The University of Eldoret (UOE) ladies’ football team, the 11 Arrows, was once again crowned champions of the just concluded Kenya University Sports Federation (KUSF) RIFT games. The games were held last weekend at Moi University Main Campus.
The 11 Arrows, also known as the UOE Queens, won the matches after a penalty shootout against their host, the Moi University ladies’ team, in a hotly contested final. UOE scored three penalties through Vion Odera, Rose Khisa(Biggy), and Rosemary Orlando, while Tabitha Khakasa missed a penalty for the champions. On the other hand, Moi University scored only one of the four penalties.
UOE Queens first-choice goalkeeper Audrey Nyongesa saved the day as she saved two penalty kicks while one penalty was played wide. Audrey Nyongesa has registered outstanding results for the 11 arrows. She has not conceded a goal during the entire competition.
“The Kenya University Sports Federation (KUSF) RIFT is done and dusted. Our focus is now on the KUSF Nationals, which will be held in January 2023. We were focused and had to defend our title after hard work portrayed by our ladies,” Josphat Pilishi, the UOE Queens head coach, said.
“We started the preparation immediately after the long holidays in September, and the ladies have shown their capabilities by delivering the title. I appreciate all of them for the good fight,” Pilishi added.
Meanwhile, in the men’s category, Moi University Annex squeezed past their parent campus, Moi University Main Campus team, in the semi-final to secure a place in the final match. The Moi University derby match ended 2-0 in favour of Moi University Annex.
In another semi-final, Egerton University trounced Kabarak University to book a space in the final with the law students of Moi University. The final was never played in the men’s category, as the semi-final matches ended very late. Both finalists, Egerton University and Moi University Annex will represent the Rift Valley region in the national games for universities slated in January 2023.
A Summary of results from matches in the Kenya University Sports Federation (KUSF) RIFT games is as follows:
Men matches
Quarterfinals (Men):
Egerton University 5 – 0 Koitalel Samoei University College
University of Eldoret 1 – 3 Moi University Main Campus
Kabarak University 1(4) – 1(3) Bomet University College
Moi University Annex 2 – 0 Moi University College of Health Sciences
Semi-Finals (Men):
Egerton University 3 – 1 Karabak University
Moi University Main Campus 0 – 2 Moi University Annex
Women matches
Semi-Finals (Women)
University of Eldoret 2 – 0 Maasai Mara University
Moi University Main Campus 2 – 0 Egerton University
Final (Women)
University of Eldoret 0 (3) – 0 (1) Moi University Main Campus