[photo/soka.co.ke]The first round of the Kenya Universities Sports Association (KUSA) Rift Valley qualifiers took place on Saturday and Sunday as universities across the region presented their best for a place in the annual event.
The inter-University games took place at Moi University Annex, attracting more than 10 Universities in various games including Rugby, tennis among other sports. However, there was no place for hosts Annex and Moi University teams in men category, which were still serving a ban from the competition.
Saturday saw a number of group matches staged as teams battled for a place in the knockout rounds, but the climax came on Sunday as the game intensified.
In football, Egerton and the University of Eldoret were the dominant sides in both men and ladies categories.
Egerton’s men football team carried the day after beating their rivals Maasai Mara 1-0 to emerge victors. Ali Hussein’s header was enough to secure the crucial win for Egerton University in the hotly contested final played on Sunday.
In the previous semi-finals, Egerton brushed aside Laikipia University 1-0 before Maasai Mara overcame UON 4-3 on post-match penalties after the two drew 1-1 in normal time.
UON went on to beat Laikipia 3-2 on penalties to clinch the third spot. The match ended in a 1-1 draw.
In Ladies category, UON queens trounced Egerton 2-0 in another closely contested final on Sunday as they bagged the women title.
Shamilla Bengo and Marylyn Wambua were the chief tormentors, to deny the Njoro side a double sweep of the football events.
Egerton bruised Laikipia 3-1 in the semi-final, with Victory Oudu, Jackeline Musangi and Stephanie Mugatsia finding the net for Egerton. Meanwhile, UOE whitewashed Moi University Main Campus ladies 3-0 in another tie.
The Moi Main Campus side, however, ensured they settled for third after a comfortable 2-0 victory of Laikipia to keep their hopes of qualifying alive.
The teams will now wait for the second and last round of the qualifiers to know their fate of participating in the KUSA games that will take place in Mombasa.