Their 'visitors' title notwithstanding, Kenyatta University emerged winners of this year's National Inter-University Sports Championship with 113 medals.

A total of 42 gold, 49 silver and 22 bronze medals were enough to see Kenya's second oldest university ran away with the lion share of the medals, leaving hosts, University of Nairobi and Moi University to scramble for the remaining remainder.

While they reigned supreme on the basketball courts, humiliating Strathmore University 63-58 in the men's finals, UoN weren't as lucky in the women's final.

Strathmore, who had been a thorn in the hosts medals search campaign, sunk 44 points, against the hosts' 33.

If University of Nairobi thought that the ghosts of Strathmore had been dealt with, they were dead wrong, as they came to haunt them in the men's football final at the hosts' backyard.

John Omoit was Strathmore's match-winner for the second game in succession as his 71st goal settled the derby clash with UoN.

Pre-match billing

The final failed to rise to live up to it's pre-match billing after centre referee James Opanda called off the match citing insecurity reasons.

Immediately after Omoit tapped in his team's goal, UoN fans invaded the field hurling accusations to Opanda for poor officiating.

Opanda waved on advantage after AFC Leopard's James Situma shrugged off Reuben Osando's shirt tagging and delivered a pin-point cross that Omoit gladly tapped in.

Clad in all-blue, UoN were the dominant force in the opening 45 minutes with Rashid Mohammed impressing in the centre of the park as his side posed the bigger threat and showed more creativity.

Strathmore enjoyed more possession after the interval but seldom looked like breaching the hosts' rearguard with David Otieno and Kennedy Odhiambo producing their usual solid performances at the heart of defence.

Mohammed had the chance to put his side ahead after 10 minutes when he got on the end of a cross from Eric Angwenyi but he glanced his header past the post.

Back came Strathmore and Kombo tried his luck from 20 metres out but Kevin Aguanda was able to save comfortably.

Kevin Omondi found space on the right edge of the visitors' box after a mistake by Otieno but Aguanda went down to his right to hold onto his shot.

Strathmore were now back in the ascendancy and Omoit failed to make full contact with a 20metre shot, which did not stretch Aguanda after he had linked up well with the lively Rogers Kusimba when in plenty of space.

Strathmore's head coach former Harambee Stars' defender, Mickey Weche decided he had to make a change and brought on Kevin Omukami for Edward Gondi after 52 minutes with Osando and Odhiambo swapping flanks in the full-back roles.

Then George Makau pulled off a fine save to turn over a pile driver at full stretch from Obadiaj Ndege, which took a wicked deflection. At this point, both teams knew it was just a matter of time before a goal came their way.

The hosts were under real pressure and after Obadiah had blazed a half-chance over the bar, UoN had a great chance to make it 1-0, but Joseph Juma missed with his header.


Makau stuck out a foot to deny Juma at his near post before the interval and Strathmore came out at the start of the second half with all guns blazing.

Makau produced a superb save to tip away UoN's effort, before Kombo fired just over the crossbar. Kombo became the first player to be yellow carded after 60 minutes for tackling Reuben Osando UoN's half.

"We are quite happy to have won the final, only that we didn't play to the final whistle. We've had a great time and I only hoe that next time, we will be able to defend this title," noted Weche.

Medal table:Kenyatta University (113), UoN (69), Moi (31), Egerton (17), JKUAT (20), Strathmore (8), Kisii (5), South Eastern (4), MMUST (3), MKU (2), KEMU (2), Kabarak (12), CUEA (3)

Daily Nation - Sammy Kitula