Champs Strathmore triumph: Holders start title defence with victory in East Africa games

UoN's Cathy Agunda, left, and Miriam Ngigi of JKUAT during the East African Universities games at JKUAT on Saturday, Dec 17, 2016. [PHOTO: JONAH ONYANGO/STANDARD]

Strathmore University were in a class of their own as they saw off Kisii University 3-1 at the East Africa Inter Universities Games at Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (Jkuat) in Juja.

Both sides were keen to attack in hotly contested first half. The see-saw contest was broken in the ninth minute when Festus Onyango converted a penalty for Kisii University to take a 1-0 lead against the defending champions.

The slim lead buoyed the underdogs who made several scoring attempts including some clear cut chances that were missed by Onyango who could have taken his tally beyond three goals.

Strathmore then found their way into the game as their marksman Frank Ogendi levelled the scores after slotting in a midfield pass in the 26th minute.

Ogendi’s goal took the sting out of Kisii who temporarily lost control, giving their opponents a brief field day to raid with ease.

Strathmore did not disappoint as they capitalised on confusion in Kisii’s defence to score two quick goals through Ogendi who ended the game not only as the man of the match, but also the first player to net a hat trick in the games.

“We have done our homework well and playing in the Kenya Hockey Union league is such a morale booster as it has strengthened us to be among the title contenders as we hope to successfully defend this trophy,” Ogendi said.

Strathmore now tops pool A with three points. Other worthy opponents in the group are the University of Nairobi who have also shown strong desire to win the trophy.

In hockey results for hockey, Moi University beat Rongo 2-0 while Kenyatta University edged out Pwani 2-1.

Kenyatta University will also battle it out against Moi, and Rongo in pool B as United States International University who are hopeful to give Strathmore a run for their money should they go beyond the group stages are in pool C alongside Mount Kenya, Kibabii and Eastern University. Hosts Jkuat are in group D with Maseno and Kenya Methodist University.

In netball, hosts Jkuat beat Uganda’s Gulu University 16-11 after breaking the visitors 6-5 half time lead in a pool A tie.

In women’s football, Uganda’s Kyambogo University held Masinde Muliro to a barren draw.