Kaluluini FC and Ikaalasa Queens have been named the winners of the inaugural Machakos Football Governor’s Cup in the men’s and women’s categories, respectively.
Kaluluini FC from Yatta sub-county defeated Mavoko FC 2-1 in the finals at Kenyatta stadium in Machakos. Ikaalasa Queens from Mwala subcounty won the women’s title after defeating Athiriver Starlets from AthiRiver sub-county 3-2. The winners received a cash prize of Sh1 million, while the second runner-up received Sh500, 000 in both categories.
Speaking after crowning the winners, Governor Wavinya Ndeti said the tournament that started four months ago brought together 640 teams across the 40 wards in the county. She stated that the games attracted 14,000 young men and women, with 2,500 matches played
The tournament serves as a platform to recognize and nurture youth’s sporting potential, encouraging local and international clubs to identify and nurture their talents. Hence, the county government is committed in investing in sporting activities to
develop talent among the youth.
The County Governor, aims to promote global football opportunities for young people, preventing drug abuse and early pregnancies, and exposing them to emerging opportunities.
The event was also graced by Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka who underscored the importance of such tournaments in developing sporting talents among the youth. Also in attendance was former Harambee Stars Coach Jacob Ghost Mulee, Music Copyright Society of Kenya (MCSK) CEO Ezekiel Mutua and Federation of Kenyan Football (FKF) President Nick Mwendwa.
Source: Kenya News Agency
WINDHOEK: A 29-year-old Tanzanian woman is set to appear in the Opuwo Magistrate’s court on Thursday for a bail application, in connection with the alleged trafficking of protected plant species.
The Ministry of Environment, Forestry and Tourism (MEFT) spokesperson Romeo Muyunda in a media statement on Monday said Diana Mashiku was arrested alongside Namibians, Veisiruaije Tjavara (25), Jennifer Simataa (37) and Tjivinda Unatavi (31) for being in possession of 46 Adenia pechuelii plants, which they allegedly harvested from the wild without a permit.
The alleged plant trafficking occurred between 21 October and 10 November 2023 at Okandombo, in the Kunene region.
‘This case is one of many where international poaching syndicates use Namibian enablers to persuade local community members to find and harvest Namibia’s unique plant species for a small fee. The plants are then smuggled across international borders to be sold to plant collectors for substantial sums of money,’ he said.
Muyunda further said in the
last two years, authorities have seized 666 indigenous plants, excluding illegal timber. A staggering 430 of the confiscated specimens were Adenia pechuelii, known as the ‘Elephant’s Foot’, involving 16 criminal cases and the arrest of 37 suspects.
Most of these arrests were the result of intelligence-led investigations spearheaded by the Blue Rhino Task Team, which comprises several branches of the Namibian Police Force working alongside the MEFT Investigations Unit,’ he concluded.
Source: The Namibia Press Agency