Since 1951, Federation of African Sports Universities (FASU) has held a multi-sports event whereby over twelve sports; athletics, badminton, basketball, chess, football, handball, karate, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, and volleyball, are among the games played by universities across Africa.

This year marked the 10th Federation of African Sports Universities (FASU), which was held from 6th to 10th June 2022 at Kenyatta University, Nairobi. Over 4,000 students across Africa were in attendance to represent their universities in competing to be crowned champions in the various sports categories.

Strathmore University sports teams were not left behind. Below are highlights and experiences of the SU sports men and women in the various games played.

Karate – Team Titans

Karate is a self-defense tool to keep harm out of their way. Defense without weapons. Karate students do not intend to harm other people. The sport, which is also an art, has two major divisions. Kata –which entails the display of karate techniques and Kumnite, the Sparing level.

“In the All Africa University Games, we selected a diverse set of students from/with different levels of Karate mastery; novice, intermediate and advanced students. Our aim was to ensure that in each level, each one of them will get an experience.

It amazes me that everyone who participated in these games left with a medal! Yes, even the beginners!  We received 10 silver medals and 10 bronze medals! How cool is that! Everyone showed up and showed out!” Nelima Lucy Simiyu, Captain of the team and and Informatics and Computer Science student says.

Awards 

Kata: 3 Silver medals (Female Team) and 4 Silver medals (Male Team)

Kumite: 5 Bronze medals (Female Team) and 4 Bronze medals (Male Team)

Individual awards: 3 Silver medals (Meenakshi Krishna, Andrea Konde and Millicent Menya) and 1 Bronze medal (MaryBrenda Onsomu)

Athletics – Mark Kang’ethe

Did you know that weather affects how athletes run? If the weather is hot, windy, cold or rainy, it affects the pace of the runner and ultimately their finish time? Interesting, right?

“Running is all about having the desire to train and persevere until every fiber in your legs, mind, and heart is turned to steel,” Mark Kang’ethe, a lone ranger in the sport says. He participated in the Athletics competition and managed to get to the semifinals in both 100 and 200meters in a finish time of 10.68 and 10.59 (PB) and 21.43 and 21.45 (PB), respectively.

“Every morning in Africa, a gazelle wakes up, it knows it must outrun the fastest lion or it will be killed. While a lion wakes up knowing it must run faster than the slowest gazelle, or it will starve. As for me, I am running to be crowned a champion. Currently, I am training for the World Championships and Commonwealth Olympic games coming up next week. My goal is to be among the top 3 athletes.”

Swimming

Diving beneath the cool waters. Arms passing over the ears, propelling one to move forward. The calculated breaths after each stroke. Probably, one could be a fish.

To many, swimming is a hobby, but to others, it is a fast-paced competitive sport.  It’s amazing to challenge oneself to beat someone else to the finish line as fast as one could. The Strathmore University swim team, which was created last year, did not miss out on the chance to showcase their mastery of skills in swimming. The team went against teams from Egypt, Uganda, Ethiopia, and Mauritius, just to mention a few.

“This being our first time, for most of the swim team members, the nerves kicked in when we arrived at the sports arena: Pre-race jitters and performance anxiety; Standing behind the blocks, adjusting one’s goggles, shaking one’s legs and arms out for what might be the thousandth time. As the title of Gary Bloom’s book says, we had to “Keep our heads in the game” for us to perform our best in the competitions.

Outstanding Performance: 

Frank Mayende, the Captain, managed to scoop position 4 in 3 of the Swimming Competitions.

Moving forward 

The All Africa University Games have paved the way for us, sports men and women, to realize our greatest potential and use these skills to be greater.  It was an eye opening and learning experience.

“It is not about being the best, it is about being better than you were yesterday…” As the famous line by the Character Dory from the Movie “Finding Nemo”, we will keep swimming. By being open to learn, we will be ready for the future.

 

This article was written by Jemmy Kamau. 

 

 

What’s your story? We’d like to hear it. Contact us via communications@strathmore.edu.