KCB Bank off to flying start as Inter-bank games begin

Ibrahim Lande in action during the KIB Inter-bank games at the Kenya School of Monetary Studies. [Ochieng Oyugi, Standard]

The 37th edition of Kenya Institute of Bankers (KIB) Interbank Sports was launched at the weekend with a variety of mouthwatering games on the card at various grounds in Ruaraka, Nairobi.

Former football champions KCB Bank hammered Housing Finance Corporation (HFC) 8-0 in a one-sided encounter at the Absa Grounds.

The feat guided the bankers to the top of Group C, where they have battled other rivals Equity Bank, KB Sacco, University of Nairobi Business School, Diamond Trust Bank and Post Bank.

At the same time, the victory propelled the bankers to the quarterfinals where they now lay in wait of Co-Op Bank, who finished second in Group A.

During the match, Mteule Alfa scored a brace for the bankers as his teammates; Samuel Mwangi, Samuel Masibo, Ibrahim Odiwuor, Bethwel Kipchoge, Benaih Kiplangat and goal-keeper Dan Mutende adding a goal each.

"We clearly dominated the game and I feel lucky to be the only goal keeper in the entire tournament who has so far found the back of the net," Mutende told Standard Sports.

Team captain Eric Oketch said they are out to bring back the football trophy which has eluded them for a while now.

At the same time, KCB Bank women's football team thrashed I&M Bank 3-0 in another one-sided encounter at the venue.

In the opening round of women's table tennis, KCB Bank trounced Bank of Baroda 3-0 and SBM Bank of Kenya with a similar margin. In men's table tennis, KCB bank won 3-1 and 3-0 against Bank of Baroda and SBM Bank respectively.

The women's netball fixtures were also a walk in the park for KCB Bank as they cruised over NCBA 29-0, ABSA 24-10 and Central Bank of Kenya (CBK) 24-12.

KCB are yet to play Bank of Baroda, Cooperative Bank, Equity, AFC, and Postbank in netball. In basketball, KCB Bank won 20-10 over Bank of Africa (BOA), 29-5 against NCBA, 24-13 over ABSA and recorded a 22-42 loss against arch-rivals Equity Bank. In Darts, KCB Bank saw off both Equity Bank and SBK 5-0 and 4-1 respectively.

"We are very excited to participate in this year's edition of Interbank Sports. Various banks have bolstered their teams, so we expect tough competition. We want to put everyone on notice that we are coming for you across all the sporting competitions we will participate in," KCB Bank men's volleyball team captain Weldon Kibii said.