By Oscar Pilipili
Hosts Municipal Council of Ruiru (MCR) beat Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) 3-1 (21-25, 25-22, 25-22, 27-25) in an exciting final of Ruiru Mayor’s Cup volleyball tournament to be crowned winners.
This match that was played under senior men’s category highlighted the final day of the competition that is sponsored by Ruiru Mayor Councillor Geoffrey Kaarah to the tune of Sh100,000.
Both teams fielded some of the most experienced national team players with Ruiru parading the likes Michael Chemos and Bernard Musumba and KPA lining up James Ontere and Dennis Mokua.
The presence of these players was a recipe for class match of skill and power.
Strathmore beat Kenya Institute of Building and Housing Technology 3-1 (25-16, 25-17, 19-25, 25-16) in a four-setter women’s final to claim colleges’ trophy.
The men’s title went to Nairobi secondary schools champions Hospital Hill who overcame Strathmore 3-0 (25-16, 25-21, 25-19) in a final match to lift the title.
In the self-supporting category, Nashum beat Githurai Kimbo 3-1 (22-25, 25-17, 25-18, 25-19) in the final to carry home the trophy.
The disabled volleyball that attracted huge crowd saw Lang’ata beat Kasarani in 3-0 sets to emerge winners.
While presiding over prize giving ceremony, Mayor Councillor Kaarah said the Council would employ four volleyball players to beef up MCR team ahead of next month’s Kenya Inter Municipalties Sports and Culture Association Games.
He encouraged players to take volleyball seriously saying sport was a great fortune-earning career.
“Sports take people very far,” he said. “The Council will work closely with Nairobi branch of Kenya Volleyball Federation to promote the sport in our Metropolis,” he said.
The Mayor who is eyeing the newly created Ruiru Parliamentary seat quipped that the tournament’s name was likely to change to match with his anticipated new title.
He said plans were at an advanced stage to upgrade Ruiru grounds.
