The Capital FM Footbal team lifting the trophy after beating perennial rivals Radio Africa 2-0 in the Lenovo Intel five-aside tourney.
NAIROBI, Kenya, June 18- Standard Chartered Trophy World champions Capital FM football team produced a scintillating performance to win the Lenovo Intel five-a-side football tournament unbeaten after seeing off Radio Africa 2-0 in the final played at the Kenya School of Monetary Studies on Saturday.
The win saw the team go home with a glittering trophy while each team member walked home with a Lenovo laptop.
All-time-top scorer Solomon Okeyo and Kristian Malumbe were in a class of their own as The Best Mix of Music team grabbled their second title this year, just one month after becoming the first African side to lift the annual Standard Chattered Trophy at Anfield Stadium, the home of Liverpool FC.
Okeyo was the tournament’s top scorer with 17 goals while Malumbe was named the Most Valuable Player.
Capital FM’s Kristian Malumbe receiving the MVP trophy from Lenovo Distribution Channel Manager -East Africa Pewmnath Kumarasamy.
“It was good effort from everyone in the team and I want to thank the players because they put everything to win this tournament. Everyone played his part brilliantly and we once again showed that we are not champions by fluke. This is our second trophy this year and we look forward to more,” head coach Ahmedin Gulu commented after the win.
Capital FM also comprising of skipper Lassie Atrash, Jeffrey Ooko, Timothy Olobulu, Ali Athman, Shaffy Soud, Alex Isaboke, Ivy Mang’eli and David Muba, oozed with confidence starting the competition with a bang after seeing off Redington 4-0, a match that The Best Mix of Music team decided to play later on despite being handed a walkover.
In that match, Okeyo grabbed a hatrick with Atrash rounding off the win. It was a clean and unbothered start to the tournament with goalkeeper Shaffy Soud finishing off the match untested.
Capital FM’s Jeff Ooko in action against a Standard Group player.
The world champions were more commanding in the second match, having shaken off the jitter of the first game to rip apart Specicom10-0in what was the biggest scoreline of the tournament.
Red hot Okeyo hit the back of the net five times, Atrash and Malumbe added two while defender Ali Athman put the icing on the cake converting a last ditch penalty.
Okeyo kept his scoring form on into the third group match, scoring all five as Capital FM convincingly won 5-0 against Specicom.
Capital FM’s Captain Lassie Atrash closing on an opponent.
Office Mart was the final group opponent and they were not spared the wrath by a Capital side firing from all cylinders with a 5-0 result.
Okeyo scored twice in between Ooko’s goals with Malumbe scoring what would easily be described as the goal of the tournament, hitting a bicycle kick at the edge of the box from a skillful chip from Atrash.
The side moved into the quarter final with a superb record having scored 23 goals in five matches and kept a clean sheet in all with keeper Soud only being reduced to a paltry saves.
With all teams now fully aware of the free scoring Capital side, the matches became tougher into the knockout stages but still none could match their standards.
They faced Royal Media Services in the last eight and after being held back by a fully defensive RMS for the first five minutes of the match, Okeyo broke the duck with a superb finish coming at the end of some beautiful team movement before Ooko rounded off the win with a brace.
Capital FM’s Alex Isaboke dribbling past Athur Nyoike of Royal Media Services
Isaboke, who came in immediately the second half started could have sealed the win in superb fashion, but his screamer from distance went against the crossbar with the keeper left dazed and rooted to his spot.
Standard Group put up a purely defensive shield in the semi-final, knowing with the ability of their keeper, they could force the game to penalties and probably be lucky enough to pull through to the final.
The Mombasa Road based side’s keeper was forced to put extra efforts, saving shot after shot as Malumbe and Okeyo attacked his goal mouth with fierce shots.
After a goalless first half, Standard knew their tact was working perfectly, but they were undone with Malumbe scoring from the tightest of angles after being picked out by Atrash.
Capital FM’s football team posing with prize of Lenovo laptop after winning the inaugural #LenovoIntel Football Challenge. Lenovo Marketing manager Joy Ochuka (right).
The final was a repeat of March’s Road to Anfield tournament Final against Radio Africa and the score was no different, Capital picking a 2-0 win thanks to Malumbe’s spectacular goal from a tight angle and Okeyo’s superb finish.
Atrash thought he had rounded up the day with a fabulous effort after being denied time and again by the keeper, but the referee blew the full time whistle with the ball already in motion heading into the net.
