Mathare United have stepped up their preparations for the 2026/27 FKF Premier League season after travelling to Rwanda for an eight-day pre-season camp that will see them face three of the country’s established clubs.The 2008 Kenyan champions are using the camp to fine-tune their squad, build match fitness and allow head coach David Ouma to assess his charges ahead of the new campaign.##NAJAVA_MECA_9883764##According to the fixtures released by the club, Mathare will begin their Rwanda tour with a stern test against APR FC on Wednesday, August 12, at Kigali Pelé Stadium.The encounter will provide the Slum Boys with their first opportunity to gauge their progress against quality opposition during their pre-season programme.They will return to action on Friday, August 14, when they take on Kiyovu Sports, another side with a rich history in Rwandan football.Ominde reveals challenge of balancing club and Kenya Lionesses dutiesThe highlight of Mathare’s eight-day stay, however, will be thei..

Former Kenya Cup side South Coast Pirates have appointed Englishman Andy Ball as their new head coach as they step up preparations for the 2026/27 season.The Kwale-based club confirmed the appointment on Wednesday, August 12, with Ball becoming only the second foreign coach to take charge of a Kenyan rugby club. Kabras RFC’s South African head coach Carlos Katywa remains the other foreign tactician currently coaching in the country.##NAJAVA_MECA_9883764##In announcing the appointment, the club expressed excitement about what it described as a new chapter for the Pirates.“We are delighted to welcome Coach Andy Ball as our new head coach,” the club said in a statement.An experienced coach from Wokingham, England, Ball began his rugby journey playing in the south of England with Wokingham, Overton and Basingstoke before transitioning into coaching.His coaching career has taken him across the globe, with stints in Düsseldorf and Rheindahlen, Germany, before moving to China. While in Hong K..

Kenya’s national youth teams have been handed a clear roadmap towards three major continental tournaments after CAF confirmed the host countries for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations competitions.Kenya could feature at the U23, U20 and U17 AFCON tournaments next year, but the country will first have to negotiate the respective qualification campaigns to earn places at the finals.##NAJAVA_MECA_9883764##Egypt will host the 2027 CAF U23 Africa Cup of Nations, which will also serve as the African qualifying tournament for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.Ghana will stage the U20 AFCON in February and March 2027, while Morocco will host the U17 AFCON in April and May.For Kenya, the qualification journey will begin at regional level, with the CECAFA region providing the pathway to the U20 and U17 continental finals.AFC Leopards suffer devastating injury blow weeks to start of new seasonThe CECAFA U20 AFCON qualifiers are scheduled to take place from September 19 to October 10, 2026 in Tanz..

Paul Pogba’s brief Monaco adventure appears to be coming to an end after just six appearances for the club.The 33-year-old midfielder is in talks with Monaco over a mutual termination of his contract, just 12 months after signing a two-year deal as a free agent, The Athletic reports on Tuesday night.Monaco had hoped to help the former Manchester United and Juventus star rediscover his best form after a lengthy absence from football, but those plans have failed to materialise.Fresh start or beginning of the end: Monaco set to offload PogbaPogba’s latest setback could now bring his time in the principality to an abrupt end. The World Cup winner suffered a hamstring injury during Monaco’s pre-season camp at St George’s Park on Tuesday, with fears that he could be sidelined for several months.However, discussions over ending his contract had already been underway for several weeks, meaning the injury is not believed to be the sole reason behind the potential split.What if: Paul Pogba was c..

Matthias Jaissle has only just been unveiled as Newcastle United’s new head coach, but he already knows there is one part of Premier League life that could get him into trouble – the touchline.The 38-year-old German is calm and measured away from the pitch, but admits he becomes a completely different character once the game begins.And that could be a problem in England.Total rebuild: Newcastle promote a new coach”I’m a bit scared,” Jaissle joked when discussing the Premier League’s technical areas. “I hope in the beginning the referees can maybe close their eyes here and there a little. I need to learn that.”The former RB Salzburg and Al-Ahli boss is renowned for his emotional touchline presence and knows he will have to rein himself in.”I will not change my style because that’s my personality. On the touchline, I am emotional, but I need to respect the box a bit more.”##NAJAVA_MECA_9889884##His solution? Perhaps some advanced technology.”I had a long touchline in Saudi Arabia, so I t..