Category: The Citizen

Mexico coach Javier Aguirre praised his team’s mentality on Wednesday ?after they upped the tempo in the second half to secure a 3-0 victory against the Czech Republic in their final ?Group A match of the World Cup.

With ?the victory, Mexico advance to the ?knockout phase as group winners.

“I didn’t ?like the first 20 minutes, but then ?we settled down, the team recovered, and that’s where we showed the power of mental strength,” ?he said at a press conference.

The ?Mexican coach, who led the side at the ?and 2010 World Cups, said that while the performance was good “we always have a few things to work on”.

Aguirre, 67, ?said his ?team’s ?mentality is essential to keep progressing at the World Cup, ?where they will look to move ?beyond ?the quarter-finals for the first time.

“I think we’ve improved in that area, that ?mentality ?of ‘Well, that’s it, we’ve ?done our part.’ This group has character,” he said.

Morocco confirmed their progress to the World Cup last 32 but twice had to come from ?behind to get the better of plucky Haiti with a 4-2 win in an action-packed game on Wednesday and fell short of topping Brazil the Group C standings.

Morocco finished level on seven points with the five-times world champions, who beat Scotland 3-0, but are runners-up on goal difference and will play the Group F winners, Netherlands, Japan or Sweden, on Monday in the first knockout round.

Haiti, the first side eliminated from the 48-team tournament after losing their second group game, went ahead early thanks to an ?own goal, but African Footballer of the Year Achraf Hakimi equalised in the 39th minute.

Wilson Isidor’s thunderbolt restored Haiti’s lead in the 43rd but the ?match was soon level again as Ismael Saibari scored his third goal in as many World Cup appearances.

It took until ?the 78th minute for Morocco to take the lead when substitute Soufiane Rahimi thrashed the ball home from close range after Haiti failed to clear a corner and ?20-year-old Gessime Yassine made it 4-2 in the last minute.

“It was a crazy game, too many goals but we are really delighted to qualify for ?the next round and now we have to keep going,” said Hakimi.

“Haiti were already out of the competition but showed great spirit and made us suffer but in the end we did it.”

Haiti had only pride to play for but made Morocco work for their victory and despite losing all three games at the tournament — their first in 52 ?years — will depart with their reputation enhanced.

“We were up against a quality team and I hope we gave our fans something to relish,” said ?Haiti coach Sebastien Migne. “We have to keep working hard to come back again four years from now.”

Vociferous support

With vociferous support willing them forward, Haiti opened the scoring after 10 as ?Josue Casimir calmly shielded the ball, waiting for Jean-Kevin Duverne to support him on the wing and carry it into the box before a square pass was audaciously backheeled goalwards by Lenny Joseph.

FIFA initially awarded the goal to the Haiti striker even though his effort looked to be going wide, deflecting in off the back of Morocco goalkeeper Yacine Bounou, but it was later changed to become yet another own goal in this tournament.

Haiti’s 38-year-old goalkeeper Johny ?Placide, playing his last international after ?15 years in the national team, ?produced a series of sharp saves to twice deny Ayoub El Kaabi and Hakimi.

But when he parried Bilal El Khannouss’s cross, Hakimi was quickest to bundle it over the line for the equaliser.

Duverne set up Isidor for his ?rasping strike from outside the area to put Haiti ahead again.

Morocco’s response was much quicker the second time, ?with Sofyan Amrabat setting ?Hakimi off down the right flank and the captain dragging the ball back for Saibari to slot home and leave the teams deadlocked at 2-2 by halftime.

Vehement protests

Haiti’s defence was eventually breached again late in the second half from a set-piece although they protested vehemently for a foul after Rahimi had controlled the ball before turning and slamming ?home.

Rahimi then set up the ?baby-faced Yassine for a tap-in after Haiti’s defenders stopped playing, believing the ball had gone ?out of play, but VAR confirmed the goal.

“We’d have loved to top our group but I don’t think we played well enough to do so,” said Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi.

“We had ?to go all out in the second half and had so many chances to score.’

The Arusha Sub Registry of the High Court of Tanzania has resolved a long-running dispute over church property ownership in Elerai, declaring the Registered Trustees of Evangelistic Assemblies of God Tanzania (EAGT) as the lawful owners of the land and all buildings on it.

In a ruling delivered on June 22, 2026, Justice Frank Mahimbali upheld EAGT’s claim that the property had been transferred to the church through a deed of gift executed in 1996 by the late Cleopa Lotakajaki for religious purposes.

The case was filed by EAGT against the Registered Trustees of Revival Evangelistic Assemblies of God Tanzania (REAGT) and Pastor Marko Haule, who argued that the late Lotakajaki had orally granted him the land in 1986, before the deed was prepared.

The court ruled that the evidence presented by EAGT demonstrated that Lotakajaki intended to transfer the land to the church rather than to an individual.

According to the court’s findings, Christian worship activities began in the Elerai area in the mid-1980s after congregants relocated from Elerai Primary School.

Origin of the dispute

The dispute centred on ownership of church buildings located in Elerai, Bonde la Baraka area in Sakina, Arusha, where EAGT maintained that the property had belonged to the church since June 8, 1996 and was dedicated to religious activities.

Pastor Haule contested the claim, insisting that the land had been given to him personally through an oral agreement in 1986. He further argued that he initiated church activities on the property.

EAGT stated that the church had used the land continuously for worship since 1996 and had developed infrastructure including a church building and a pastor’s residence.

Among the four witnesses called by the claimant was Bishop Shadrack Mollel, who testified on the institution’s registration and ownership of its assets. Other witnesses described how the land had been transferred to EAGT and used over the years as church property.

EAGT also argued that Pastor Haule had served the church until 2019, when he was dismissed over allegations of misconduct. It claimed that after his removal, he continued occupying and using the property unlawfully in collaboration with REAGT.

REAGT denied ownership of the property, stating that it had never been registered in its name or legally transferred to it.

Court ruling

After reviewing witness testimonies, documentary evidence and arguments from both sides, Justice Mahimbali concluded that the late Lotakajaki intended to donate the disputed land to EAGT and not to an individual.

The judge said Pastor Haule’s claim that the land had been orally granted to him in 1986 was not supported by sufficient evidence and that no documents were presented to prove ownership transfer. The court also found inconsistencies in his testimony during various stages of the proceedings.

On REAGT, the court agreed that the institution had never been registered as the owner of the property. It further found that its religious activities on the land had been conducted through Pastor Haule, leaving it without legal grounds for ownership.

The court consequently declared EAGT’s Registered Trustees as the lawful owners of the property and ordered the defendants to vacate and hand over possession within 60 days.

It also issued a permanent injunction barring them from entering or conducting any activities on the property without the claimant’s permission and ordered them to pay Sh20 million in compensation for trespass and unauthorised use of the property.

Scotland coach Steve Clarke thinks his team are heading home from their first World Cup ?in 28 years after what he viewed as a largely self-inflicted 3-0 loss to Brazil in their final Group C match on Wednesday.

The Scots, with three points, still technically have a chance of progressing to the knockout stages at a World Cup for the first time as one of eight third-placed teams with the best records over the ?12 groups.

As things stand, Scotland have the sixth-best record but Clarke clearly believes that they will be ?overtaken by at least two other teams with 20 group matches remaining.

“Fair result,” he ?said. “You give a team like Brazil the chances that we gave them in the game, you expect to ?get punished. And that’s what happened. I think we’re probably going home.

“We know they’re deadly in the attacking third ?of the pitch, and we gave them for sure the first two goals, probably the third goal as well.

“So we gave them the goals, but on the counter of that, they also missed a few chances and Angus (Gunn) had to make a few ?good saves.

“We created one or two chances, but nothing really clean.”

Clarke’s frustration with his team’s performance on Wednesday ?was clear but he said he was not angry with the players who got Scotland to their first World Cup since in ?1998.

“I’m disappointed for them because they didn’t reach the levels that they can reach,” he said.

“I think we all know that. Anybody that’s watched this team over the last few years knows that we didn’t reach the levels that we can reach.”

The former Chelsea fullback said their campaign had also exposed structural issues in Scottish football ?that needed addressing.

“I think when ?you see the physicality, ?the power and the technique of both Morocco and Brazil, you can see that we have to do something about it,” he said.

“We have to try and be ?better at producing young players that can grace the world stage.”

Scotland’s Tartan Army of ?fans have ?lit up the tournament and while Clarke once again saluted their contribution, he said it was important supporters did not forget why they had been in the U.S. in the first place.

“Don’t forget that this group of players brought these ?fans ?to America. This group of players qualified,” he added.

“Otherwise, we’re doing what ?we always do. We’re sitting on the sofa and we’re watching the World Cup without Scotland.

“They’ve had a great time, great ambassadors for ?the country, but they wouldn’t be here without that group of players.”

Mexico continued their perfect start to the World Cup with a 3-0 romp against a hapless Czech Republic on Wednesday, finishing their group-stage campaign with ?a flourish and killing off their tame opponents’ hopes of making the knockouts.

The co-hosts had already booked their spot in the last 32 as Group A winners but showed no mercy at the Azteca stadium to complete a third straight victory that left the sorry Czechs bottom of the standings and out of the tournament.

The game looked to be drifting towards a drab draw before Mexico exploded in the second half, with Mateo Chavez opening the scoring before Julian Quinones grabbed his second of the tournament and substitute Alvaro Fidalgo dealt the final ?blow.

Mexico’s reward for a faultless opening stage will be a knockout clash on Tuesday with a third-placed side from Group C, E, F, H or I with ?the match again in front of their fans at the Azteca, where they are unbeaten in nine World Cup matches.

“I think the ?team played a good game, honestly,” Mexico’s hard-to-please coach Javier Aguirre said.

“Ultimately, we always have a few things to work on, but tonight is a good night for ?everyone.”

New hope

Mexico’s superb start to the tournament has kindled the fires of hope in their fervent supporters that this team could be the one to put to bed the so-called ?curse that has seen them fail to reach the quarter-finals since 1986.

The omens suddenly look auspicious – unbeaten in 11 games having sauntered through the group stage at a World Cup back on home soil, the hope is that this Mexico side could put years of turmoil and under-performance behind them.

The numbers are also starting to stack up.

This was their biggest World Cup win since a 4-0 ?victory over El Salvador in 1970, while at the other end their rock-solid defence ensured they became the first team with three clean sheets in the group stage since ?Uruguay in 2018.

This apparent new dawn is perfectly symbolised by 17-year-old midfield prodigy Gilberto Mora, who is the youngest player to start in the tournament since 2002, and produced a superb display with his ?every touch loudly appreciated by the crowd.

“To be honest, I believed I could achieve it, but not this soon,” he said when asked if he imagined reaching this stage so quickly. “Now that I’m here, I’m just trying to enjoy it, take it day by day and give my best whenever I’m on the pitch.”

Mexico spark into life

With their fate riding on the outcome, the Czechs were predictably more eager in the opening exchanges, with Denis Visinsky snatching at an early effort when space opened up in front of him.

It ?took 35 minutes for Mexico to conjure ?a shot and when they did ?it was a rather improbable overhead kick from centre back Israel Reyes that drifted harmlessly wide.

The game had all the hallmarks of a stalemate before Mexico sparked into life and found the breakthrough to bring the Azteca to its feet after 55 minutes.

Luis Romo ?emerged with the ball in midfield and slipped a pass through to full back Chavez who skipped past one challenge and ?bore down on goal ?before calmly opening his body up to sidefoot his finish past goalkeeper Matej Kovar.

The second goal six minutes later had Mora’s fingerprints all over it as the youngster dribbled deep into Czech territory before playing a delightful ball through to Jorge Sanchez.

He bundled his attempted finish over the keeper and after a brief scramble Quinones followed up to poke the ball home.

While ?the crowd ?needed little encouragement to turn up the decibels, probably the loudest cheer of the night was reserved ?for a late substitute appearance from 40-year-old keeper Guillermo Ochoa earning his 154th cap at his sixth World Cup.

There was time for a final flourish, however, as Mexico’s third goal arrived deep in stoppage time when ?Fidalgo blasted the ball into the top corner from 18 metres to complete a resounding win and another impressive display by the co-hosts.

Czech Republic coach Miroslav Koubek blamed “stupid mistakes” and exhaustion from heavy ?travel for his team’s World Cup exit after 3-0 defeat by co-hosts Mexico on Wednesday left them bottom of Group A.

Koubek said Czech football urgently needed to ?raise its technical standards to compete internationally following ?their return to the World Cup after ?a 20-year absence.

Koubek defended dropping striker Patrik Schick, ?saying Adam Hlozek was preferred for his physical ?condition and suitability to the team’s offensive strategy.

He cited a draw with South Africa as a critical missed opportunity, which ?left the Czech Republic with just one ?point from their opening two matches.

Koubek said heavy travel between , ?including flights to Mexico City, left players exhausted, questioning why Mexico were not required to travel to Dallas.

Midfielder Denis Visinsky was heavily affected by the ?high altitude ?in Mexico ?City, Koubek added, while many players arrived already fatigued from their club seasons.

“I ?have a contract and I don’t ?give up ?any fights… I will definitely fulfil my contract,” Koubek said when asked about his future.

“Czech football ?has ?been lagging behind, we need to ?improve our play… select players who can compete at this ?level,” he said.

Dozens of Kenyans took to the streets on Thursday under heavy security in memory of protesters killed two years ago when massive anti-government demonstrations erupted in Nairobi over proposed tax hikes and the surging cost of living.

Organisers had planned remembrance marches in the coastal city of Mombasa and the capital Nairobi to mark the anniversary of the June 25, 2024 unrest, when protests escalated dramatically and demonstrators breached parliament grounds before a security crackdown left dozens dead.

On the eve of the marches, Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen warned that anyone seeking to engage in ‘chaos, looting, destruction of property, disruption of businesses, or commit any other criminal acts’ would face ‘the full force of the law’, adding that investigators were already looking into reports of people mobilising gangs and securing weapons ahead of the anniversary.

Dozens of marchers turned up in Mombasa escorted by security forces, while Nairobi’s streets appeared largely deserted as police set up roadblocks with water cannons and mounted razor wire barricades outside parliament. Shops and restaurants within the central business district, the site of previous protests, remained shut on Thursday.

‘Today we remember our comrades who died in the demonstrations,’ said John Maina, 26, in Nairobi. ‘They were not fighting for any profit, that is why we remember them. It is not a protest, it is a remembrance.’

In Nairobi, opposition leaders joined victims of alleged police brutality and families of slain protesters in a march towards parliament to place flowers and candles outside the building.

Brian Musyoka, a 37-year-old motorbike taxi driver, said the shutdown was adding to the economic pressures faced by ordinary Kenyans. ‘There is not much work, I may not make anything to cover the loan that paid for this electric bike,’ he said.

Calls for accountability

Protest organisers say they are demonstrating to demand justice for victims, credible investigations into past police conduct and guarantees against the use of excessive force during rallies.

President William Ruto said last week that 2billion Ksh (about US$15.5 million) had been set aside for victims of protest-related rights abuses under a national reparations framework.

However, rights groups and civil society organisations say compensation alone does not amount to accountability for alleged abuses by security forces and have called for Ruto to issue a public apology.

Cooperative stakeholders in Morogoro Region have called on the government to intervene in long-standing farmer-pastoralist conflicts and secure reliable markets for agricultural produce, saying these challenges undermine productivity despite strong cooperative performance in the region overall.

They noted that Morogoro prides itself on having 212 cooperative societies that have overseen crop sales worth more than Sh134 billion, yet persistent land-use conflicts and weak market systems continue to discourage farmers and reduce incomes.

Speaking yesterday, during the regional International Day of Cooperatives celebrations held in Ifakara, Kilombero District, the Assistant Registrar of Cooperatives in Morogoro Region, Ms Cesilia Sostenes, said the cooperative movement remains a key pillar of the region’s economic development through crop marketing, financial services, and investment activities.

She said the celebrations were held alongside the Sixth Cooperative Development Forum under the themes ‘Cooperatives for a Peaceful World’ and ‘Protect Cooperatives, Choose Integrity.’

‘Morogoro Region has a total of 212 cooperative societies, including 168 agricultural marketing cooperative societies, 36 Savings and Credit Cooperative Society (Saccos), three cooperative unions, and five joint ventures,’ she said, adding that membership stood at 69,639, comprising 38,767 men and 30,872 women.

She added that during the 2025/2026 season, cooperatives facilitated the sale of 21,408,497 kilogrammes of sesame worth Sh53.9 billion, 28,194,517 kilogrammes of pigeon peas worth Sh28.2 billion, 1,216,740 kilogrammes of cocoa worth Sh17.4 billion, and 435,337 kilogrammes of cashew nuts worth more than Sh1 billion, with farmers paid on time.

In addition, Ms Sostenes said 495,000 tonnes of sugarcane worth Sh34 billion were sold to Kilombero, Mtibwa, and Mkulazi factories, while more than Sh2 billion was collected through various levies and taxes across the region’s nine councils.

She further said other achievements include linking 23 crop cooperatives with Saccos and financial institutions to improve access to loans, as well as helping the government obtain accurate data on agricultural production and trade.

However, the Morogoro Cooperative Development Forum Chairperson, Mr Idadi Bilali, said that despite these gains, farmer-pastoralist conflicts and lack of reliable markets remain major obstacles affecting cooperative development overall.

He said the conflicts have severely impacted areas such as the Mbigiri and Mtibwa basins, where rice, sugarcane, and other farmers have suffered significant losses, with some abandoning commercial farming altogether.

Mr Bilali added that crops such as rice, maize, beans, and vegetables are still being sold to middlemen due to the absence of structured markets, depriving farmers of fair returns.

Representing Morogoro Regional Commissioner Adam Malima, Kilombero District Commissioner, Mr Dunstan Kyobya said the region should learn from other regions that have successfully strengthened cooperative systems to improve efficiency, transparency, and member benefits.

He said cooperative success would increase further if existing challenges are addressed, stressing that integrity, cooperation, and peace are the foundation of the sector’s growth.

‘Morogoro Region has every reason to become a leader in cooperatives in the country, but this is only possible if we strengthen management, resolve conflicts, and ensure farmers access profitable markets for their produce,’ said Mr Kyobya.

President Samia Suluhu Hassan has directed health researchers to investigate the growing number of children suffering from cancer and heart diseases, warning that the trend is becoming an increasingly serious public health concern in Tanzania.

Speaking yesterday during the inauguration of a new radiotherapy centre at Kilimanjaro Christian Medical Centre (KCMC) in Moshi, President Hassan said the rise in non-communicable diseases among children demands urgent scientific attention to establish the underlying causes and guide preventive interventions.

The East African Legislative Assembly (Eala) has approved a supplementary budget of about $4.79 million (about Sh12.61 billion) for the 2025/2026 financial year.

At the same sitting, the East African Community (EAC) tabled a proposed budget of $110.9 million for the 2026/2027 financial year.