Equity teams make early statement at Interbank Games

• From the courts to the playing fields, employees from across Kenya’s financial sector have traded their office attire for sporting gear, with institutions battling for bragging rights as the annual competition enters another chapter.

Synthia Kavila representing Equity in the 200M at the interbanks tournament.The battle for honours is already heating up at the 40th edition of the Interbank Games, with 38 banking and financial institutions going head-to-head across 49 sporting disciplines in a competition that has brought more than 6,000 participants together.

From the courts to the playing fields, employees from across Kenya’s financial sector have traded their office attire for sporting gear, with institutions battling for bragging rights as the annual competition enters another chapter.

Officially opening the games, Kenya Bankers Association CEO Raimond Molenje said the competition offers participants an opportunity to showcase talents and leadership qualities that often remain hidden behind their everyday professional responsibilities.

“We are here on the 40th edition of our competition to release the potential that we cannot see from behind our desks and spreadsheets,” said Molenje.

He said the sporting arena provides a different platform for employees to demonstrate their abilities, while also strengthening the relationships that underpin the banking sector.

“Behind the work being done and the profits achieved by banks, there are human beings with capacity, potential, and leadership. In the field, you are competitors, but once we leave the field, we have one vision for our country: to build a banking sector that advances Kenya.”

With the competition now underway, defending champions Equity Bank have wasted little time in putting themselves among the early contenders, producing strong results across several disciplines.

Equity’s women’s basketball team opened with a commanding 46-16 victory over National Bank of Kenya, while their men’s table tennis side swept Stanbic 3-0.

The women’s table tennis team also enjoyed a productive start, beating Kingdom Bank 3-1 before recording another emphatic 3-0 victory over I&M Bank.

There was more success in the field events, with Equity’s men’s tug-of-war team defeating I&M Bank 2-0, while their darts team edged Bank of Africa 3-2 in a closely contested encounter.

On the lawn tennis courts, Equity’s women recovered from an opening singles defeat to beat NCBA 2-1 overall. The men, however, were unable to complete a similar comeback, going down 2-1 to NCBA after a competitive contest.

The early results have given the defending champions momentum as they bid to extend their dominance in the Interbank Games, but with two weeks of competition still remaining, the title race is far from decided.

Equity Sports Coordinator Nick Ongeri said the bank’s teams are determined to maintain the standards that have delivered success in previous editions.

“Our teams have built a strong legacy of success over the past years through consistency, discipline, and grit. Coming into this 40th edition, we have prepared thoroughly, and our eyes are firmly set on defending our crown and taking the title back home.”

The 40th edition promises another closely fought contest as institutions battle for supremacy across the different disciplines, with the competition providing both individual athletes and teams an opportunity to turn their sporting ambitions into results.

For now, Equity have made the early statement. The challenge for their rivals will be to respond before the final whistle on this year’s Interbank Games.