Hippos crowned Tsingtao Kefofa Cup inaugural champions

Industrialization PS Juma Mukhwana and Chinese Embassy Counselor Zhang Yijun award Hippos FC players a trophy on Saturday, March 11, 2023. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

Hippos FC are the champions of the inaugural Tsingtao Kefofa Cup football tournament held at the Ngong Race Course in Nairobi at the weekend.

The winners edged out A 1000 Sportif FC 3-2 on post-match penalties to lift the competition whose mission was to strengthen the already existing 60-year-old relationship between China and Kenya.

The two sides had battled to a barren draw in regular time, before they proceeded for the dreaded spot kicks.

Kevin Odingo netted the decisive penalty after Hippos goalkeeper Ezekiel Kombo saved A 1000 Sportif's spot kick.

Hippo's midfielder Bramwel Karamoja emerged the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the tournament.

Goalkeeper Sichen Li was feted as the best Chinese player in the tournament as Hippo's custodian Kombo won the golden gloves award.

Apart from football, there was the thrilling beer drinking contest that was won by Paul Polosa of the Kenya Sports Journalist FC. Other categories awarded were the penalty shootouts and patriotic song contests.

Tsingtao Beer Marketing Manager Sammy Zhan hailed the tournament saying: "The tournament ran smoothly, we hope to expand it to a bigger and better version in the coming editions."

Zhan's sentiments were echoed by Chinese Embassy Counselor Zhang Yijun.

Principal Secretary, State Department for Industry and Ministry of Trade, Juma Mukhwana who graced the ceremony stated: "We are friends, we are brothers, this tournament has brought us together."