Hail The Kings: Kingstone Are 2019 Kothbiro Football Champions

3rd August 2019 - by Erick Ochieng

The winners were awarded KSh 300,000 for the feat courtesy of technology and entertainment business SportPesa who supported the annual event

The 2019 Kothbiro Football Tournament champions Kingstone FC celebrate at Ziwani Grounds in Nairobi on August 3, 2019.PHOTO/KOTHBIRO

SUMMARY

The two sides had battled to a 2-2 draw in an exciting regulation that kept the crowd on the edge of their seats
Francis Omondi of Borrusia FC won the Top Scorer Award with five goals. Most Valuable Player Award went to Keith Imbali of Dallas FC
Kothbiro has nurtured some of the greatest stars in Kenyan football including former Harambee Stars captain Mike Okoth, Jamal Mohamed, former Bandari coach Rishadi Shedu and K’Ogalo’s Kevin Omondi

NAIROBI, Kenya- Shauri Moyo based Kingstone FC edged Allin Jua-Kali FC 7-6 on post-match penalties to win the 41st edition of Kothbiro Football Tournament at Ziwani Grounds in Nairobi on Saturday evening.

The two sides had battled to a 2-2 draw in an exciting regulation that kept the crowd on the edge of their seats.

Jua-Kali opened the score-sheet through Evans Juma who drilled in a rebound in the 20th minute. Kelwish Walubukha equalised 1-1 for the opponents with a header in the 39th before the sides proceeded for break.

Second half was equally a balanced affair as Chrispine Onyango headed in a Walubukha’s left cross to give Kingstone a 2-1 lead in the 58th.

But this was cancelled by Walcott Wala who scored a free kick outside the box to level the scores 2-2 in the 68th, sending the rivals to the dreaded penalty shoot-out that ended into Kingstone’s favour.

The winners were awarded KSh 300,000 for the feat courtesy of technology and entertainment business SportPesa who supported the annual event.

Francis Omondi of Borrusia FC won the Top Scorer Award with five goals. Most Valuable Player Award went to Keith Imbali of Dallas FC.

Best Keeper was bagged by Job Ochieng of Borrusia while Most Outstanding Player category was shared by Hussein Maina and George Odhiambo.

Evander Evans Mieno of Umeme Bees FC went home with the Most Promising Player Award.

This year’s edition was dedicated to the late Kothbiro CEO Stephen Ogos who passed away during the initial stages of the tournament.

The contest began with 51 teams, allowing clubs that made it to the round of 16 last year to proceed automatically to the group stage.

Kothbiro has nurtured some of the greatest stars in Kenyan football including former Harambee Stars captain Mike Okoth, Jamal Mohamed, former Bandari coach Rishadi Shedu and K’Ogalo’s Kevin Omondi.

Over the years the tournament has evolved to be the bedrock of Kenyan football as it has brought together hundreds of teams, thousands of footballers and tens of thousands of fans from different corners of Nairobi and its environs.