Champs Cereals Board shine as Strathmore fail to impress at regional event

By REBECCA GICHANA

East and Central Africa Club Championship defending champions Cereals Board of Kenya put up a spirited fight to beat Police from DRC 30-23.

The home team, who were determined to win, drew the first blood in the second minute of the game through Stabua Noor after executing attacks from the first whistle, as the  championship entered its second day at the Nyayo National Stadium Handball Gymnasium on Monday.

The defending champions went to the breather with Police trailing 16-12. However, on resumption, the hosts continued with attacks to extend the lead.

Noor showed her scoring prowess as she netted six goals past Police goalkeeper, same as her teammate Alexina Ambani.

Rehema Asiko scored five goals, while Vallary Akinyi netted three to give the home team the deserved lead.

Liza Amara, Roselina Adhiambo and Edna Kassandi scored a brace each, while Police’s top scorer Benzuka Ngunza netted seven past the experienced Cereals custodian Regina Waithera.

Secure many points

“We are taking every game at a time. We want to secure the as many points as possible to secure a semi-final slot. We will play St. Johns in our next match and we are going for more goals. The last time we played in the league last weekend, we never fielded our experienced players. However, we felt it necessary to include them in the match to blend with the young players and it worked as we planned,” Cereals Board coach Victor Siero told FeverPitch.

They beat us

“Waithera the goalkeeper, Grace Midewa and Akinyi have played in the club for many years and they have helped the team alongside other team members to win this match,”  Siero added.

“Heritage from Congo is a good club, we played them in the same championship back in 2007 and they beat us. They have experienced players who take part in Congo’s handball league. I know teams from Congo get better as the championship progresses and we will be working on improving our defensive before our next match,” said Siero.

In another encounter,  debutants to regional games Strathmore University fell 30-16 to experienced As Police from DR Congo in their first match of the day.

Celestus Okayama netted  four goals, while Sheldon Saiyalel, Andrew Mumakwa and Elvince Omondi scored  a hat trick each for the home team.

In other matches of the championships, University of Nairobi hit Kenyatta University 28-20 as  Prisons from Uganda beat newcomers to regional games National Youth Service 42-29.