KDF fall, Rwanda Police forge ahead in EA tourney

National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) edged Kenya Defense Forces’ (KDF) 27-26 to hand the military men their first defeat at the ongoing East and Central Africa Handball Championship at Nairobi’s Nyayo National Stadium on Wednesday.

NCPB were upset 20-30 by two-time champions Nairobi Water in their opening fixture while KDF cruised to a comfortable 40-21 win over Sparklers HC in their opener.

In an earlier fixture played on Tuesday at the same venue, defending champions Rwanda Police registered a nervy 40-38 win over Kenya’s Black Mamba to make it two wins in two following their opening fixture triumph over domestic champions NCPB.

NCPB will face Sparklers in their last match on Friday morning while KDF will hope to bounce back to winning ways as they tackle defending champions Nairobi Water on Saturday morning.

The Nairobi Water will be crowned champions for the third consecutive year should they win against KDF after picking crucial wins over Sparklers and NCPB in their opening fixtures.

Against NCPB, KDF’s Winnie Kirwa emerged top scorer with seven goals, one more than NCPB’s leading scorers Naomi Musembi and Fatima Mohammed who scored six apiece.

NCPB raided their opponents right from the moment the whistle went off, scoring two goals in quick succession but were lucky not to concede from the spot after KDF were awarded a penalty moments later.

The military men’s persistent hard pressing finally paid off in the fifth minute, as they scored to make it 4-1.

NCPB took 6-5 advavntage after the first quarter but reeled in to 7-7 in the 17th minute as the action quickly heated up.

NCPB were back in front 13-12 before the breather but once again failed to protect their lead as they drew 15 ups in the 33rd minute.

With NCPB failing to make their chances count, KDF took the lead for the first time in the match, leading 16-15 but exhibited similar frailties as their opponents as they slipped to the final 27-26 scoreline.

KDF men’s club defeated NCPB 26-18 in another match to keep their hopes alive following their defeat in the opening match against Black Mamba.

-Rwanda Police action-

Against the Rwanda Police, Black Mamba’s William Malui was sensational, scoring 12 times to emerge joint top scorer with Rwanda’s brilliant pivot Felix Makunzi while team mates Nicholas Okore and Paul Ondara managed nine and six goals each.

The visitors wasted no time announcing their presence on the pitch, leading 3-1 after just five minutes.

The scoreline turned to 8-5 in the tenth minute but Mamba kept them in check and finally leading 12-10 in the first quarter.

Mamba’s lead was short-lived as Police overtook them to take 19-13 at the breather.

On resumption, Black Mamba seemed a stronger side as they scored three quick goals to reduce the deficit.

At the third quarter,Police were still leading 34-32 and they continued with the assault

With five minutes to the last whistle,Police continued with the attacks to contain Mamba.

Mamba could have changed the score of the match but missed two clear chances that gave Police a two-score lead.