By John Sande and Shayat Lemoshira

Basketball
The USIU-Africa ladies’ basketball team, the Flames were in Nakuru City over the weekend for their Division I game. The flames scorched the Nakuru-based Swish team 56 - 34 in the match played at Menegai High School.

Captained by Yvonne Masila, the team went on a scoring spree, scoring 19-8 at first quarter, 33-18 at the breather, 48-25 at the third quarter, before capping it at 56-34.

"I am very proud of the girls today again. They have put in tremendous effort, and have overcome an equally strong team, Swish. We have two more games, and should we win, we will top the League and will be excited to rejoin the Premier League - where we belong’, said Flames Coach Mr. George Mayenga. The team will face Kenyatta University in a KUSA match on Saturday, October 22 at Mount Kenya University.

The men’s basketball team, the Tigers, faced off against the Kenya College of Accountancy (KCA) in the Division 1 league and finished with a satisfying 67-50 win. The team also had two teams competing in the KUSA 3X3 Basketball championship at Kenyatta University (KU). Team A managed to reach the finals and clashed against the KU Main team, losing 21-10.

The Tigers will be facing St. Paul’s University in a KUSA match on Saturday, October 22 at 10.30am at Mount Kenya University (MKU) and will play off against JKUAT in a Division 1 league match on Sunday at 12pm in Nyayo Stadium.

Hockey
Team Mashujaa contested against the Western Jaguars on Saturday, October 15 at City Park Stadium, Parklands. The team was down 2-0 by the end of the second quarter. Fortunately, they rose to end the match with a spectacular draw of 2-2. Team Mashujaa will face off with the Strathmore team on Thursday, October 20 at the same venue.

The ladies’ team, the Spartans had two league matches in the previous weekend. The hockey ladies faced Admira on Saturday, October 22 at 4pm and the match ended 1-1. They played against the Wolverines, ending the match in a 2-2 draw. The team will also be facing off against the Strathmore Scorpions on Thursday, October 20, with their next match scheduled for Saturday as they face off against MKU at General Kago Primary School.

Rugby
The USIU-Africa Martials had friendlies against Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA) and Strathmore University on Saturday, October 15 at Strathmore. USIU-Africa’s Team B defeated CUEA Team B 14-12 while USIU-Africa’s Team A faced off against both Strathmore’s Team A and Team B. They drubbed Strathmore Team B 19-5 but lost to their team A 10-31 in the final match of the day.

Swimming
The USIU-Africa Dolphins were invited for the County Assemblies Sports Associations (CASA) age group swimming championships in Mombasa, at the Aga Khan academy. The team performed really well scooping a total of 5 gold, 22 silver, and 9 bronze medals. A number of the swimmers also achieved personal best times.

Tennis
The tennis team played against the Jomo Kenyatta University of Science and Technology (JKUAT), MKU, KCA and KU in the KUSA KU Championship on Saturday, October 15. The ladies emerged in top position while the men were ranked 3rd in their category.
Chess
The USIU-Africa Chess team participated in the first KUSA Chess Championship in KU on Saturday, October 15. They were ranked 3rd out of the 8 universities in the tournament. Chitundu Limbikani, the chess captain was ranked the first individually and was followed by his teammate, Simbarashe Mutandadzi in 2nd and Baden Fred Eric in the 4th position.

Scrabble
KU hosted the first KUSA Scrabble Championship on Saturday, October 15. This was the first tournament for most of the USIU-Africa men’s team. After 6 rounds, Shyat Lemoshira was ranked 8th out of the 20 male participants: he had 4 wins and 2 losses with a word spread of +153. The men’s team was ranked 5th out of the six universities in the short tournament.

Karate
The KUSA Karate first championship occurred in the Martial Arts Room on Saturday, October 15. They were two set-ups of the tournament: kata (a performance of offensive and defensive techniques without a partner) and kumite (score-based sparring system between opponents). Both teams (male and female) were knocked out in the group stages in kata. The USIU-Africa ladies team faced team KU and managed to get one win, one draw and one loss before qualifying for the quarters in which they were knocked out. As for the men, they faced team JKUAT and had one win and 2 losses.

Taekwondo
USIU-Africa hosted the KUSA taekwondo single elimination championship in the Auditorium on Sunday, October 16. USIU-Africa’s taekwondo team presented 8 athletes of which 3-won gold medal, 2 silver medals and 1 bronze medal ranking the university to the 3rd place behind JKUAT and K.U. Gobi Asiga became the heavyweight champion for men, Haji Okwato was the champion of the thin weight men and lastly, Coco Hawi amazingly won the third gold medal as the bantamweight women’s champions.

Volleyball
The volleyball teams had their first KUSA beach volleyball matches in KU on Sunday, October 16. The men faced KU and lost both sets while the ladies faced Daystar University and also in 2 sets too. Such activities provide opportunities for the newly formed teams to learn tips, gather more skills and experience. The men will be facing KU Ruiru on Saturday, October 22 at Thika High Chapel whilst the ladies shall face MKU on the same day and venue.

Woodball
7 players participated in the Kenya Woodball Federation league in JKUAT on Saturday, October 15. Stephen Woresha and Tafadzwa Bere got 122pts each while Mark Makom Gok got 134 pts. and Nicodemus Kilunda with 160pts in the male singles. As for the ladies’ singles, Ritah Mbabazi obtained 130pts, Paulette Maina (140pts) and Anne Kanisiime had 154 pts. Furthermore, Gok and Woresha drew 1-1 with Team JKUAT in the doubles. A similar result was also achieved in the ladies’ doubles when Ritah Mbabazi and Paulette Maina faced team JKUAT.

5 players represented USIU-Africa in the KUSA woodball singles championship in KU on Sunday, October 16. Nicodemus Kilunda obtained 134 pts, Anyika Muchesia (138pts). Gerard Augustino (157 pts) and Tamunotonye Wariso Elvis with 174pts. Faith Mulenga participated in the ladies singles and managed to obtain 157pts in her first tournament.

Netball
The USIU-Africa Hurricanes will be facing KWUST on Sunday, October 23 at Thika High Chapel. They will thrive to get a win after losing in their previous weekend.

Handball
The handball ladies’ team will be facing MKU on Saturday, October 22 in Thika High Chapel. The team will be focused to play better and recover from their previous game in the previous week.