KU players celebrating after victory/HANDOUTFounded by Harambee Stars defender Eric “Marcelo” Ouma in March 2026, the tournament aims to create opportunities for university players to showcase their talent and advance their football careers.
Ouma, who plays for Polish champions Raków Częstochowa, rose through local football before establishing himself in Europe and becoming a key figure for the national team. The inaugural edition brought together eight universities: Kenyatta University, Strathmore University, KCA University, Mount Kenya University, Kenya Methodist University, St Paul’s University, Zetech University and Africa International University.
Kenyatta University emerged champions after defeating hosts Strathmore University 4-3 on penalties following a tense final at the Strathmore University Sports Complex on Monday evening. The closely fought contest ended goalless in regulation time despite both teams creating several scoring opportunities.
In the shootout, Strathmore’s John Mbaraka missed the third penalty before Joshua Wamanga converted the decisive spot-kick to hand Kenyatta University the title. “I would like to appreciate Eric Ouma for the wonderful initiative.
This is a platform that we have lacked for a long time, and it’s a good stage for players on campus,” said Tandasi. Ouma expressed satisfaction with the quality of football displayed during the three-day competition, saying it had achieved its objective of exposing university talent.
“We have had a thrilling three-day football extravaganza. We have witnessed great skills being displayed from the group stage to the final. What we have seen is in line with the objective of the tournament, which is to give opportunities to players on campus to showcase their talents and progress in their careers,” said Ouma.
Tandasi, who successfully converted Kenyatta University’s opening penalty, attributed the victory to teamwork, discipline and determination. “I am so happy. It’s a great moment for our team, and this victory is a product of our determination, discipline and teamwork,” he said.
The triumph earned Kenyatta University Sh100,000 in prize money, while second-placed Strathmore received Sh50,000. Mount Kenya University finished third and pocketed Sh25,000 after beating Kenya Methodist University 3-1 in the playoff. Head coach Kelvin Ngare credited the team’s thorough preparation for the success.
“We had prepared well for the tournament. We had about four months to get ready after learning about the competition. Winning against tough opposition is really satisfying, and I would like to thank Eric Ouma for this kind gesture. It means a lot for the players,” said Ngare.
