ligue 1 midfielders who played at least 500 minutes last season, Bamba ranked in the top five for duels won (9.1 per game on average), tackles (3.6), successful take-ons (1.6) and aerial duels won (1.9).
Newcastle head coach Eddie Howe said he was “another exciting, young signing who we’re really looking forward to working with”.
“Aladji adds depth and a range of qualities to our midfield options, with huge potential for growth,” he added.
“His development since breaking through at Monaco has been really impressive and something we believe we can help him build on.”
Analysis: Bamba has high potential
This move for Bamba underlines a marked shift in transfer strategy for Newcastle.
It is certainly hard to imagine the club spending £55m on a 29-year-old again like they did when they signed forward Yoane Wissa from Brentford last summer.
Instead, Newcastle have targeted players aged 20 and under on the continent this time around.
Bamba, like fellow new arrivals Sean Steur, Ewen Jaouen and Bazoumana Toure, will need time to adapt to the physicality and intensity of the Premier League.
It is worth stressing Bamba has made only 12 competitive starts in all competitions for Monaco.
But Newcastle have to take calculated risks this summer before such talents become potentially out of reach.
Just like Newcastle‘s £23m move for Steur, negotiations were carried out discreetly by all parties involved.
News that an agreement had been reached arrived only when Bamba was on his way to Tyneside.
Further reinforcements are needed, but Newcastle have now completed their fourth signing of the summer.
By contrast, at this stage of a particularly turbulent window a year ago, the club had brought in only Anthony Elanga.
Know Your Sport: Table Tennis – the lightning-fast game of speed, spin and precision
Table tennis, popularly known as ping pong, is a high-speed indoor racket sport in which players rally a lightweight plastic ball across a net using specially designed paddles.
Kane set for talks with Bayern Munich over new deal
Harry Kane is set to open formal talks with Bayern Munich over a new contract with the German champions.
England captain Kane’s current deal expires at the end of the coming season, but Bayern are keen to extend the striker’s stay.
It is understood the 32-year-old is aware of the Bundesliga club’s intention to offer him a new contract, with discussions expected to progress in the coming weeks.
Kane joined Bayern from Tottenham in 2023 in a deal worth a reported £86m.
The striker has enjoyed great success in Munich, helping the club win two Bundesliga titles and the German Cup.
Kane, who scored six goals for England at the recent World Cup, has scored 146 goals in 134 appearances for Bayern since his arrival.
Despite Bayern’s desire to tie him down to a new deal, Kane continues to attract interest from clubs across Europe and beyond.
Barcelona have a long-standing interest in the England captain, while clubs in Saudi Arabia have also been linked with the centre-forward.
Related topics
Why Rogers and Palmer will thrive together in Alonso’s Chelsea
By
Football tactics correspondent
- Published6 hours ago
Morgan Rogers was quick to mention one of his closest friends, Cole Palmer, when he signed for Chelsea from Aston Villa.
“We’ve been speaking about this for a while – that we would always love to play together,” said the £117m attacking midfielder.
“He’s been non-stop ringing my phone, texting me, and I can’t wait. That’s probably the most special thing, playing with one of your best friends and being around him every day. It’s something I’m really excited about.”
Both men might be keen to play together… but can new Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso find the system to accommodate two such similar profiles?
We take a closer look at Rogers’ skillset and assess how Alonso might set up his side this season.
What is Rogers’ style of play?
It is difficult to clearly define Rogers by a fixed position.
As with all players, getting the best from them means appreciating the wider role they are capable of. A player’s ideal role can also change depending on the players around them and the opposition’s set-up.
Aston Villa manager Unai Emery gave Rogers a major role in the side’s recent successes, something that contributed to his hefty transfer fee.
Emery’s system is built upon defensive solidity, often in a 4-4-2 shape off the ball. Villa often spent long periods without the ball before attacking into large areas of space at pace.
This is a style of play that suits Rogers, who combines impressive ball-striking with standout athleticism.
Last season, he generally played on the left of a 4-2-3-1, narrowing in from the wing and leaving the left-back to provide the width.
From here he often opted to curl the ball into the far post with his stronger right foot, but could just as easily drag his shot inside the near post at the last moment.
Out of possession, Rogers usually defended as a left midfielder in Emery’s 4-4-2 but is capable of pressing in the front two alongside a traditional number nine.
His positional versatility allows him to play as a narrow winger on both the left and right side of attack, before making runs akin to a centre-forward.
He consistently injects pace into his team’s attack with his direct nature both with and without the ball.
How will Rogers fit in at Chelsea?
Alonso’s system has overarching principles, with the Spaniard seeking to dominate the ball and set up attacks in the opponent’s half for long periods.
This is different to the approach that got the best out of Rogers for Villa.
Although this might raise some alarm bells, last season there was a rise in man-to-man pressure high up the pitch – making playing out from the back tougher.
The best teams in the league, in response, have prioritised players who are capable of holding the ball up, carrying the ball over big distances, and able to beat their marker one against one.
With opposition sides matching up man-for-man, the game then becomes a series of one-against-one duels, so strong players who can beat their defender are exceptionally valuable.
All of these descriptions line up with Rogers’ strengths.
Against intense pressure, teams have opted to play longer passes into their forwards, skipping build-up altogether. Rogers is more than capable of receiving such direct passes.
Although a possession-based coach, Alonso has shown the flexibility and intelligence to look for solutions against man-to-man pressure.
The Chelsea manager is associated with a short passing game, but after Leverkusen lost the 2024 Europa League final to Atalanta – who man-mark intensely across the pitch – he showed pragmatism in his analysis.
“We probably tried to play too many passes in the first phase, when we should have tried to attract the first player and then go long a bit more,” he said.
Rogers gives him a solution to the problems of a tactical landscape that has an emphasis on man-to-man pressing.
How can Rogers and Palmer work together?
Understanding Alonso’s set-up can help to explain how Rogers and Palmer could thrive together.
Irrespective of whether the Spaniard sets Chelsea up in a back four or a five, his team will move in the same shape in attacking possession, namely 3-2-2-3 or 3-2-5.
Many of Rogers’ best moments at Villa were in the inside-left channel. Alonso is likely to try to position him there when Chelsea have the ball.
This means width on the left would have to come from another player – either a wing-back if Chelsea defend with a back five or a winger if it is a back four. In the latter formation, Rogers would be positioned more centrally from the start.
One of the reasons Alonso will have championed the Rogers signing is his ability to play across the attack – most recently demonstrated as a right winger for England against Argentina.
Palmer similarly thrives in-field – but on the right half of the pitch. Both players in possession could be positioned alongside each other in the middle of the pitch in a 3-2-2-3 behind a striker such as Joao Pedro.
Rogers can take advantage of big spaces, but his combination play, central passing, and ball-striking from the edge of the box also mean that when he is surrounded by players on a similar wavelength – such as Palmer – it is a potent strategy for playing through structured defences.
A key part of Alonso’s game model is prioritising short passes to ensure his players are well placed to counter-press if the ball is lost.
Rogers’ combination play plus his physicality make him a good fit for this plan and his ability to repeatedly make runs in behind is something Palmer will seek to exploit.
A solution to many problems
In Alonso’s preferred 3-2-2-3 when in possession, Rogers in the left number 10 position and Palmer in the right number 10 position is likely to work best.
To get them in these areas in attack, Alonso can start with them in those positions, ahead of a back five using wing-backs either side of them. This was his usual formation during his success at Leverkusen.
When starting from a 4-2-3-1, this can be achieved with one of the two starting as a number 10 with the other inverting centrally from the wing, with a full-back pushing up on that flank. Width on the other side would be held in this situation by a winger.
Whether leaning into the longstanding chemistry of the duo, who won the FA Youth Cup together at Manchester City in 2020, will bear fruit remains to be seen.
What is certain is that Rogers is a versatile, Premier League-proven player whose skillset has synergy with many of the aspects required in what Alonso will try to do at Chelsea.
Audio By Vocalize
Few sports in Kenya are enjoying the kind of rapid growth currently being witnessed in table tennis.
Once regarded as a recreational pastime, the sport has steadily transformed into one of the country’s fastest-rising disciplines, driven by increased grassroots development, international partnerships and growing global recognition.
Governed by the Kenya Table Tennis Association (KTTA), under the leadership of Andrew Mudibo, the sport has made tremendous strides through collaborations with international governing bodies to introduce table tennis in schools and informal settlements, nurturing a new generation of talented players.
Kenya’s growing reputation on the global stage was underlined last year when Nairobi was chosen to host the global Main Event for World Table Tennis Day, bringing together youth players, international delegates and local communities in a celebration of the sport.
Earlier, in 2023, the country successfully staged the prestigious International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Africa Cup at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, further cementing its place on the continental table tennis map.
In today’s edition of Know Your Sport, we take a closer look at the fascinating world of one of the fastest sports on the planet.
Table tennis, popularly known as ping-pong, is a high-speed indoor racket sport in which players rally a lightweight plastic ball across a net using specially designed paddles. Despite its compact playing area, the game demands explosive speed, razor-sharp reflexes and immense concentration, with rallies often unfolding in a matter of seconds.
The sport can be played in singles, where one player faces another, or in doubles, with two players competing on each side of the table.
Players use specially made paddles consisting of two main parts: a wooden or composite blade, usually constructed from five to seven layers of wood, and a rubber covering. The blade provides balance, control and flexibility, while the rubber generates the speed and spin that make the sport so exciting.
The game is played on a hard, rectangular table divided equally by a suspended net. An official competition table measures 2.74 metres (9 feet) long, 1.525 metres (5 feet) wide and stands 76 centimetres (2.5 feet) high.
Although the equipment appears simple, mastering table tennis is anything but easy. Success depends on exceptional hand-eye coordination, lightning-quick reactions, footwork and tactical awareness.
Players constantly employ techniques such as topspin, backspin, sidespin and powerful smashes to outwit their opponents and force mistakes.
The first player to reach 11 points wins the game, provided they hold a two-point advantage. If the score reaches 10-10, known as deuce, play continues until one player establishes a two-point cushion, with scores such as 12-10 or 15-13 deciding the winner.
Matches are commonly contested as the best of three, five or seven games, depending on the level of competition. Casual games are often played over three games, while major tournaments, including the Olympic Games, usually adopt the best-of-five or best-of-seven format.
Unlike some racket sports, every rally counts, meaning a point is awarded after each rally regardless of who is serving.
Players normally serve twice consecutively before the service switches to the opponent. However, once the score reaches deuce, service alternates after every single point until the game is decided.
Points are scored whenever an opponent fails to return the ball, allows it to bounce twice on their side of the table, strikes it into the net or sends it beyond the playing surface.
During a serve, the ball must first bounce on the server’s side before clearing the net and landing on the opponent’s side. Once the rally begins, players return the ball over the net after it bounces once on their side. In doubles, teamwork becomes crucial. The serving pair delivers two serves before service changes hands.
The player who received the previous serve then becomes the server, while the partner of the previous server takes up the receiving role. Players must also alternate shots during each rally, making communication and coordination essential.
Table tennis traces its origins to Victorian England in the 1880s, where upper-class families created it as an after-dinner parlour version of lawn tennis.
The sport quickly evolved from a social pastime into an organised international competition. Its rapid growth received a major boost with the formation of the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) in 1926, which established standardised rules and officially adopted the name “Table Tennis.”
Table tennis made its Olympic debut at the 1988 Seoul Games, initially featuring four medal events: men’s singles, women’s singles, men’s doubles and women’s doubles.
Beginning with the 2008 Beijing Olympics, the doubles competitions were replaced by men’s and women’s team events, a format that remains in use today.
Aussems prioritises keeping Nairobi United core despite transfer overhaul
The Belgian coach has overseen a busy transfer window but believes continuity will be crucial after the team earned promotion through a strong domestic campaign.
Audio By Vocalize
Nairobi United head coach Patrick Aussems has made retaining the club’s key players his top priority as the side reshapes its squad ahead of the 2026/27 SportPesa Premier League season.
The Belgian coach has overseen a busy transfer window but believes continuity will be crucial after the team earned promotion through a strong domestic campaign.
“We don’t want to lose our key players,” Aussems said, stressing the importance of preserving the squad’s core despite interest from rival clubs and overseas teams.
Nairobi United have strengthened with the arrivals of defender Wycliffe Omondi from Shabana, Congolese midfielder Harvy Ossété, experienced right-back Kevin ‘Chumsy’ Okumu, forward Mark Kithome and midfielder Brian Musa. Despite the new signings, Aussems insists the club must build on the foundation already in place.
“The foundation is already here. Our responsibility is to build on it rather than dismantle it,” he said. The club has, however, lost several players.
Captain Daniel Bichiok is expected to move abroad, while Brian Mzee, Wellington Ochieng, Isaac Omweri, Chris Opondo, Adams Nyambane, Lonny Amudava, Brian Ogutu and Erick Kipkirui have all departed.
Rather than dwell on the exits, Aussems wants the club to secure the futures of its indispensable players. “Give him a contract so that he stays,” he said, urging the management to reward influential performers before they are lured away.
He believes last season’s success was built on unity and consistency. “Our success last season came from unity and consistency. We cannot afford to lose that identity,” he said.
While determined to keep his best players, Aussems acknowledged the club cannot stand in the way of exceptional opportunities abroad.
“If a player receives a life-changing opportunity abroad, we have to understand that reality,” he said. “Our responsibility is to help players become better every day. If they earn bigger opportunities because of that progress, it also reflects positively on the club.”
Away from transfers, Nairobi United have also moved to restore calm after Nairobi Governor and club patron Johnson Sakaja mediated a reconciliation between Aussems and KCB coach Robert Matano following their long-running public dispute.
“It is time to focus on football. The supporters deserve to see us concentrating on the game rather than personal disagreements,” Aussems said.
The club continues to be linked with former Gor Mahia goalkeeper Gad Mathews and midfielder Austin Odhiambo, although neither deal has been confirmed. Aussems says any further recruitment will focus on quality. “We are not signing players for the sake of signing players. Every addition must improve the team,” he said.
Confident in his approach, the Belgian believes a balance between continuity and strategic recruitment will give Nairobi United the platform to compete strongly in their first season back in the top flight.
“Our ambition is clear. We want a competitive team capable of challenging every opponent while continuing to grow as a club,” he said.
From self-belief to the world stage: Why Diana Wanza could be Kenya’s next distance queen
A graduate of Kenyatta University, where she pursued a Bachelor of Education, Wanza’s passion for the track burned so fiercely that not even her parents could not persuade her to walk away from the sport, choosing the track over chalk.
Audio By Vocalize
Few nations can rival Kenya’s formidable reservoir of long-distance talent, a conveyor belt of champions that has dominated tracks, roads and podiums across the globe for generations.
Yet, every so often, an athlete bursts onto the national stage with breathtaking impact before rising to conquer the continent and the world alike.
Only a select few have truly captivated the imagination and etched an enduring legacy into Kenya’s rich distance-running heritage.
Among the women who have shone brightest are world 5,000m and 10,000m record holder Beatrice Chebet, two-time Boston and New York Marathon champion Hellen Obiri and four-time world champion Vivian Cheruiyot, affectionately known as the ‘Pocket Rocket’.
As Kenya continues to produce world-class champions, another rising force is quietly but steadily carving her own place among the nation’s distance elite. Her name is Diana Wanza.
Wanza first thrust herself into the national spotlight on May 15 when she delivered her maiden African Championships gold medal for Kenya in Accra, Ghana, storming to a lifetime best of 31:33.26.
A graduate of Kenyatta University, where she pursued a Bachelor of Education, Wanza’s passion for the track burned so fiercely that not even her parents could persuade her to walk away from the sport, choosing the track over chalk.
“After I graduated from campus, my parents were against me going into athletics because no one in our family or even village was an athlete, and so they couldn’t understand. That did not stop me. I had a love for the track and decided to follow my heart,” Wanza said.
And Wanza is not content with simply becoming another accomplished athlete; she wants to inherit the mantle and keep Kenya at the summit of global distance running. “Kenya is known for being a long-distance powerhouse globally. At the moment, Chebet is not on the scene, so we have to step in and ensure we represent her well.”
Chebet is sidelined for the 2026 season as she is currently on maternity leave. For Wanza, the perfect stage to firmly announce her arrival among the world’s distance stars is the Commonwealth Games, which got underway on Thursday in Glasgow, Scotland.
The Commonwealth Games have long served as a springboard to global stardom for some of athletics’ greatest names.
Legendary Henry Rono is one such athlete who elevated his status through the Games. At the 1978 edition in Edmonton, Canada, Rono captured double gold in the 5,000m and 3,000m steeplechase.
Pakistani javelin thrower Arshad Nadeem also announced himself on the world stage at the 2022 Birmingham Games, where he struck gold before going on to win silver at the 2023 World Championships and Olympic gold in Paris in 2024.
Wanza, a mother of a three-year-old daughter, is eager to use the Club Games as the launchpad to even greater heights in her athletics journey. The 27-year-old will don the Kenyan singlet in the women’s 10,000m alongside Miriam Chebet.
“It would mean a lot for me to win gold at the Commonwealth Games because that is a big stage and I am going up against some top athletes,” Wanza says.
Despite her confidence, Wanza knows success will not come easily. “Getting that medal will not be easy, but I have to work for it, and I will bring it home,” she said.
For the Kenyan ace, tactical discipline will be just as important as raw speed. “My race will depend on the level of competition. I have to go in strategically with a good plan on how to execute my race.”
But should the pace become unforgiving, Wanza is ready to respond. “If I get a fast field, then I am going to lower my personal best.”
Her preparations have revolved around sharpening both speed and strength ahead of her assault on Commonwealth glory.
“The camp has been good; we have been pushing ourselves well. I am improving on my speed and some strength so that everything can be good.”
Wanza also takes comfort in knowing she will not be fighting alone in Glasgow, where she hopes to combine forces with Miriam Chebet in a tactical display capable of delivering Kenya a one-two finish.
“I am so happy that we are two in the team, so in Glasgow we will push each other against our rivals and hope for the best.”
The women’s 10,000m final at the Commonwealth Games is set for Monday (July 27), also the first day of the athletics schedule, at 10.05 pm Kenyan time.
Her ticket to Glasgow came after finishing second at the Athletics Kenya National Championships and Commonwealth Games trials, clocking 31:56.80 behind Loice Chemnung’s winning 31:46.90.
Beyond Glasgow, Wanza believes a strong performance could ignite an even brighter future as the athletics calendar builds towards two of the sport’s biggest spectacles. “We have the 2027 World Championships in Beijing as well as the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles. Good progress in Glasgow will give me confidence and show me that I am in good shape for those two big events,” she added.
Wanza has also set her sights firmly on another milestone, a maiden appearance on the Diamond League circuit. “I am having conversations with my manager so that he can secure a race in the Diamond League for me right after the Commonwealth Games.”
“I have never been in a competitive 5,000m race so I think the Diamond League will be a good platform for me to test my mantle against the world’s best.”
The distance specialist heads to Scotland buoyed by what has already been a breakthrough 2026 campaign.
“I think I have done a good build-up before the 2026 season. I had trained hard for this year, and I came in very positive.”
A major turning point came early in the year when she signed with UK-based manager Idris Hamud, also her coach, of Moja Sports Management. “I signed with Idris in early January, and that has really opened doors for me.”
Her first outing of the season came on the roads at the Azpeitia International Half Marathon in Spain on March 21, where she produced an emphatic victory in a course-record 1:07:31.
Her mark was microseconds better than the previous benchmark of 1:07:32 set by legendary Tegla Loroupe in 1998.
Wanza led; Spain’s Irene Escribano finished second in 1:11:13 while Kenya’s Vivian Rop completed the podium in 1:12:56.
“I started the year with a half marathon race in Spain where I set a course record, and I think that really motivated me.”
She extended her winning streak on April 10 at the African Championships trials at the Ulinzi Sports Complex, clocking 32:12.1 to finish ahead of Mercy Mageso (32:27.2) and Phena Yego (32:47.4).
Wanza then switched to the 5,000m at the Kip Keino Classic, where she once again emerged victorious in 15:28.91, leaving Mercy Chepkemoi (15:49.85) and Dorcus Chepkwemoi (15:55.29) trailing behind. Then came May 15 in Accra — the race that transformed promise into proof.
Wanza knew only a bold gamble would deliver the biggest prize of her career. “At the African Championships I had to take the risk because there were other strong nations like Ethiopia. During the race, I kicked to see who would follow, but nobody was coming, so I decided to go hard and go for gold.”
“I knew my body was in great shape and I was also very ready for the challenge.”
Her courageous move paid handsome dividends as she stormed to gold in a lifetime best of 31:33.26, finishing comfortably ahead of Rwanda’s Florence Niyonkuru (31:43.73) and Ethiopia’s Asefu Abreha (31:45.91).
She then extended her flying form at the Commonwealth Games trials, where she finished behind Chemnung to book her slot for Scotland.
“Going into the Commonwealth Games Trials, there was a lot of tension because we had been told that only the first athlete across the line would get automatic qualification. I knew I had to give my best and push hard so that I could get that ticket for my first ever Commonwealth appearance.”
“I am so happy it paid off; it is always a privilege to wear the national colours and represent Kenya on the global stage,” she notes.
Born on February 19, 1999, in Masinga, Machakos County, Wanza’s love affair with distance running began at an early age.
She recalls discovering her talent while at Vyusyoni Primary School in Mbitini, Machakos. “In primary, I used to run 5,000m, and I would make it all the way to the provincial level.”
But the journey was anything but smooth. “There was no motivation while in primary school. The teachers didn’t push as much or tell us that athletics can also turn into a career,” she says.
“I recall that we only used to run during games time when the teachers would tell us to run around the field or school. That was the only training I would do in primary, but also at the time you are still young so you don’t know the basics and you are just running for fun.”
“In high school, our principal had a passion for athletics, and he used to push us to take a keen interest in it. I ran both the 5,000m and 10,000m and cross country in high school.”
“We used to have morning runs in school, so that in a way was a form of training. I used to make the nationals sometimes, but the performance was not all that great.”
When she joined Kenyatta University in 2019 to pursue a Bachelor of Education, athletics remained impossible to ignore. “University is all about studying, but you also have to find something else to focus on.”
“Most universities don’t support athletics, so there was no proper coach or a mentor to help me hit the ground running in university in my athletics career. I would wake up and then go for morning runs.”
Soon, those lonely training sessions evolved into something much bigger. “I got a friend who also had a passion for athletics, so we started running together, and soon we formed a running group,” she said.
Without a coach, the internet became their classroom. They studied elite athletes’ training programmes online and adapted them into their own daily routines.
“We used to search online for what other athletes are doing, then implement them in our training. I had given all my focus to training, and I wanted to succeed in athletics.”
In 2021, Wanza competed in her first Athletics Kenya meeting, finishing 22nd in the 5,000m at the second AK weekend meeting at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, in 17:16.7. She built on that experience in 2022 by sweeping both the 5,000m and 10,000m titles at the Federation of African University Sports Games in Nairobi, clocking 17:07.44 and 35:15.21 respectively.
“Winning the University Games was so amazing. I used to dominate the distance races in school, and now I was facing top athletes from across Africa.”
“I honestly expected to win because my form was good and I was more than confident. That win showed me that I can do even greater things on the track,” she shares.
Even after graduating, Wanza remained relentless in her pursuit of improvement and, in 2024, came under the guidance of coach Lawrence Kipruto, who patiently nurtured her rise into the national spotlight.
Her 2025 campaign began modestly, with a 15th-place finish at the National Cross Country Championships, followed by a 13th-place finish at the Sikiwa Classic.
She later finished ninth in the 5,000m at the National Championships and narrowly missed a place in Kenya’s World Cross Country team after placing 24th at the trials. But by the close of the season, the tide had turned.
She signed off 2025 in style by completing a memorable double over the 5,000m and 10,000m at the Fourth Betika BingwaFest Championships at the Ulinzi Sports Complex. She won the 5,000m in 16:04.2 and then went on to secure the 10,000m in 33:18.7.
While elite athletics demands extraordinary sacrifice, Wanza says her greatest motivation comes from home. “Being a mother is the best thing to have happened in my life. It really motivates me to work hard and smart,” she says.
“My daughter understands what I do, and she always enjoys seeing me training and also running. She is my biggest fan.”
Commonwealth Games: Rotich out to hurdle past Accra heartbreak in Glasgow
At the continental showpiece in Accra, Ghana, in May, Rotich crashed out in the men’s 400m hurdles final after clipping a barrier, eventually crossing the line last in 1:08.56 as his dreams of a place on the podium slipped away.
Audio By Vocalize
National 400m hurdles champion Kipkorir Rotich is determined to turn heartbreak into glory at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, Scotland, after a cruel fall dashed his medal ambitions at the African Championships.
At the continental showpiece in Accra, Ghana, in May, Rotich crashed out in the men’s 400m hurdles final after clipping a barrier, eventually crossing the line last in 1:08.56 as his dreams of a place on the podium slipped away.
Botswana’s Kemorena Tisang stormed to gold in 48.66, ahead of compatriot Victor Ntweng, who claimed silver in 49.21, while South Africa’s Wernich Van Rensburg settled for bronze in 49.35.
Having put that disappointment behind him, Rotich is convinced Glasgow offers the perfect stage for redemption. “I fell at the African Championships and was not able to win a medal, but definitely I will not fall at the Commonwealth Games,” said Rotich.
The 28-year-old believes he is in the best shape of his career and is confident he has what it takes to fight for a place on the podium. “Considering my current body shape, I know I am coming back to Kenya with a medal,” he added.
Making his maiden Commonwealth Games appearance, Rotich will also have one eye on the clock as he seeks to slash his lifetime best of 48.99, set at Nyayo Stadium during the Kip Keino Classic on April 24. “I want to improve my time, maybe get 48.1, 48.0 or 47.9. I am very capable of running a fast time,” he said.
The men’s 400m hurdles will open the athletics programme on Monday, with the heats scheduled for 12.10 pm (Kenyan time).
The semi-finals follow on Wednesday at 9.33 pm before the medal showdown on Friday at 11 pm, both in Kenyan time.
Rotich also expressed satisfaction with preparations at the national residential camp in Kasarani, saying the team has enjoyed a smooth build-up to the Games.
“Training has been good. There have been no challenges. We have been well supported and feel ready for Glasgow.”
His preparations have centred on sharpening his speed between the barriers and refining his hurdle clearance technique.
“I am working on sharpening my speed and technique over the barriers.”
The National Police Service (NPS) athlete is equally pleased with how his 2026 campaign has unfolded. “This year has been very busy for me. It has been good, and I am thankful for how it has turned out.”
Rotich has been one of the most consistent performers on the domestic hurdles circuit this season. He opened his campaign at the second Athletics Kenya Weekend Meeting at Thika Stadium in January, producing an impressive hurdles double.
He claimed the 110m hurdles title in 14.6 seconds ahead of Goodwin Odhiambo (15.3) and Edwin Too (15.4), before returning to dominate his 400m hurdles specialty in 50.9, beating Nicholas Kessio (51.2) and Edward Ngunjiri (51.4).
He maintained that rich vein of form at the third Weekend Meeting in Kapsabet, once again completing the double after clocking 51.2 in the 400m hurdles and 14.7 in the 110m hurdles. On April 24, Rotich produced the performance of his career to win the Kip Keino Classic 400m hurdles title in a personal best 48.99.
He later joined Dennis Masika, Erastus Mbaluka and Danson Kibet in Kenya’s men’s 4x400m relay team at the World Relays in Gaborone, Botswana, where the quartet finished sixth in heat two of the World Championships qualifying round in 3:02.70.
Following the disappointment in Accra, Rotich bounced back in style at the NPS Track and Field Championships, winning both the 400m hurdles in 51.46 and the 110m hurdles in 14.73.
He then sealed his place on the plane to Glasgow by triumphing at the Commonwealth Games trials at Nyayo Stadium on June 20, clocking 49.53 to finish ahead of Wiseman Were (50.39) and Moitalel Mpoke (50.53).
KCB hand Amaitsa, Nyangige debuts as Prinsloo Sevens title chase begins
The duo is expected to feature in KCB’s star-studded lineup for the opening leg of the 2026 National Sevens Circuit.
Audio By Vocalize
National Sevens Circuit champions KCB RFC are set to hand debuts to new signings Nygel Amaitsa and Davis Nyangige at the Prinsloo Sevens in Nakuru on Saturday as they begin the defence of their circuit crown.
The duo, who joined the bankers during the mid-season transfer window earlier this month, have quickly settled into the squad and are expected to feature in KCB’s star-studded lineup for the opening leg of the 2026 National Sevens Circuit.
Head coach Andrew Amonde believes his charges are ready to hit the ground running after an impressive pre-season. “We are excited to get back into competitive rugby and begin another National Sevens Circuit campaign.
The players have put in a tremendous amount of work during pre-season, and the focus now is to translate that preparation into strong performances on the pitch,” said Amonde.
“We know the competition will be tough from the very first tournament, but our ambition is to start the season positively and challenge for the Prinsloo Sevens title.”
KCB head into the tournament on the back of victories at the Met Sevens and Juja Sevens pre-season tournaments, although Amonde insists there is still room for improvement.
“We have worked on all facets of play that troubled us during pre-season, including ball retention, defensive alignment and our set-piece, among other things,” he added.
The former Kenya Sevens captain is expecting a fiercely contested circuit. “I believe the other teams have also prepared well, and we know we are in for a tough battle to retain our overall title.”
Captain Elvis Olukusi echoed his coach’s confidence, saying last season’s triumph has only fuelled the team’s desire for more success.
“Winning the overall circuit last season was a special achievement for everyone involved with the club, but that is now behind us. Every new season presents fresh challenges and new opportunities,” said Olukusi.
“We know what it takes to compete at the highest level, and the objective is to begin strongly at Prinsloo Sevens. The team is hungry, focused and determined to fight for the title this weekend.”
KCB have been drawn in a competitive Pool C alongside Catholic University Monks, Nondescripts and NYS Spades.
Pool A features Kabras Sugar, Kenya Harlequin, Mwamba and Embu RFC, while defending Prinsloo Sevens champions Strathmore Leos headline Pool B, where they will face Daystar Falcons, MMUST and Kisumu RFC. Pool D comprises Menengai Oilers, hosts Nakuru RFC, Impala and Blak Blad, with Oilers widely tipped as favourites to top the group.
Billions Spain will pocket for 2026 World Cup triumph
Spain secured their second World Cup title after defeating Argentina 1-0 in the final at MetLife Stadium on Sunday.
By Cantona Joseph July 20, 2026 13:00 (EAT)
Audio By Vocalize
Spain’s triumph at the 2026 FIFA World Cup has earned the country not only football’s most coveted trophy but also the tournament’s biggest financial reward, with the champions set to receive a record $51 million (about Sh6.6 billion).
Spain secured their second World Cup title after defeating Argentina 1-0 in the final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on Sunday, ending a 16-year wait since lifting the trophy in South Africa in 2010.
The victory also places Spain at the top of the financial rewards table in what has become the most lucrative FIFA World Cup in history.
FIFA increased the total prize fund for the expanded 48-team tournament to a record $871 million (about Sh112.4 billion), significantly higher than the $440 million distributed during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
The world football governing body initially announced a prize pool of $727 million before approving a further increase in April by raising both the participation fee and preparation grants to help national federations meet the higher costs associated with the tournament, which was jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada.
Under the revised structure, Spain will receive $51 million for winning the tournament, while runners-up Argentina will earn $34 million (about Sh4.4 billion).
England, who finished third after defeating France in the third-place play-off, will take home $30 million (about Sh3.9 billion), while fourth-placed France will receive $28 million (about Sh3.6 billion).
The four teams eliminated in the quarter-finals will each receive $20 million (about Sh2.6 billion), while nations reaching the Round of 16 will earn $16 million (about Sh2.1 billion) each.
Teams knocked out in the Round of 32 will receive $12 million (about Sh1.5 billion), while the 16 countries eliminated during the group stage will each earn $10 million (about Sh1.3 billion).
Beyond performance-based rewards, every participating nation also received $2.5 million (about Sh323 million) in preparation funding before the tournament to help cover expenses such as training camps, travel and logistical arrangements.
FIFA also provided additional financial support to participating federations through subsidies aimed at easing the costs of accommodation, transport, administration and team delegation expenses.
The increased prize fund reflects the expanded nature of the 2026 World Cup, which featured 48 teams for the first time and required significantly greater travel across the three host nations.
The latest payout represents another significant increase in World Cup prize money over the years.
Argentina earned $42 million for winning the 2022 World Cup in Qatar after defeating France on penalties, while France received $38 million after lifting the trophy at the 2018 tournament in Russia.
Since FIFA began publicly disclosing World Cup prize money, the winners’ reward has grown dramatically from about $2.2 million awarded to Italy after winning the 1982 tournament to the current record $51 million.
The prize money is paid directly to national football federations rather than individual players, with each federation determining how the funds are distributed under its own financial regulations.
Spain’s latest victory therefore delivers both sporting glory and a substantial financial boost to the Royal Spanish Football Federation as the country celebrates becoming world champions once aga
‘That’s why he’s the king’ – Messi sets up third World Cup final
Messi has now scored or assisted in 13 consecutive matches for Inter Miami and Argentina.
Audio By Vocalize
Four years ago it felt as if Lionel Messi’s story was told.
He had finally won the World Cup, aged 35, in what he said was his last game in the tournament and – depending on your point of view – cemented his place as football’s greatest ever player.
Four years before that, aged 31, many – including those around him – felt he had played his final World Cup game and would end his career without winning it.
And here he is at 39, having helped take England to the cleaners and send Argentina to their second World Cup final in a row.
Messi’s two assists helped the South American side come from behind to win 2-1, taking him up to four assists at the 2026 World Cup – to go with his eight goals.
The joint top scorer and the second highest assister in the whole show.
Argentina will play Spain, the country where Messi has played most of his football with Barcelona, in Sunday’s final in New Jersey.
“He’s the best player in history, I don’t know what else he would have to do to prove that. The majority of Spaniards love him,” said his national team boss Lionel Scaloni.
BBC pundit Micah Richards said: “They have Lionel Messi. They have the ‘GOAT’. The greatest of all time.
“[It’s about] moments. We thought it could have been Jude Bellingham or Harry Kane, but this is why he is the king.”
How Messi destroyed English hopes
Former Barcelona and Paris St-Germain forward Messi had never played England in his career before – and Thomas Tuchel and every Three Lions fan will wish that was still the case.
The veteran showed a few quality touches in an attritional first half – playing more centrally – but it was after Anthony Gordon gave England a 55th-minute lead that Argentina came to life.
As Tuchel sent on more defenders and England sat back, Argentina had 88% possession for the following 37 minutes.
And Messi had a field day after moving out to the right wing.
“Getting Messi on the wing was the key for us,” said goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez afterwards.
He completed nine dribbles and assisted two goals against England – the first player on record (from 1966 onwards) to do so in a single World Cup knockout game.
The entire England team combined completed seven successful dribbles in Atlanta.
Messi had seven touches in the opposition box – the same as every English player added together. Ditto his four chances created.
He also put in a game-high nine crosses.
And by far the most important, he set up both of Argentina’s goals.
The first was from a corner routine when he found Enzo Fernandez, who slammed in an 85th-minute equaliser from outside the box.
And then he crossed for Lautaro Martinez to head in an injury-time winner.
Ex-England defender Richards said: “He walks around the pitch and then he comes alive when the ball comes to his feet.
“This genius comes into play and sometimes that is just the difference.”
Former England keeper Joe Hart added: “The guys went back to what they did against Mexico and Norway where they locked the door.
“What that did was free up Lionel Messi, who had the skeleton key – he absolutely ran the show for the last 15 minutes.”
England captain Kane added: “For large parts of the game we dealt with him really well, but as always with the most dangerous players in the world when they have the ball they can create something. He’s one of the best players ever for a reason.”
Can Messi win the Golden Boot?
This summer Messi became the all-time top scorer at World Cups with 21 goals (out of his 125 Argentina goals in total).
Fifteen of those 21 have come since his 35th birthday.
Eight have been at this tournament, passing the seven he scored in 2022 – which was just one short of Kylian Mbappe in the Golden Boot race.
This time Messi and Mbappe are level on eight goals. Mbappe’s France play England on Saturday in the third-place play-off.
England’s Bellingham and Kane are on six goals each and not out of the picture.
If players finish level on goals, the tie-breaker is assists – with Messi on four to Mbappe’s three.
Messi could yet finish as the top assister at this summer’s World Cup too – sitting one goal behind France’s Michael Olise.
Former England goalkeeper Paul Robinson, speaking to the BBC, said: “He’s a little magician, he really is.
“He’s done it all tournament now. You look at the goals scored and the balls he’s put into England’s box.”
Will Messi ever slow down?
It is easy to forget Messi, then at Barcelona and aged 29, actually retired from international football in 2016.
He had lost the 2014 World Cup final to Germany and three Copa America finals.
Since reversing that decision he has won the Copa America twice.
When Messi – then of PSG – lifted the World Cup in Qatar in 2022, it felt as if the final piece of the jigsaw of his career was complete.
Many considered that the final thing missing from the argument over the best player ever – with many considering fellow World Cup winners Pele and Diego Maradona the greatest.
“I am very happy for finishing my journey in World Cups in a final, to play the last game in a final.
That is really very gratifying,” he said before the 2022 final.
“There are a lot of years from this year to the next one. I don’t think I will be able to do that. To finish this way is brilliant.”
And when he left Europe the next year to join Inter Miami in the MLS, it seemed like he was going to wind down.
Even during last year’s Fifa Club World Cup, which he played in, it was far from clear if he would be involved this summer.
But here he is, still seemingly unstoppable – even though his game has changed.
Before the England tie, he had walked 47% of the distance he covered in this tournament, the highest percentage of any outfield player.
Tactically he has reinvented himself at least five times, says Spanish journalist Guillem Balague, who wrote a biography on Messi.
Messi has now scored or assisted in 13 consecutive matches for Inter Miami and Argentina.
If he gets involved in a goal in Sunday’s final against Spain, it will equal his record set in 2011 of 14 in a row.
He will also become only the second player after Cafu to play in three World Cup finals.
Surely that will be his final World Cup game? After all, he turns 43 in 2030.
But maybe at this stage we need to stop presuming anything when it comes to the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner.
Why England’s loss to Argentina felt like most painful in 60 years of hurt
England’s players Thomas Tuchel had immortality in their hands as they led through Anthony Gordon’s 55th-minute goal.
Audio By Vocalize
England’s years of hurt will now stretch beyond 60, but the late collapse to a World Cup semi-final defeat by Argentina may just be the most painful wound of all.
The clock inside the magnificent Atlanta Stadium showed England were five minutes of normal time away from ending the wait for a men’s World Cup final that stretches back to 1966, when they lifted the Jules Rimet trophy at Wembley.
England’s players and head coach Thomas Tuchel had immortality in their hands as they led through Anthony Gordon’s 55th-minute goal.
Their grasp, however, was being loosened by catastrophic decision making from Tuchel that instigated wave after wave of Argentina attacks orchestrated by Lionel Messi.
One goal seemed inevitable – and it came from Enzo Fernandez in the 85th minute.
Then, with England on the ropes, they were floored by Lautaro Martinez’s injury-time header.
England could not come back, so a stunned football nation wakes up to another desperate near-miss from this nearly team.
Tuchel fails in England mission
Tuchel’s unique selling point when he succeeded Sir Gareth Southgate was the idea he would win matches his predecessor could not.
That he would not be gripped by the caution Southgate was criticised for when losing the last two Euros finals to Italy and Spain, as well as the 2018 World Cup semi-final to Croatia.
The thinking was that Tuchel would drive England over the line, whereas Southgate supposedly retreated from it.
And yet, when it counted and the pressure was at its height, Tuchel produced the sort of tactical retreat – and loss – that would have seen Southgate pilloried.
Instead, it will now be Tuchel getting the criticism for that decision – and rightly so.
The Football Association went for a quick-fix appointment to succeed Southgate after Euro 2024, bringing in a proven winner whose sole mission was to win the 2026 World Cup, or put “a second star on the shirt” as Tuchel called it.
A semi-final can only rank as par, and, in the harshest light, a failure, because he was brought in to make sure England did not have any more hard-luck stories or disappointments.
And, as with Southgate, Tuchel has still not guided England to victory against a side there were not high expectations they would beat.
There will be recriminations about how Tuchel engineered England’s defeat mainly by his own hand, effectively repeating everything that brought Southgate so much criticism.
Once Gordon put England ahead in this latest stormy episode of an old and bitter rivalry, Tuchel decided on a rearguard action.
That had worked for England in their knockout wins over Mexico and Norway – but it would not against a Messi-inspired Argentina.
Tuchel replaced goalscorer Gordon with defender Ezri Konsa with 18 minutes left and switched to a back five. He then brought Nico O’Reilly and Dan Burn on for Declan Rice and Reece James.
It was clear almost instantly that Tuchel had called it badly. It did nothing but invite Argentine pressure and those late goals. This one was almost all on Tuchel.
If there was one statistic that brutally condemned his approach, it was that England only had 12% possession between taking the lead and Martinez’s winning goal nearly 40 minutes later.
Such was England’s sudden attacking need in the closing moments that Tuchel threw on Ivan Toney after 96 minutes – his first appearance of the tournament.
Toney’s “blink and you’ll miss it” cap also brought some of Tuchel’s selections under scrutiny. Was Toney simply picked for a penalty shootout that never came?
And the debate around Tuchel’s defensive picks, especially at right-back, will continue to rage.
Tuchel gambled on the injury-prone Reece James staying fit – but when the Chelsea defender was sidelined with a hamstring issue, right-back suddenly became a problem position.
The position turned into musical chairs between Jarell Quansah – injured against Panama then sent off against Mexico – Djed Spence and Ezri Konsa before James was back for the semi-final.
All this while Trent Alexander-Arnold watched from afar, his natural gifts ignored by Tuchel on the basis of defensive frailty.
And as the ashes are raked over, Tuchel’s decision to ignore the creativity of Cole Palmer and Phil Foden – easy to say with hindsight given both had poor seasons with Chelsea and Manchester City – and Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White will be revisited.
Jordan Henderson, whose tournament ended in bizarre circumstances when he broke an arm amid the celebrations after the win against Mexico, was taken for his influence around the squad but was never going to be a serious on-field performer.
If Tuchel valued his professionalism and personality so much in this area, why not take Henderson on his backroom staff and open up a place for a younger, more creative player?
This was a desperate day for England – and Tuchel and his tactical approach.
A day when it could easily have been said, as the song goes: “Meet the new boss. Same as the old boss.”
Was this England’s most painful loss?
England have suffered plenty of pain over the years, but as an observer covering a seventh World Cup, as well as those Euro final defeats, this felt like the worst.
This was not because it was against the old adversary Argentina, with all the history and iconic imagery that evokes, who created such obvious despair among England’s players and supporters.
It was because this will be forever a World Cup semi-final of “what ifs” against an Argentina side that has looked beatable all tournament, but who simply refuse to lose.
This was the World Cup semi-final, the latest big chance to challenge for the sport’s greatest prize in New Jersey on Sunday.
England were within minutes of crossing the barrier that has proved insurmountable for six decades, only to stumble again.
Gordon’s goal looked to have finally given England a measure of control in an occasionally brutal game – and even after they ceded control and possession, the finishing line was in sight until they finally crumbled.
Given the stage, this is a defeat that will be pored over more – and leave more regret – than any other.
What can England take away from World Cup?
England will always have that momentous, spine-tingling night at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City, when they dug deep to beat co-hosts Mexico 3-2 in the last 16.
It was one of their great World Cup wins, when Jude Bellingham proved his world-class credentials and Tuchel’s changes and gameplan suggested he just might be the strategist to take England all the way.
Bellingham is joined in that elite class by captain Harry Kane, but the Bayern Munich striker will feel the pain of this exit more acutely than most because he will be 36 by the time the next World Cup comes around.
England have shown reserves of character to come from behind against DR Congo in the last 32 then Norway in the quarter-final, but the times when they truly flowed have been few and far between.
The manner of this crushing loss to Argentina will have England and their fans wondering if the major tournament curse will ever end.
The recovery will need to be quick with a Nations League fixture at home to World Cup finalists Spain – who beat the Three Lions in the Euro 2024 final – in September.
What next for Tuchel?
but in February he was handed an extension to take him through to Euro 2028.
It was a surprise and a heavy financial commitment by the FA, especially as they did not know how the World Cup would work out.
Tuchel’s tournament cannot be judged as a total success, but he has the FA’s backing to lead the team into the next Euros.
England will have to undergo an element of rebuilding, with the outstanding John Stones surely at the end of his international career. And will Tuchel keep faith with Marcus Rashford?
Goalkeeper Jordan Pickford is 32 so should continue, but potential successors need to be found.
Declan Rice and Elliot Anderson can be the midfield bedrock for years, while a fully-fit Bukayo Saka will be another huge asset.
Tuchel still has the talents of Foden, Palmer and Gibbs-White to consider, as well as Crystal Palace’s Adam Wharton, while Liverpool’s 17-year-old winger Rio Ngumoha showed what a glittering future he has in the World Cup warm-up games in Miami.
There is also the prodigious talent of Arsenal 16-year-old winger Max Dowman, another example of how England’s future can be bright.
For now, however, the pain of the loss to Argentina, and the manner of it, will take some getting over for England and Tuchel.
‘Lost his Tuch?’ – England boss hammered by media after World Cup exit
AFP July 16, 2026 16:50 (EAT)
Thomas Tuchel, Manager of England, looks on during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Semi Final match between England and Argentina at Atlanta Stadium on July 15, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. Justin Setterfield/Getty Images/AFP (Photo by Justin Setterfield / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)
Thomas Tuchel may have criticised his England stars for being too “passive” in their World Cup semi-final defeat against Argentina, but it is the beleaguered German who has come under fire from the British media for his defensive tactics.
Hampered by Tuchel’s cautious substitutions, England squandered a golden opportunity to reach their first World Cup final since 1966, blowing the lead as Argentina scored twice in the closing minutes to snatch a 2-1 win on Wednesday.
British tabloid The Sun encapsulated the mood of recrimination among frustrated England fans as their headlines blared: ‘Lost his Tuch?’ and ‘Thomas tanked it’.
Tuchel was lambasted for sending on Dan Burn and Ezri Konsa to make a five-man defence, in a failed bid to hold on after England went 1-0 up through Anthony Gordon’s goal early in the second half in Atlanta.
There was a feeling of deja vu for England supporters, who had watched their team let one-goal leads slip away against Croatia in the 2018 World Cup semi-final and Italy in the Covid-delayed Euro 2020 final.
The Daily Mail slammed Tuchel, saying despite being brought in to solve the tactical issues caused by predecessor Gareth Southgate, the German had also been too negative when the stakes were highest.
“Thomas Tuchel’s changes cost England against Argentina – they were out of ideas and doomed to lose from that moment. It was a return to the bad habits Gareth Southgate was criticised for”, said the Mail.
The Times’s columnist Martin Samuel said Tuchel had been just as conservative as many other failed former England managers.
“The England head coach was supposed to cure the team’s fear but managers are pragmatists,” he wrote.
“Anyone who doesn’t jump is an Englishman, the Argentinians sing. And anyone who knows how to hold a lead in a World Cup semi-final is definitely not.
“The disease remains and is as contagious as ever. Different group, fancy new boss, same dispiriting outcome.”
Tuchel’s own words were turned against him, after he claimed that England had been scared to express themselves during the Euro 2024 final defeat against Spain in Southgate’s last match in charge.
“They were afraid to drop out of the tournament, in my observation, than having the excitement and hunger to win it,” he (Tuchel) said (in March) – Not as easy as it looks, this international management lark,” Samuel wrote.
However, with the 52-year-old former Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain coach under contract until Euro 2028, the British media said Tuchel is likely to avoid the sack.
‘Thomas Tuchel to STAY as England boss despite ‘cowardly’ defeat read the headline in another tabloid The Mirror, citing the word used by Spain’s 2010 World Cup winning goalkeeper Iker Casillas to describe the strategy deployed by the coach.
“They (England) score the goal and drop back. A cowardly approach,” Casillas posted on X.
Gor Mahia off to Kigali for Rayon Sport clash, Cecafa campaign
By Cantona Joseph July 16, 2026 19:20 (EAT)
Gor Mahia celebrate after winning the KPL title in 2025/26 season.
Audio By Vocalize
Kenyan football giants and defending league champions Gor Mahia have departed for Kigali, where they will face Rwandan giants Rayon Sport in a friendly match this Saturday before turning their focus to the upcoming CECAFA tournament, scheduled to run from July 24 to August 7, 2026.
The K’Ogalo contingent, comprising 42 members including 29 players, traveled in two batches due to logistical constraints that made it impossible to secure a single flight for the entire delegation. The first group took off at noon, while the second is set to depart at 7pm later Thursday.
Team manager Philemon Otieno confirmed the travel arrangements, explaining that the split was necessitated by limited space on available flights.
“We are traveling in two groups today, one leaving in the morning and the next in the evening—ahead of the Rayon Day match on Saturday,” Otieno stated. “After that, we will continue with our preparations in Rwanda for the CECAFA tournament.”
For head coach Aknoonor, the tour presents a crucial opportunity to fine-tune his squad ahead of the new season, which is set to begin in August.
The friendly against Rayon Sport will offer a competitive test, while the CECAFA tournament is expected to serve as an intensive pre-season camp, allowing the tactician to assess his players and build cohesion within the team.
Gor Mahia have been pooled in Group A with APR of Rwanda, Vipers of Uganda and Garde Republicaine of Djibouti.
Gor Mahia fans will be hoping the East African tour provides the perfect springboard for a strong domestic campaign, as the club looks to build on its rich history and reclaim continental glory.
The team is expected to settle in Kigali upon arrival, with training sessions scheduled immediately to prepare for Saturday’s showdown
Ruto rallies Harambee Starlets ahead of WAFCON, hails Junior Starlets’ World Cup feat
The Head of State also celebrated the Junior Starlets for securing a second consecutive qualification to the FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup
Audio By Vocalize
President William Ruto on Tuesday flagged off the Harambee Starlets at State House, Nairobi, as Kenya’s senior women’s football team prepares to compete at the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) in Morocco.
The Head of State also celebrated the Junior Starlets for securing a second consecutive qualification to the FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup, describing both achievements as evidence of the country’s growing investment in women’s football.
“You are going to Morocco to wear the colours of Kenya on the biggest stage in African football. There is no greater honour for any sportsman or sportswoman than representing your motherland before the world,” Ruto told the Harambee Starlets.
He congratulated the team for qualifying for the continental showpiece, which runs from July 25 to August 16 in Morocco. “The country is truly proud of your achievement, and we shall be cheering you on as you represent us at the continental level,” he said.
Ruto attributed Kenya’s recent success in women’s football to sustained investment in sports development. “This achievement is not an accident. Nations that consistently excel in sport invest in young people long before the world knows their names. That is exactly what Kenya is doing,” he said.
The President revealed that more than 10,000 young athletes are currently enrolled in structured development programmes through schools, county governments and the Kenya Academy of Sports.
He added that the Government is also training over 6,000 coaches, trainers, physiotherapists and sports administrators through specialised capacity-building programmes.
On infrastructure, Ruto said Talanta Sports City is now 95 per cent complete, while the Government is constructing 32 modern stadia across the country.
“Our commitment goes beyond infrastructure. In the last financial year alone, the Government invested KSh4.5 billion to support our national teams, covering accommodation, kits, allowances and logistics so that our athletes can train and compete in dignity,” he said.
He added that national team players will also benefit from Social Health Authority medical cover and the Affordable Housing Programme.
Highlighting the importance of youth development, Ruto singled out 16-year-old Junior Starlets player Elizabeth Opiyo of Onding Junior Secondary School in Gem, Siaya County, who combines football with athletics while pursuing her studies.
“Your journey reminds us that excellence has no age, and that discipline in the classroom and discipline on the playing field reinforce each other,” he said.
He challenged the Junior Starlets to target a place beyond the group stage at the World Cup. “Believe that you can compete with anyone FIFA places before you,” he said.
Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to developing sports infrastructure and policies aimed at making sports a viable career.
Football Kenya Federation President Hussein Mohamed praised the Government’s investment in sports, saying the current administration has made unprecedented commitments to sports development, including the construction of 32 stadia.
Junior Starlets head coach Mildred Cheche said the team is determined to progress beyond the group stage at the World Cup, as captain Beverline Otieno thanked the Government for its support throughout the qualification campaign.
Harambee Starlets captain Mwanahalima Adam said the squad is focused on making a strong impression at WAFCON as they pursue the long-term goal of qualifying for the FIFA Women’s World Cup.
“It has not been easy to qualify for WAFCON twice, and we are working hard to achieve our dream of reaching the World Cup,” she said.
Odemba urges greater investment after Junior Starlets land tough World Cup group
Odemba further proposed regular youth training camps and international friendly matches, particularly during school holidays, to monitor player development and maintain continuity across the national team ranks.
Audio By Vocalize
Harambee Starlets head coach Beldine Odemba has urged the Government and Football Kenya Federation (FKF) to intensify investment in the Junior Starlets after Kenya was drawn into a challenging Group E for the 2026 FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup.
Coach Mildred Cheche’s side will face China, the United States and Samoa in Morocco as they seek to become the first Kenyan football team to progress beyond the group stage of a FIFA World Cup.
The Junior Starlets will open their campaign against China on October 19 at the Women’s Football Complex, Pitch 1, before taking on the United States three days later at the same venue.
Kenya will wrap up their group-stage matches against Samoa on October 25. While congratulating the team on qualifying for a second consecutive World Cup, Odemba said the achievement should serve as a foundation for sustained growth in women’s football rather than being treated as an isolated success.
“I want to congratulate coach Cheche, the entire technical bench and the players for that feat. They put in a lot of hard work, and it has paid off. I’m wishing them well and urging the Government and the federation to support them fully so their campaign can be easier,” said Odemba.
Her appeal comes amid continued concerns over the welfare of Kenya’s women’s national teams, including recurring reports of delayed payment of players’ allowances. Odemba believes proper investment will give the Junior Starlets a realistic chance of surpassing their debut World Cup performance while strengthening the country’s player development pathway.
“The U-17 World Cup is an important platform. It not only gives these players exposure but also puts them on the world stage. Such tournaments attract scouts, making it easier for our young players to secure opportunities abroad,” she said.
She cited Valerie Nekesa’s recent move to Spanish top-flight club Tenerife as an example of the opportunities available to talented players. The Harambee Starlets coach also called for a structured youth development system beginning at the Under-13 level to ensure a seamless progression into the Junior Starlets and eventually the senior national team.
“Strong structures are essential. It would be fantastic to have U-13 and U-15 teams feeding into the Junior Starlets, who would then feed the senior team. The U-17 side has already played a key role in supplying players to the senior team, but with better structures we can achieve even more and be better prepared for major competitions,” she said.
Odemba further proposed regular youth training camps and international friendly matches, particularly during school holidays, to monitor player development and maintain continuity across the national team ranks.
“We can become a very competitive nation in women’s football if we invest properly. Recently, Tanzania took their team to Spain for a series of friendly matches. I hope one day we reach that level, where there is meaningful investment and structured development,” she added.
Kenya booked their place at the tournament with a commanding 5-1 aggregate victory over South Africa in the final qualifying round. The Junior Starlets carried a 2-0 first-leg advantage from Pretoria before sealing qualification with a 3-1 win at Nyayo National Stadium.
The Morocco finals will mark Kenya’s second appearance at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup after making history on debut in the Dominican Republic in 2024 as the country’s first football team to feature at any FIFA World Cup.
During that campaign, the Junior Starlets lost to England and eventual champions North Korea before defeating Mexico 2-1 to register Kenya’s first-ever victory at a FIFA World Cup. Under Cheche, the team is targeting an even bigger milestone by reaching the knockout stages.
Mara Sugar release midfielder Felix ‘Ajali’ Opiyo as squad rebuild continues
Opiyo, popularly known as Ajali, joined Mara Sugar in January 2025 immediately after he completed his studies at Koderobara High School.
Audio By Vocalize
Youthful midfielder Felix Cassilas Opiyo is among three players released by SportPesa Premier League side Mara Sugar as the club continues to reshape the squad ahead of the new season.
Opiyo, popularly known as Ajali, joined the Narok-based club in January 2025 after completing his studies at Koderobara High School. The promising midfielder made his senior debut under former coach Edward Manoah but struggled to establish himself as a regular in the first team.
Team manager Gilbert Ledama confirmed that Opiyo was released alongside Silas Oningo and Lameck Omondi. “The technical bench released them because it was felt they would not play a key role in the upcoming season. We decided to release them early so that they can find other clubs,” said Ledama.
The latest departures come two weeks after the Sugar Millers parted ways with Tony Oloo, Tanzania midfielder Kevin Longbert and Lameck Luhangala.
The club has also released Samuel Guto, Byron Billy and left-footed midfielder Makame Mwalago. Despite the clear-out, Ledama said he does not expect any further exits. Mara Sugar have already lost several key players to rival clubs.
Promising defender Robinson Musungu joined AFC Leopards, while SportPesa Premier League Defender of the Season Jimmy Owili completed a move to KCB despite attracting interest from AFC Leopards and Tusker.
Forward Timothy Ndayala has reunited with former Mara Sugar coach Edward Manoah at Kakamega Homeboyz. Musungu, Owili and Ndayala were instrumental in Mara Sugar’s campaign last season, helping the club finish 11th with 44 points, narrowly missing their target of a top-10 finish.
The club is currently in its second week of pre-season training at Shankoe Primary School in Narok County, where several new players are undergoing assessment.
“We are now into our second week of pre-season. I don’t expect more players to leave. We have some new players training with us. The technical bench is assessing them, and decisions will be made on their suitability,” Ledama said.
Experienced coach Mike Mururi joined the Enoosaen-based side two weeks ago and is overseeing preparations, although the club is yet to unveil him officially as head coach.
Ruto rewards NSL champions Migori Youth with team bus, backs stadium drive to fuel Kenya’s sporting future
The new bus is expected to ease the club’s travel logistics as they prepare for life in the top flight, providing a significant lift ahead of their nationwide league assignments.
Audio By Vocalize
National Super League (NSL) champions Migori Youth FC received a major boost on Monday after President William Ruto hosted the newly crowned second-tier champions at State House, Nairobi, where he fulfilled his promise of gifting the club a team bus.
The new bus is expected to ease the club’s travel logistics as they prepare for life in the top flight, providing a significant lift ahead of their nationwide league assignments.
The President also reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to strengthening Kenya’s sporting infrastructure, revealing that 34 stadiums are currently under construction across the country. The projects include the Talanta Sports City Complex, as well as the ongoing renovation of Nairobi’s Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, and Nyayo National Stadium.
Addressing critics who have questioned the massive investment in sports facilities, President Ruto defended the initiative, saying the country’s youth stand to benefit the most.
“Many people have been asking me whether building stadia is a priority. Those people should ask the young people of Kenya that question. You will get the right answer from the young sportsmen and women,” he said.
The Head of State noted that Kenya’s young athletes continue to fly the country’s flag high on the global stage, pointing to the nation’s success at international athletics championships and the Junior Harambee Starlets’ qualification for the FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup as evidence of the immense potential that deserves greater investment.
Turning his attention to Migori County, President Ruto said the Government is constructing a modern stadium that will serve as both the home ground for Migori Youth FC and a hub for nurturing emerging talent across the region.
“The stadium we are building in Migori will be the home base of this great team,” he said.
He added that the stadium projects being rolled out across the country are designed to inspire more young people to pursue sport and cement Kenya’s status as a global sporting powerhouse.
Beyond sports, the President urged the youth to take advantage of the opportunities being created through government programmes, including the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA), the digital economy and ICT hubs, overseas employment initiatives and infrastructure development projects.
Migori Governor Ochilo Ayacko welcomed the Government’s investment in the county, saying the new stadium will provide a world-class platform for developing local talent.
Ayacko disclosed that the facility is expected to be completed by September.
“These young people will have an opportunity to use the stadium and, when they use it, I believe they will bring the Premier League title to Migori County,” he said.
Uriri MP and Migori Youth FC patron Mark Nyamita also expressed his gratitude to President Ruto for backing the club, noting that the team had endured difficult times before its remarkable rise to National Super League glory.
Atheletics 15 July 2026 – 07:00
Longisa ready to carry Kipyegon’s legacy as rising star sets sights on Commonwealth glory
The 21-year-old is convinced she has what it takes to carry that responsibility.
Audio By Vocalize
Rosemary Longisa at the Commonwealth Games trials
Reigning National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) 1,500m champion Rosemary Longisa believes she is ready to step out of the shadows and fill the enormous shoes that quadruple world 1,500m champion Faith Kipyegon is expected to leave behind in Kenya’s metric-mile scene.
Kipyegon has already made her intentions clear of shifting her focus to longer distances, signalling the end of an era in the 1,500m, an event she has dominated for years and one that has become synonymous with her name on the global stage.
With the queen of the metric mile preparing for a new chapter, Longisa believes the time has come for a new generation to take up the mantle and ensure Kenya remains a force to reckon with in the event.
“I want to take over from her. She will not be in the 1,500m for long, and she has already started venturing into longer distances,” Longisa said. “So I just want to step in, fill that gap and continue making Kenya the best in the 1,500m.”
The 21-year-old is convinced she has what it takes to carry that responsibility.
“Faith inspires me a lot. She has had a great impact on my life. Every time I want to do something, I look at her career and say if she did it, then I can do it as well.
“Someone needs to step up and fill the void Faith will leave, and I feel I am that person,” she added.
Longisa will now have the perfect opportunity to back up those bold words when she spearheads Kenya’s charge in the One Mile race at the Commonwealth Games, set for July 23 to August 2 in Glasgow, Scotland.
She will line up alongside Naomi Korir and Teresiah Gateri as Team Kenya eyes a memorable outing on the track.
Longisa secured her place on the team for Glasgow after finishing third at the national trials held on June 18 at Nyayo National Stadium, clocking 4:10.01 behind Naomi Korir (4:08.57) and Teresiah Gateri (4:09.60). “This is my second time making Team Kenya, and I feel good.”
“I am going to give my best in Scotland. This is something I have been dreaming of since I started running, to represent Kenya.”
“I don’t take this for granted, and I will work hard and give my all to represent Kenya,” she noted.
Longisa, a student at Iowa State University, first donned the national colours at the World Indoor Championships held earlier this year on March 20 in Torun, Poland.
In Poland, she competed in the 800m but narrowly missed the semi-finals after finishing fifth in her heat in 2:03.48.
As she counts down to Glasgow, the NCAA champion says she is concentrating on building the endurance required to thrive on the international stage. “Camp training has been good, although it has been hard adjusting to the altitude in Kenya as well as the weather.
“I will be building up my endurance to be ready for the Commonwealth Games,” she said.
Besides Kipyegon, Longisa also draws inspiration from fellow Kenyan middle-distance queens Susan Ejore and Dorcus Ewoi.
“Susan and Dorcus are my other mentors. Susan mostly checks up on me regularly. When I made Team Kenya, she called me; she was so happy and encouraged me.”
The gifted middle-distance prospect has steadily established herself as one of the brightest talents in the American collegiate circuit.
On June 13, she stormed to the NCAA 1,500m title after clocking 4:12.10 to finish ahead of Morocco’s Salma Elbadra (4:12.89) and fellow Kenyan Juliet Cherubet (4:12.99). Despite claiming the coveted NCAA crown, Longisa believes an even bigger milestone lies ahead.
Her sights are firmly set on breaking the NCAA 1,500m record of 3:59.90, set by Jenny Barringer in 2009. “This season, we are looking at breaking the NCAA record in the 1,500m. If not this year, then in the near future. If I can go under four minutes, then I can break the record.
“I got the NCAA title, and now the target is just to go for that NCAA record,” she noted.
East African rivalry will push marathon records even lower, says Tergat
The marathon legend predicted that running under two hours could soon become the new benchmark for the men’s marathon.
Audio By Vocalize
Former National Olympics Committee of Kenya (NOCK) president and former marathon world record holder Paul Tergat believes the fierce rivalry among East Africa’s distance-running powerhouses will continue to drive Kenyan athletes to even greater heights.
Tergat says the intense competition among Kenya, Ethiopia and Uganda is the perfect catalyst to push the marathon into uncharted territory.
Sebastian Sawe rewrote marathon history on April 26 in London by becoming the first man to break the two-hour barrier in an official marathon. He clocked a remarkable 1:59:30 to eclipse the previous world record of 2:00:35 set by the late Kelvin Kiptum in Chicago in 2023.
Sawe’s historic achievement came after a thrilling contest with Ethiopia’s Yomif Kejelcha and Uganda’s Jacob Kiplimo. Kejelcha, making his marathon debut, finished second in 1:59:41, while Kiplimo placed third in 2:00:28, with all three athletes bettering the previous world record.
Tergat believes that the level of competition is exactly what will inspire Sawe—and other Kenyan stars—to continue lowering the marathon world record.
“We love having competition because you cannot go all the way on your own and expect to perform well,” said Tergat. “I am happy that Kenya’s biggest challengers are all from East Africa—Ethiopia and Uganda.”
Despite the growing strength of Kenya’s regional rivals, Tergat insists the country remains the world’s leading producer of elite marathon runners.
“We have the biggest pool in terms of marathon runners. It’s a good thing to have rivalry because it makes you stronger and even more focused.”
The marathon great believes Sawe’s world record is unlikely to stand for long. “All these records being set will, at some point, be broken. Sawe is at his peak, and he is still young, so we hope he can push the barrier even further.”
Tergat also predicts that breaking two hours could soon become the new benchmark in men’s marathon running. “We are yet to see more athletes in the near future going under two hours. I know we will see a lot of them.”
Tergat knows better than most what it takes to redefine marathon history. In 2003, he became the first man to run under 2:05 after clocking 2:04:55 at the Berlin Marathon to break the previous world record of 2:05:38 set by Khalid Khannouchi in London a year earlier.
Watching Sawe achieve what many once believed impossible was a moment Tergat says he will never forget. “It was one of the most exciting things I have ever seen. It was exciting to watch a Kenyan break the record.”
He also believes advances in sports science and technology will continue to produce faster marathon performances. “Sport is evolving. With technology, things are changing, and I don’t think we have reached the peak yet.”
“The shoes athletes wear now are carbon-plated shoes, unlike in our time. The running vests we used were cotton, but now they are made from lighter materials that improve aeration.”
“The availability of gyms has also played a big role. In our time, if you didn’t live in a big city, you couldn’t access a gym. Now gyms are available even at the grassroots level.”
Sawe has already confirmed he will race at the Berlin Marathon on September 27, where expectations will once again be immense following his historic London triumph.
Tergat, who also set a world record in Berlin during his career, believes the German capital offers Sawe another opportunity to produce something special.
-Radio Fortune Africa
-Sounds FM
-Fortune Television Network
-CantonaCast Television
-Be ready to be Impacted, Inspired & Empowered.
-Keep watching our Channels
An attitude determines an altitude.
All Rights Reserved © Cantona Group PLC||2026