T. NashipaeChase for KUSF titles heats up
Reading Time: 2min | Sat. 01.04.23. | 13:14
Top teams from the six conferences battle it out for titles in hockey, netball, soccer, handball, volleyball, and basketball
The Kenya University Sports Federation (KUSF) national ball games enter the second nerve-wracking day at the University of Eldoret (UoE) grounds.
During Saturday’s 1 April morning session, the organizers, led by secretary general Joseph Sandagi held prayers of condolences for 14 Pwani University students who lost their lives while en route to Eldoret for the games.
“We had prayers and condoled with the Pwani family. This gave us the strength to continue with the matches. We agreed that all matches should start with a minute of silence,” Sandagi said.
UoE hockey off to national play-offs quarter-finals
Hosts UoE qualified to play in the hockey semifinals of the ongoing national play-offs. They won their opening hockey match by a solitary goal against the University of Nairobi (1-0).
Hockey quarter-final pairings
Women
MMUST vs DeKUT
Strathmore vs Kisii
Moi vs KeMU
JKUAT vs UoN
Men
UoE vs Moi
Strathmore vs Kisii
KCA vs UoN
Kirinyaga vs MMUST
MMUST a force to reckon
Once the action started, Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST) went on beast mode, winning their women’s hockey and men’s handball opening matches.
In hockey women, MMUST held off Jomo Kenyatta University of Science and Technology (JKUAT) 3-0 while their men’s handball team defeated JKUAT 18-13.
Speaking to Mozzart Sport, MMUST head of games Geoffrey Barasa was confident his charges would secure the overall title. The Kakamega-based institution sent 12 teams to the annual championship.
“Our previous run has been good because our ladies have maintained strong feet because they won all their matches; preliminaries, semis, and finals, and now they are in another edition and they are the reigning champions in the Western Conference after winning all their matches again. We are looking forward to going home with the gold,” Baraza assured.
Strathmore’s Blades seeking to impress
Strathmore Blades came to the games keen to extend their winning streak in the men’s basketball category. The Tony Ochieng-coached side are representing Nairobi South by virtue of being second in the Nairobi South conference after losing to Africa Nazarene University (ANU).
Blades edged Maseno University 63-44 (19-12, 18-8, 15-6, 18-11), while Nairobi South Conference leaders ANU defeated Kenya Methodist University (KEMU) 48-36 (20-06, 14-05, 06-14, 08-11). According to coach Tony, the goal is to win.
About the KUSF ball games
KUSF ball games attracted a total of 400 participants from 40 universities across the country.
Top teams from the six conferences battle it out for titles in hockey, netball, soccer, handball, volleyball, and basketball. The games will mark the end of the 2022/23 season.
The six conferences are Western, Nyanza, Rift Valley, Central, Coast, Nairobi South, and Nairobi North. Each conference was expected to field two teams from each discipline.
