Varsity championships kick off

Niza Valate Chiziane and Carmen Rosaria Rezende from Mozambique’s Apolitecnica University train at the University of Nairobi grounds on July 10, 2014 for the All Africa University games. PHOTO | MARTIN MUKANGU

What you need to know:

  • As of Thursday evening, only Mozambique, Congo and Egypt had arrived. Other teams are expected latest Friday evening.
  • The draw for the event is expected to be out Friday.

Thirteen universities from Africa begin the chase for medals on Friday when the seventh edition of the All Africa University Games kicks off at the University of Nairobi grounds.

According to the tournament’s Local Organizing Committee chairman Isaac Mbeche, 13 countries, among them neighbours Uganda, champions Egypt and last year’s hosts Namibia will compete in the eight-day event in four venues in Nairobi.

As of Thursday evening, only Mozambique, Congo and Egypt had arrived. Other teams are expected latest Friday evening. The draw for the event is expected to be out Friday.

“Thirteen teams have confirmed participation but we are expecting more teams to arrive. We are happy to have been given the opportunity to host this tournament and we’ve done everything to ensure it is a success, including putting in place stringent security arrangements to ensure safety of participants,” Prof Mbeche said on Thursday at the University of Nairobi.

Having missed out in the 2012 edition, Kenya is expected to take part in all the 17 disciplines which include American football, sitting volleyball, athletics, football, sevens rugby and swimming.

KENYAN TEAMS

Kenya will be represented by The United States International University in women’s basketball and swimming team, The University of Nairobi (men’s basketball and American football), Kenya Methodist University (men’s football), Technical University of Kenya and Maseno University (rugby). Kenyatta University will provide the bulk of the sitting volleyball team.

The ball games will be staged at the University of Nairobi grounds, while track events and swimming will take place at the Nyayo and Safaricom stadiums respectively. The Kenya Science Teachers College will host badminton, while racquet games will be played at the Nairobi Club once all participating teams have arrived.

The theme of this year’s event is “Peace and Solidarity in Africa through University Sports.” Dr Ralethe Malumbete, chairman of the Federation of African University Sports (FASU), has said the event aims at promoting sports in Africa and fostering cooperation among universities.

“There will be no cash prizes for winning teams because that is not the aim of the competitions.  We are hoping that by the end of it all, the students will have established networks for future use,  and that they will learn  something from each other,” he said.