KDF munch Cereals, Nairobi Water soar in EA handball tourney

The Kenya Defense Forces (KDF) men’s team beat compatriots National Cereals and Produce Board 26-18 in an all-Kenyan clash during the third day of the East and Central Handball Africa Club Championship at Nairobi’s Nyayo National Stadium.

Both clubs needed a positive response after losing their opening fixtures and it was the defending champions who sparkled brighter early on, taking a 4-2 lead in the fifth minute with Davies Odhiambo – who emerged top scorer with six goals – leading the charge.

However, Felix Kiriithi hauled KDF Handball Shooters back into it, notching four quick goals as they rallied to lead 8-6 for the first time in a thrilling first quarter on Tuesday.

In the 21st minute, KDF stretched their lead to 11-7 and eventually going to the first break holding at 13-10 advantage.

The Military Men extended the margin to five goals with two quick goals after the restart as they slowly started putting distance between them and Cereals who ended up trailing 14-19 by the end of the third quarter.

In the women’s category, title-holders Nairobi Water cruised to their second successive victory to keep their hopes of retaining their title alive.

The two-time regional champions picked a resounding 30-20 win over local rivals National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) in their opening match on Monday evening and went on to romp past Sparklers HC in a 41-11 humiliation on Tuesday.

Despite losing the encounter, NCPB produced the top scorer of the match Naomi Musembi who scored five goals with teammate Betty Too contributing with four others.

Nairobi Water’s duo of Judy Augo and Magdaline Muthoni scored four apiece as they ended joint top scorers for their side.

Against Sparklers, the four-time domestic champions showed no mercy taking a 13-2 in the first quarter.

The four-time domestic champions dominated the match as they intensified attacks to extend the lead to 15-2 in the 18th minute.

The score line soon turned uglier for the Sparklers in the 18th minute as they conceded three more goals prompting them to seek their first technical time out but it hardly paid dividends as they returned to soak in two more goals.

With five minutes left before the breather, Sparklers scored two goals but Nairobi Water replied quickly with four goals in a three-minute blitz to lead 22-4.

The champions showed no signs of easing off, pickling up from where they left and scoring only one goal less than their total first half tally.

Brenda Musambai was the star of the show, top scoring with 11, two ahead of Brenda Ariviza and Magdaline Muthoni while Sparklers’ Mary Kuthola scored five.

The KDF women’s club will face NCPB on Wednesday from 10am while the men’s champions Rwanda Police will play against last year’s finalist Black Mamba.

The championship has attracted eight teams equally shared between the men’s and women’s categories.