English
Indian
العربية
Español
Deutsch
Türkçe
Русский
Français (Afrique)
Kenya coach Odemba reveals importance of FIFA Women’s Series
Kenya women’s national team coach Beldine Odemba has explained why the upcoming FIFA Women’s Series will be good for Harambee Starlets.
The East African nation is set to host the inaugural FIFA Women’s Series, bringing together four national teams for an international tournament to be held at Nyayo National Stadium. playerbros.org
Look who just pulled up to camp
#FIFASeriesWomenKe #FIFASeries pic.twitter.com/77YjNJGBkl
— Harambee Starlets (@StarletsKE) April 8, 2026
The competition will feature Harambee Starlets alongside Australia, India, and Malawi, with matches scheduled from April 11 to April 15, 2026.
WAFCON postponement blessing in disguise
“The postponement of the WAFCON is now a blessing in disguise as it gives us time to prepare well,” said Odemba.
“It is exciting that we will host the FIFA series and will face big and established teams as well as the likes of Malawi who have qualified for WAFCON.
“We now have all the local players in camp and are just looking forward to the arrival of the internationals from Wednesday. The team is in transition and so the friendlies we are playing with are to ensure the team is gelling and everyone is up to speed.”
Kenya to open against India
The tournament will kick off on Saturday, April 11, with two matches lined up at Nyayo Stadium. Harambee Starlets will face India at 6.00 pm in the day’s headline fixture, while Australia will take on Malawi earlier at 2.00 pm at the same venue.
The tournament will conclude on Wednesday, April 15, with the third-place playoff set to be played at 2.00 pm, followed by the final at 6.00 pm to determine the inaugural FIFA Women’s Series champion.
Hosting the FIFA Women’s Series provides Kenya with an opportunity to strengthen key areas of football development beyond match play.
The tournament will support growth in event organisation, operational planning, and match officiating, while also offering valuable experience in managing international competitions.
This exposure contributes to building local capacity and aligning with global standards in tournament delivery.
When will murder-accused cricketer be back in court?
In a court decision that will certainly raise some serious questions, the family of Elana Brooke – who was killed allegedly at the hands of murder-accused cricketer Tristan Perez – have expressed their outrage over his release on R5000 bail.
Prosecutors argued that Perez should remain behind bars, having previously been arrested after police suspected his involvement in the alleged murder of Brooke after what was believed to be a heated argument.
However, he was ultimately granted bail at a minimal cost, with Brooke’s ex-husband and family spokesperson, David Brooke expressing disdain for the decision to set “such a low bail with no conditions”.
“This is not only a murder, it’s a gender-based violence murder, it’s femicide and that is even more worrying that someone like that is let out on bail and is free to walk until a trial has been set,” David Brooke commented.
“We are very upset as a family, but we will deal with it. He will get his day in court and justice will be served for our beautiful Elana.”
So when will Tristan Perez be back in court?
No trial date has been set yet, but the next court date is only expected to be at the beginning of June, with fears already growing that this case is likely to drag on while Perez remains out of jail.
“We are utterly gutted. It is an absolute disgrace that someone accused of such a crime can walk free on R5 000 bail,” David Brooke added.
Despite strong opposition from the State, the magistrate ruled that Perez demonstrated sufficient ties to the community and did not pose a flight risk.
Club cricketer must answer to murder charges
Police apprehended Perez after suspecting his involvement in the alleged murder of Elana Brooke after what was believed to be a heated argument.
Earlier this week, David Brooke said there has been an outpouring of support since the incident that was upgraded to a murder case.
Perez has been a mainstay in Cape Town’s club cricket scene for several years, but Claremont Cricket Club had already abruptly ended Perez’s membership in mid-February due to “disciplinary matters arising from conduct deemed to be inconsistent with the ethos, values and spirit of the club.”
Defending champ McIlroy shares Masters lead after back-nine birdie run
Rory McIlroy reeled off three consecutive back-nine birdies to fire a five-under par 67 and seize a share of the lead in Thursday’s opening round of the 90th Masters with top-ranked Scottie Scheffler three adrift.
World number two McIlroy, trying to become only the fourth golfer to win back-to-back Masters titles, curled in a 29-foot birdie putt at the par-five 15th as he matched Sam Burns atop the leaderboard at Augusta National.
“It’s a great start. I’m right into the tournament,” McIlroy said. “Great start but I can’t get ahead of myself. There’s a long way to go, but I’m happy with where I’m at.”
The five-time major champion from Northern Ireland pitched to three feet and tapped in for birdie at the par-five second hole but left a nine-foot par putt hanging on the edge to bogey the third.
McIlroy answered with a tap-in birdie at the eighth after reaching the green in two then made an eight-foot birdie putt at the ninth.
“I settled into the round really nicely,” McIlroy said. “I started to find my game a bit on the back.
“When I was missing tee shots on the front nine, I kept swinging away. Felt sooner or later I would find it, and I did. Found it at the eighth hole and played well from there.”
‘Same nerves’
McIlroy charged to the top with a 14-foot birdie putt at the par-five 13th, a seven-foot birdie putt at the par-four 14th and his impressive putt at 15.
He found a fairway bunker off the 18th tee but landed his approach 41 feet from the hole and two-putted.
“Wind is up and down,” McIlroy said. “It’s not a strong breeze but you can get some gusts and that can affect your ball flight.”
Not since Jordan Spieth in 2016 had a defending champion led after the opening round of the Masters.
“I thought I’d feel different,” McIlroy said after his 2025 win to complete a career Grand Slam. “But when I put my tee in the ground and ball on the tee, I felt the same nerves I always feel.”
Reed also in it
Burns, seeking his first major win, made three birdies in four holes on the back nine.
“I drove it really nice,” Burns said. “You can get in some pretty tough spots getting off the fairway. Getting onto the green, I felt like I was able to give myself some opportunities.”
Burns was the 54-hole leader in last year’s US Open before a closing 78 left him sharing seventh, his best major result.
Patrick Reed, the 2018 Masters champion, eagled the second and eighth to join fellow American Kurt Kitayama and Australian Jason Day in sharing third on 69.
Xander’s tee bag shot
Four-time major winner Scheffler, seeking a third Masters crown in five seasons, shot 70 to share sixth. He sank an 18-foot eagle putt at the second and drove the green at the par-four third to set up a tap-in birdie but got no lower all day.
England’s 45-year-old Justin Rose, the 2013 US Open winner who lost a Masters playoff to McIlroy last year, closed with back-to-back bogeys to join the pack on 70 that also included Ireland’s Shane Lowry and American Xander Schauffele.
Tenth-ranked Schauffele, the 2024 British Open and PGA Championship winner, sent his tee shot at the eighth into a spectator’s souvenir bag but recovered to par the hole.
“Just flew straight into the bag. It was a great break. That bounce would’ve put me in the pine straw,” he said. “So thanks to the lady on eight.”
Bryson DeChambeau, the 2020 and 2024 US Open champion, suffered a triple bogey at 11 and shot 76 while Spain’s Jon Rahm shot 78.
La campagne agricole d'Afrique de l'Ouest et des pays du Sahel face aux perturbations au Moyen-Orient
Du 7 au 9 avril s'est tenue à l’OCDE, à Paris, la réunion annuelle du Réseau de prévention des crises alimentaires (RCPA). Elle a réuni les principaux acteurs gouvernementaux et ONG d’Afrique de l’Ouest et du Sahel dans le domaine. Si le bilan agricole de la dernière campagne a permis de franchir la barre des 80 millions de tonnes de céréales produites, 50 millions de personnes sont néanmoins encore touchées par l’insécurité alimentaire. Le conflit au Moyen-Orient pourrait aggraver la situation.
AFC Leopards coach Fred Ambani crowned best for March
Kenyan Premier League outfit AFC Leopards head coach Fred Ambani and Posta Rangers forward Jackson Macharia have respectively been named the SportPesa League Coach and Player of the Month for March.
Ambani’s leadership inspired a resurgent AFC Leopards side back into the league title conversation and earned him the accolade, his second of the season, while Macharia’s decisive goals single-handedly dragged his team out of an 11-game winless rut.
𝐋𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧,
𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐂𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡 , 𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐀𝐦𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐢
𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡 pic.twitter.com/KzfwNa1dG4
— AFC Leopards (@AFCLeopards) April 9, 2026
March was not a month for the faint-hearted in Ingwe’s camp. A stunning 5-1 thumping of Shabana FC was followed by a shock 4-1 humbling by Mathare United, a result that appeared to put a dagger through their title aspirations and left them ten points adrift of league leaders Gor Mahia.
AFC Leopards focus is to maintain momentum
However, in the weeks that followed, he orchestrated three wins on the bounce to close the gap on sworn rivals Gor Mahia who are suddenly looking nervously over their shoulders.
“March was an important month for us because the team showed character and belief in every match. Our focus now is to maintain this momentum and keep pushing towards our goals,” he told the media after receiving award.
“It’s been a while since our club was in such a strong position around this time of the season. We are taking it a game at a time and hopefully we’ll give our loyal fans something to celebrate at season end,” added the former Kenya international.
The Kes. 75,000 and customized trophy award marks Ambani’s second Coach of the Month honour this season after grabbing the December 2025 gong. He joins Gor Mahia’s Charles Akonnor as a double winner this campaign.
For a second month running, Akonnor finished runner-up after guiding Gor Mahia to a 67% win rate in 3 matches, scoring 6 goals and conceding thrice.
Macharia wins Players’ award
Meanwhile Macharia stopped what would have been an Ingwe clean sweep as he edged Tyson Otieno for the players’ award.
The experienced attacker had an outstanding March run, stroking home 4 goals in 4 matches, the highest in the period, which included the opener in a 1-1 draw against Gor Mahia and a brace that edged Kariobangi Sharks 2-1.
Macharia who pocketed Kes. 50,000 and a customized trophy said the recognition reflects the collective effort of the team and technical bench.
“I’m grateful for this award and thankful to my teammates and coaches who have supported me throughout the season,” said Macharia.
“Football is a team sport and every goal I score comes from the work we do together. I’m motivated to keep working hard and help the team achieve even more in the remaining matches.”
The Player and Coach of the Month awards recognizes monthly exceptional performances and are informed by detailed match data and performance metrics compiled by Tisini, ensuring transparency and objectivity in the selection process.