The Tanzanian Parliamentary netball team overcame their Ugandan counterpart 35-32 in a thrilling final to defend their title in the East African Inter-parliamentary games, which climaxed at Mandela National Stadium Namboole over the weekend.
The win was inspired by outstanding performances by Tanzanian MPs particularly Grace Kihwelu and Halima Mdee, who were respectively voted MVP and best defender of the tournament.
Ugandan MP Sarah Netarisiyire emerged top scorer with 52 goals, with Winnie Kiiza, also from Uganda, was voted best centre. It was a repeat of last year’s success when Tanzanian team was crowned champions after beating Uganda 51-27 in the finals.
Meanwhile, host Uganda retained the regional parliamentary games trophy in the football category for the third time in row after they defeated East African Legislators by 3-0.
Ugandan team scored their goals through Kampala Central MP, Mohamed Nsereko, plus one from the team captain, Patrick Nsanja to emerge champions of this year.
Idd Azzan of Tanzania was voted best goalkeeper in the football competition while Uganda’s Nsereko finished the tournament with five goals making him the top scorer and hence carrying home a golden boot. Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni graced the finals of the championship.
Before kick off between the Uganda Parliamentary team and the EALA team, a minute of silence was observed in memory of the late former President of the Republic of South Africa and a renowned freedom fighter Nelson Madiba Mandela.
The Inter-Parliamentary games bring together football and netball teams from the National Assemblies and EALA/EAC in a two week extravaganza.
The Inter-Parliamentary games are a key aspect of building relations between the EALA and the National Assemblies in the EAC region.
The games play a fundamental part in enabling EALA’s interaction with Members of the National Parliaments in the Partner States as envisaged in Article 49 (2a) of the Treaty for the Establishment of EAC.
At the same time, such games have been playing vital role in enhancing interaction with the citizenry of the Partner States and as a mode of sensitization popularizing the Integration process.
Source Tanzania Daily News