Kenya seeks last hurray in EAC Parliamentary Games
Kenya women’s netball team celebrate after beating Burundi 40-11 at Aga Khan Acaedemy in Mombasa on December 15, 2024.
What you need to know:
- On Sunday, Kenya defeated Burundi 40-11 in their last netball match at the at the Aga Khan Academy.
- Kenya’s captain, Rael Kasiwai said the unavailability of some of the team’s key players in the two opening matches costed them the title.
Kenyan parliamentarians are hoping to conclude their campaign in men’s football on a high Monday when they face Tanzania at the 14th East African Community Inter-Parliamentary Games (EAC-IPG) at Mbaraki Sports Club in Mombasa.
Monday marks the 10th day of the competition that began on December 7, and is scheduled to end Tuesday.
Apart from Kenya and Tanzania, the tournament, which seeks to foster integration in the region, has attracted legislators from Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi and the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA).
On Saturday, Kenya, captained by Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo, missed a chance to register their first win in men’s football after drawing 1-1 with Burundi at Mbaraki Sports Club. Kenya levelled the score against Burundi with a late second-half header from Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot.
Previously, Kenya got a walkover against South Sudan, before losing 3-0 to champions Uganda on December 8.
“We were the better side but we failed to convert our chances. We still have a match against Tanzania, which we really want to win, so we will continue with our preparations for it,” Otiende Amollo said after their match against Burundi.
“It was a very good match. The importance of this competition is not to get a winner but to foster unity in the EAC. As you saw after the match, we embraced each other and took photos together afterwards. It shows that we are using these matches to unite EAC members,” Senate speaker Amason Kingi, who was in the Kenyan squad observed.
Uganda are assured of the gold medal in men’s football following their perfect run in the competition. After their win over Kenya, Uganda hammered Burundi and Tanzania 6-0 and 3-1 respectively.
On Sunday, Kenya defeated Burundi 40-11 in their last netball match at the at the Aga Khan Academy.
Kenya’s captain, Rael Kasiwai said the unavailability of some of the team’s key players in the two opening matches costed them the title.
She also praised Uganda and Tanzania for their impressive display in the tournament. "I’m confident in the next games, we’ll do better and there is a possibility that we can emerge victorious," said Kasiwai, the Pokot West women representative.
"We’ll prepare early aiming to win the crown," she added. After being awarded a walkover against South Sudan, Kenya lost to Tanzania. They bounced back in their third match against EALA, winning 46-31. The hosts lost 49-14 to defending champions Uganda on Saturday.
