21 June 2013
KENYA : Strathmore, USIU lock horns in Premier Derby
Strathmore and USIU in a past league match.(Photo:SNA File)
Action in the national classic league resumes this weekend with a “varsities derby” pitting Strathmore University and United States International University- Africa, USIU-A, in the men premier. The two perennial rivals will meet on Sunday afternoon at the Nyayo National Stadium gymnasium in what is a sure bet to pull mammoth crowd.
Apart from the fight for two precious league points, both sides trace their rivalry back to the universities league and this will be no exception.
This will be their first meeting this season. The last meeting between the two sides was in last season’s quarter final playoffs which USIU emerged tops with a 2-0 series win.
On a good day, USIU is a sure candidate to upstage their rivals who have occasionally played second fiddle in their recent encounters. However, current form might work against their chances.
Strathmore are off a 61-59 win over Nairobi Aviation College last weekend while USIU lost 61-51 to Kenya Ports Authority, KPA, in their last match.
This might literally give Strathore an edge but little can be said until the game is over. Ulinzi Warriors, who were 71-47 winners over Terror last weekend, has two tricky fixtures that could see their fortunes change handsomely if they reap maximum points.
On Saturday, they will travel to Nakuru to play host Nakuru Club before playing Blazers on Sunday in Nairobi. Second placed Thunder take on Nairobi Aviation College in the highlight match on Saturday. If they win, they will sit top of the log with 17 points one more than current leaders Co-operative Bank who are not in action this weekend.
KPA, fresh from their win over USIU, welcome whipping boys Terror at the Makande gymnasium with a win for the dockers highly palpable.
Co-op face USIU
The highlight match in the women premier will see Co-operative Bank play USIU-A in an early kickoff on Sunday in Nairobi. Both teams had mixed results last weekend which might play an integral role in deciding which side walks away with the win.
USIU lost 64-60 to KPA while the bankers beat kenya College of Accountancy- University, KCA-U, 46-15.
KPA will play host to Western Delight in Mombasa on Saturday with a second successive home win in sight while Storms Sprite and Mennonite clash in Nairobi the same day. It will be an easy match for the experienced Storms considering their opponents are winless from eight matches.
Mennonite’s last match was a 118-15 humiliation by champions Eagle Wings last weekend.
Western Delight will return to the court on Sunday to play Kwale-based NYTA-Shimba in what promises to be a tough Coastal tour for the Kakamega side.
On the same day in Nairobi, there will be a not so attractive varsities derby pitting Kenyatta University Oryx and KCA-U.
After their unbeaten record was broken by Equity Bank last weekend, Strathmore University will be keen on returning to winning ways when the play World Hope in the division one on Sunday. A day before, World Hope will have played Little Prince with KCA-U facing off with Trailblazers.
Umoja has a date with Upperhill the same day. On Sunday, Zetech College will be up against Upperhill whose form has been wanting since capturing the secondary schools title.
Collated Fixtures: Saturday- KPA vs Western Delight (2pm, KPA), KPA vs Terror (4pm, KPA), World Hope vs Little Prince (9am), Storms vs Mennonite (10:30am), KCA-U vs Trailblazers (12pm), Umoja vs KU Pirates (1:30pm), Nairobi Aviation vs Thunder (3pm), Nakuru Club vs Ulinzi (12pm, MHS); Sunday- NYTA-Shimba vs Western Delight (10am, KPA), World Hope vs Strathmore University (9am), Co-op Bank vs USIU-A (10:30am), Zetech College vs Upperhill (12pm), KU Oryx vs KCA-U (1:30pm), Ulinzi vs Blazers (3pm), Strathmore University vs USIU-A (4:30pm).
Apart from the fight for two precious league points, both sides trace their rivalry back to the universities league and this will be no exception.
This will be their first meeting this season. The last meeting between the two sides was in last season’s quarter final playoffs which USIU emerged tops with a 2-0 series win.
On a good day, USIU is a sure candidate to upstage their rivals who have occasionally played second fiddle in their recent encounters. However, current form might work against their chances.
Strathmore are off a 61-59 win over Nairobi Aviation College last weekend while USIU lost 61-51 to Kenya Ports Authority, KPA, in their last match.
This might literally give Strathore an edge but little can be said until the game is over. Ulinzi Warriors, who were 71-47 winners over Terror last weekend, has two tricky fixtures that could see their fortunes change handsomely if they reap maximum points.
On Saturday, they will travel to Nakuru to play host Nakuru Club before playing Blazers on Sunday in Nairobi. Second placed Thunder take on Nairobi Aviation College in the highlight match on Saturday. If they win, they will sit top of the log with 17 points one more than current leaders Co-operative Bank who are not in action this weekend.
KPA, fresh from their win over USIU, welcome whipping boys Terror at the Makande gymnasium with a win for the dockers highly palpable.
Co-op face USIU
The highlight match in the women premier will see Co-operative Bank play USIU-A in an early kickoff on Sunday in Nairobi. Both teams had mixed results last weekend which might play an integral role in deciding which side walks away with the win.
USIU lost 64-60 to KPA while the bankers beat kenya College of Accountancy- University, KCA-U, 46-15.
KPA will play host to Western Delight in Mombasa on Saturday with a second successive home win in sight while Storms Sprite and Mennonite clash in Nairobi the same day. It will be an easy match for the experienced Storms considering their opponents are winless from eight matches.
Mennonite’s last match was a 118-15 humiliation by champions Eagle Wings last weekend.
Western Delight will return to the court on Sunday to play Kwale-based NYTA-Shimba in what promises to be a tough Coastal tour for the Kakamega side.
On the same day in Nairobi, there will be a not so attractive varsities derby pitting Kenyatta University Oryx and KCA-U.
After their unbeaten record was broken by Equity Bank last weekend, Strathmore University will be keen on returning to winning ways when the play World Hope in the division one on Sunday. A day before, World Hope will have played Little Prince with KCA-U facing off with Trailblazers.
Umoja has a date with Upperhill the same day. On Sunday, Zetech College will be up against Upperhill whose form has been wanting since capturing the secondary schools title.
Collated Fixtures: Saturday- KPA vs Western Delight (2pm, KPA), KPA vs Terror (4pm, KPA), World Hope vs Little Prince (9am), Storms vs Mennonite (10:30am), KCA-U vs Trailblazers (12pm), Umoja vs KU Pirates (1:30pm), Nairobi Aviation vs Thunder (3pm), Nakuru Club vs Ulinzi (12pm, MHS); Sunday- NYTA-Shimba vs Western Delight (10am, KPA), World Hope vs Strathmore University (9am), Co-op Bank vs USIU-A (10:30am), Zetech College vs Upperhill (12pm), KU Oryx vs KCA-U (1:30pm), Ulinzi vs Blazers (3pm), Strathmore University vs USIU-A (4:30pm).
# posted by afrbk : 12:51
