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Kenya bids farewell to marathon sensation Kiptum

Top athletes and dignitaries joined hundreds of mourners at the funeral on Friday of Kenya’s world marathon record-holder Kelvin Kiptum in the nation’s athletics heartland where he was born, trained and died.

Kiptum, a 24-year-old father of two, was killed in a late-night car crash on February 11, just months after shattering the marathon record in Chicago.

Kiptum’s wife, Asenath Rotich, was overcome with emotion as she read a tearful tribute to the marathon prodigy.

“It’s unbelievable that today I have learnt to stay with our beloved kids without you coming home again,” she said, revealing that the couple had planned to hold a wedding ceremony in April.

“I will still make my vows of love even in your rest.”

Although Kiptum only competed in three marathons, he won all of the races, posting three of the seven fastest times in history for the event.

Coe said his death was “a cause of intense sadness” and eulogised the young athlete for scaling “the highest peaks of achievement” during his short life.

“Rest assured your achievements are treasured, indelible and secure in the annals of our history and never ever forgotten,” the athletics chief said.

‘Worked against odds’

Kiptum ran the Chicago race in October in two hours and 35 seconds, slicing 34 seconds off the previous fastest time set by his Kenyan rival, the marathon legend Eliud Kipchoge.

His sudden death has left Kenya, and the wider athletics community, reeling.

Ruto said the East African nation had seen “the future of athletics” in Kiptum.

“He had more reasons not to succeed than to succeed but he worked against the odds,” he said, describing his death as “a very heavy moment”.

Mourners started arriving at the funeral venue at dawn, some wearing black T-shirts with a picture of Kiptum emblazoned across the front.

They viewed the body, laid out in a half-open casket on a red carpet, as a choir sang hymns.

Four giant screens were mounted to stream the event for the many villagers gathered outside the venue.

Dozens of athletes including 1,500m record-holder Faith Kipyegon and two-time Olympic 800m champion David Rudisha knelt in prayer near Kiptum’s casket before showering it with pink and white rose petals.

Neighbours described the star athlete as a “very generous man”.

“In his short life as an athlete, he’s helped in funding (the) education of some of the children at (his alma mater) the Chepsamo primary school,” neighbour Jackson Komen told AFP.

“He was so down-to-earth that when he had broken the world record he would still join his friends at the Chepkorio centre to play pool,” Komen added.

Candlelight vigil

Hundreds of people had turned out Thursday as Kiptum’s coffin was taken from the Rift Valley town of Eldoret to his home village of Chepkorio.

Hundreds of mourners also joined a solemn candlelight vigil in the nation’s capital Nairobi on Thursday, paying an emotional tribute to the rising star who had been the overwhelming favourite for the Paris 2024 Olympics.

After the funeral ceremony, Kiptum will be laid to rest in Naiberi, near Eldoret, where the government has built a new home for the family of the national hero.

Police said Kiptum was driving near Eldoret at around 11:00 pm on February 11 when his car careered off the road into a ditch and hit a tree.

Kenya’s chief government pathologist, Johansen Oduor, said on Wednesday an autopsy found Kiptum had suffered severe head injuries.

Toxicology tests were still under way, he added.

Kiptum’s Rwandan coach Gervais Hakizimana, 36, also died in the crash.

Hakizimana, who had trained Kiptum since 2019, was laid to rest in the Rwandan capital Kigali on Wednesday.

Known for maintaining a gruelling training schedule that sometimes topped 300 kilometres (190 miles) a week, Kiptum had recently announced he was hoping to smash the mythic two-hour mark at the Rotterdam Marathon in April.

 

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Super Falcons Defender Chidimma Ogbuchi Signs 2 years Management Deal With TopPro

Super Falcons and Robo Queens defender Chidimma Ogbuchi has signed a 2-year deal with TopPro Sports Management Company.

While speaking during the sign-on event, the Chief Executive Officer of TopPro Management Company, Ms. Ojuolape Kosoko, welcome the hard-tackling defender to the stable of TopPro, who are renowned for their astuteness, professionalism and reputable global football networks, that has seen several players on his stable including Super Falcons Striker Folashade Ijamilusi, earning lucrative football deals across the globe.

Kosoko, in her address to Chidimma Ogbuchi and her team of minders led by Coach Emmanuel Osahon, advised the player to remain focused, disciplined and of course, passionate about the game, while adding that her company would give the player all the necessary supports for further growth and development.

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Cote d’Ivoire 2025: Zubairu bravely accepts the challenge of North Africans, South Africa

head coach of Flying Eagles, Aliyu Zubairu

 

The head coach of Flying Eagles, Aliyu Zubairu, has voiced his optimism following Thursday’s group stage draw for the Africa U20 Cup of Nations, which will take place in Cote d’Ivoire, 26th April – 18th May.

The Nigerian team finds itself in a demanding group alongside traditional powerhouses Morocco, Egypt, and South Africa, all of whom have a rich history in African youth football.

In his reaction to the draw, Coach Zubairu remarked: “It’s a very good draw. If a team truly aspires to reach the FIFA World Cup, there is no need to shy away from any opponent. Facing Egypt, Morocco, and South Africa at this stage presents a tremendous opportunity. I believe it’s a blessing.” This perspective not only highlights Zubairu’s confidence in his squad’s capabilities but also underscores his commitment to challenging his players against formidable rivals, which can ultimately foster their development and resilience.

Understanding the gravity of the situation, Coach Zubairu stressed the necessity of mental preparation as his team gears up for these high-stakes matches. He is keen on instilling a robust sense of self-belief within his players, emphasizing that they should approach every opponent with respect and seriousness.

 

“We need to dispel the notion that this is a ‘group of death,’” he said. “In African football, there are no small teams anymore. The key is to prepare very well. A lesser-known nation can surprise everyone if they come prepared.”

 

To ensure the team is adequately prepared for the task, the NFF has not only put the Flying Eagles in camp to resume training, with a 30-man squad, but has also organised a two-match tour of Cairo for the team to play the Egyptian U20 team at the end of this month. The friendly matches in Cairo have been scheduled for 25th and 27th February

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Cote d’Ivoire 2025: Flying Eagles up against Egypt, South Africa and Morocco

 

Seven-time champions Nigeria will battle it out with tough customers Egypt, South Africa and Morocco in the group phase of this year’s Africa U20 Cup of Nations, scheduled for Cote d’Ivoire 26th April – 18th May.

 

The Flying Eagles pipped host nation Egypt 1-0 in a group phase match at the last edition of the competition and must ensure a great start to their campaign in Cote d’Ivoire in order to build confidence for a gritty tournament. Nigeria finished third in Egypt two years ago.

 

Former Malian player Adama Coulibaly, who was an assistant at the draw conducted inside the CAF headquarters in Egypt on Thursday, said: “There is no doubt that the toughest group is the group B that has Nigeria, Egypt, South Africa and Morocco.”

 

Hosts Cote d’Ivoire will have to contend with DR Congo, Ghana, Tanzania and the yet-to-emerge representative team of Central Africa zone, in a five-team group A.

 

Cup-holders Senegal head group C, which also has Zambia and two debutants Kenya and Sierra Leone.

 

The two top-placed teams in each group, alongside the best two third-placed finishers in the three groups, will advance to the championship’s quarter finals.  

 

GROUP A: Cote d’Ivoire, UNNIFAC, DR Congo, Ghana, Tanzania

 

GROUP B: Nigeria, Egypt, South Africa, Morocco

 

 

GROUP C: Senegal, Zambia, Kenya, Sierra Leone

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