Derrick Otieno crosses the line in the100m race during the Kenya Institute of Bankers (KIB) Interbank Sports at the Kenya School of Monetary Studies. [Courtesy]
KCB secured a resounding podium finish after emerging third at the highly competitive 2024 Kenya Institute of Bankers (KIB) Interbank Sports tournament that came to an end at the Kenya School of Monetary Studies (KSMS).
The Bank, one of the fearless competitors at the banker’s tourney, garnered 1001 points after the grueling one-month long event – registering excellent performances in tug-of-war, squash, darts, athletics, volleyball, handball, netball, lawn tennis and table tennis.
Building on last year’s successes, KCB teams once again demonstrated their sporting excellence and prowess across different categories. The tug-of-war team walloped ABSA 2-0 in a heated final to retain the overall crown. The ladies’ team on the other hand finished third.
Known for producing some of the best athletes within the industry, KCB athletics side was unrivaled in the entire tournament, managing to sweep the 4 × 400 relays in both men and women’s categories and emerged second in 4 × 100 relays in both the men and women’s categories.
The team was crowned as the overall winner following the jaw-dropping display that left fans asking for more.
Perhaps one of the greatest feat at this year’s event was the golf team that quenched its five-year thirst to finish second with just four points off the top spot – marking a significant improvement from the previous year when they finished outside the top best three teams.
The table tennis affair in both men and women’s categories was one for the books. For the first time in history, both sides clinched the coveted titles. The men’s team was unbeaten throughout while the ladies’ team was only beaten by Cooperative Bank.
KCB showcased a valiant display in the volleyball affair that was filled with raucous fans who rallied behind their best teams. The ladies’ team lost 0-2 to Post Bank in an intense final while the men’s side finished third after losing 0-2 to Cooperative Bank in a semi-final clash.
Handball queens registered 10 points to be named the second-best team of the tournament while the netball ladies team recorded 12 points to clinch the second position. In draughts, KCB was the fourth best team with 23 points.
The men’s darts team, one of the best around, finished fourth after a brilliant fight to accumulate 59 points in the competition that was hotly contested. KCB also managed to be among the top best teams in the chess affair, finishing fourth with 29 points.
KCB Women’s Lawn Tennis team cruised past nemesis Equity Bank to clinch the top prize after a riveting 2-1 win in the final. In squash, a sport not known to many, KCB bagged silver after finishing third. The defending men’s football side finished fourth this year after losing 0-1 to Bank of Baroda in the third play-off final.
In the corporate run, Robley Ngoje, Caroline Mutua, and Collins Odiwuor are some of the notable names who participated in the toilsome race. However, their resilience saw the team finish second.