Stiff encounter for Rwanda during the Hand Ball Session on Day 3 of EAC Military Games
Rwanda Defence force (RDF) will aim to come out blazing in the final rounds of the East Africa community games and culture event currently taking place in Kigali.
The hosts who also doubled as the defending champions having dominated last year’s events have blown hot and cold in the opening rounds that have seen Kenya dominate the early events.
Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) comfortably dominated the cross country championships sweeping with an all top three finish in the races.
Having won the overall title after clinching the basketball, handball and football crowns in last year’s event in Kampala, Rwanda’s Defence forces have all to do if they are to stand a chance of reclaiming the title that at the moment seems destined for Nairobi.
Apart from dominating the races as expected, the Kenyans seem to be on their way to adding the Netball and Football titles having maintained an unbeaten run in all the games. Ulinzi stars, the army side of the Kenya Defence Forces defeated APR, Rwanda’s representatives by a solitary goal in the opening fixture played at the Amahoro stadium.
The Kenyans also picked up a resounding win in the netball category defeating Rwanda 21- 43 in a one sided affair. The Kenyans continued their run in the men’s basketball with another impressive victory over Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) to lay down their claim for a potential mouthwatering game against Rwanda.
But despite the netball and football setbacks for RDF, the basketball and handball teams stuck to their script of dominance picking up much deserved victories in their opening fixtures with victories over Tanzania and Kenya respectively.
Star forward Olivier Shyaka’s dominance on the boards and in the paint were the springboard for APR’s success as he’s 28 points on the day led the men’s team to a commanding 14 points margin victory.
Wins for both Rwanda and Kenya’s basketball teams have set up a mouthwatering clash when the two sides meeting later today at Petit Stade.
Played under the theme, “One People, One Destiny,” the games are meant to contribute to confidence building, friendship and cooperation, nurturing esprit de corps among the EAC Partner States’ Defence Forces.
This is the 10th edition since the games inception in 2005. This year’s competition includes five disciplines; Handball, Cross-Country, Football, Basketball and Netball. Burundi absconded from this year’s event.
Meanwhile, day one of the mountain gorilla rally kicked off at the Amahoro stadium with 28 cars going through their rounds of inspection before heading to Nyamata for the spectator stage.
The business day of the rally is slated for tomorrow with cross sections two and three expected to test the drivers to their limits.
