By Oscar Pilipili

The Kenya University Sports Association (Kusa) hockey league was the centre of attraction with play-off semis at City Park Stadium.

The league was formed after university teams pulled out of the Kenya Hockey Union (KHU) to form their own early this year.

Strathmore University placed two teams in the final to enhance chances of lifting a double in the deciding matches on Saturday at the same venue.

Strathmore men beat University of Nairobi 4-1 in the first semi-final. Allan Inungu notched a brace with Ken Nyongesa and George Mudira contributing one goal each. Emmanuel Milimo scored the consolation goal university lads.

When the Kusa league took off, Strathmore did not withdraw their men’s team from the KHU Premier League but formed another, thanks to their large pool of players.

Inspired by the team’s performance, Strathmore women hit Kenyatta University 2-0 in a semi-final tie to. Lilian Aura and Carol Njoki scored for Strathmore on Saturday.

United States International University-Africa (Usiu-A) wasted an opportunity to put two teams in the final after Makwapa, their men’s side, lost in the semi-finals.

Makwapa went down 2-0 against KU. But Usiu-A women’s team, popularly known as Spartans, atoned for the men’s failure by beating UoN 5-0. Wangeci Gacuhi scored a hat-trick with Lorraine Nondi netting a double to send the team into the final.

Despite being confined to the local scene, the Kusa League is likely to change the landscape of Kenyan hockey, especially in of attendance.

City Park Stadium was lively during the play-off and more of such colourful cheering squads is expected when the league reaches the peak on Saturday.

In the KHU national league matches, Mombasa Institute drew 3-3 with Kimathi University as Barbarians recorded 3-0 win over Mombasa Sports Club (MSC). On Sunday, MSC edged Kimathi 1-0 and Institute shocked Barbarians 1-0.