EAC Parliamentary Games: Kenya on course for netball gold
Migori Women Representative Fatuma Mohamed plays against EALA during the EAC Inter-Parliamentary Games in Mombasa on December 12, 2024.
What you need to know:
- In men’s basketball, Kenya cruised to a commanding 67-28 victory over Tanzania on Wednesday evening. Bungoma Senator David Wakoli, who top-scored with 20 points, expressed the team’s confidence.
- “We want to tell our competitors that this year, the trophy will remain in Kenya,” Wakoli declared.
Kenya is optimistic about securing a top-two finish in netball at the ongoing 14th East African Community Inter-Parliamentary Games (EAC-IPG) in Mombasa.
The hosts Thursday boosted their confidence with a hard-fought 46-31 victory over the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) at the Aga Khan Academy.
In front of a handful of spectators, Kenya dominated all four quarters, winning 13-9, 9-6, 13-10, and 11-6. The team features notable members, including Senator Beth Syengo, MPs Beatrice Adagala, Irene Mayaka, Fatuma Mohamed, Catherine Omanyo, and Linet Chepkorir, popularly known as Toto.
Earlier, Kenya received a walkover against South Sudan, but suffered a 17-58 loss to Tanzania on Tuesday.
“It was a very tough match, but because my players were well prepared, we managed to win. Good coordination also contributed to our win, and we want to maintain that momentum in all our remaining matches,” said Adagala, Kenya’s captain.
“The ladies were very much on point. We are really looking forward to our next match against defending champions Uganda on Saturday because our aim is to finish either first or second. We have a very good machinery that works well, and if we coordinate like we did today, I believe we can win the title,” added Irene Mayaka, a nominated MP.
Reacting to the loss, Zipporah Kering of EALA said: “We have lost, but the goals we scored are a very big achievement for us. Unlike the other team, we don’t have the ability to meet and practice often because we come from different countries.”
Meanwhile, Kenya also bagged medals in darts. Senator George Mbugua clinched a bronze medal in the men’s standing darts category for Persons with Disabilities (PWD) yesterday, adding to Kenya’s tally in the games. Mbugua secured three wins and two losses.
Tanzania’s Ally Mhata dominated the event, winning gold after defeating all his five opponents, while Uganda’s Mpindi Bumali took silver with four wins and one loss.
Kenya’s nominated MP Jackson Kosgei and Westlands MP Tim Wanyonyi had earlier secured gold and silver, respectively, in wheelchair darts. MP Janet Sitienei won silver in the women’s standing darts category.
In volleyball, defending champions Kenya bounced back with a thrilling 3-2 victory over Burundi on Wednesday night. Kenya had started the campaign strongly with a 3-1 win over Uganda on Sunday but fell to Tanzania by the same margin in their third match on Monday.
In men’s basketball, Kenya cruised to a commanding 67-28 victory over Tanzania on Wednesday evening. Bungoma Senator David Wakoli, who top-scored with 20 points, expressed the team’s confidence.
“We want to tell our competitors that this year, the trophy will remain in Kenya,” Wakoli declared.
