Handball: Nairobi Water Queens retain the regional trophy
Volleyball and Handball
By
Mike Kihaki
| Dec 06, 2021
Nairobi Water Queens retained the East and Central Africa Handball cup after winning maintaining unbeaten run in their four matches.
Nairobi Water continued their campaign on Friday morning at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium after they won their fourth win in the tournament to stay on top of the log.
With their 32-18 win over Kiziguro Secondary School, Nairobi Water moved to eight points after four matches, four points ahead of second-placed Nairobi Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB), who won three of their four matches. Nairobi Water, who maintained a winning streak, amassed eight points and 130 goals.
National team stars Gladys Chilo and Brenda Ariviza produced brilliant shows, unleashing rasping shots for Nairobi Water Queens scoring six goals apiece as Melvin Akinyi scored five. Mukanabana P scored six goals while Esther Omugesi scored three for Kiziguro.
Nairobi Water Queens overwhelmed hosts Jeshi la Kujenga Taifa (JKT) 42-20 in their opening match before thumping Ngome 28-16 on Wednesday.
The event, which is being played on a round-robin format, saw the Jack Ochieng-coached side pour cold water on her opponents before they were declared winners.
Ochieng acknowledged it was a tough tournament, saying that was the competition they had been yearning for.
"We expected tough competition and the clash lived to its billing. We are lucky we had the final laugh, but all teams played well," said Ochieng, who also coaches the national women's team.
On Thursday, Nairobi Water Queens team renewed their rivalry with NCPB in a tense but entertaining encounter. Nairobi Water Queens outclassed NCPB 28-23 in a closely contested match. Nairobi Water Queens took an early lead to half time break with 16-12 before extending the lead to win 27-21.
NCPB coach Edna Kasandi said: "My team gave their best. We lost to a better side. We will work on the mistakes we made."
NCPB, the former national champions, collected six points and 85 goals while Rwanda’s Kiziguro Secondary School lie third with three points and has netted 66 goals. Hosts Ngome are fourth without points as KJT, another Tanzanian team, bask in one point from three matches.
In men’s matches, the Kenyan side, the National Cereals and Produce Board men's team fell 28-27 to Rwanda Police in the final at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium.
NCPB trailed 17-16 at half time and efforts to turn the tables proved fruitless as the Rwandese hung on to retain the title they won in 2019 at home in Kigali. Robert Marsha-led NCPB's scoring tally, hitting the net seven times, William Maluvi bagged six while Peter Omondi netted four.
Yves Kayijamaha top-scored for Police with seven while Murwa Nashyaka shot six as Vitecur Rwamanywa managed five.
NCPB had earlier locked out Black Mamba 23-18 in an all-Kenyan semifinal while Police dismissed Ngome 29-23 in the other.
Mamba settled on the bronze medal after they beat Ngome of Tanzania 22-17. Victor Lwale and Brian Mumbi scored up to four goals apiece for the Kenyan side.?