Local teams JKT Mbweni and JKU of Zanzibar found it hard but settled for silver medals in both women’s and men’s categories in the East and Central Africa Netball Championship, which ended on Saturday at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam.
JKT Mbweni netball team skipper Mwanaidi Hassan receives a trophy from the Director of Sports, Leonard Thadeo after her team settled second in the East and Central Africa Netball Championship at the National Stadium in Dar es Salaam, after being outshined in the final 47-30 by Uganda NIC. Right is the Chairperson of the regional netball body, Mildred Anyiemba Wanyama. (Photo by Mohamed Mambo)
JKT Mbweni who started the championship without losing a match going for Saturday’s final against defending champion National Insurance Corporation (NIC) of Uganda, could not maintain their form to allow their opponent sneak out with a 47-30 victory to retain the title.
NIC proved to be the strongest of all and they took a 13-8 lead in first quarter and jumped to 26-14 at the breather to stay in the comfortable zone, before they sealed the victory.
It was the 15th regional title for NIC, whose dependable goal shooter Peace Proscovia was unstoppable. In another match, Information, Communications and Technology (MOICT) of Kenya who lost to eventual champions in the semi-final on Friday, beat Prisons of Uganda 47-45 in the thrilling third place play-off.
In the men’s category African champion Kenya Prisons maintained their winning streak after beating JKU 54-40 in the final to defend their title. JKU started the game strongly, looking to upset African champion after they went head to head 12-12 in the first quarter, but fell behind in the later stages of the second quarter, which ended 24-19 after interval.
In the men’s third play-off Kampala University secured a 47-46 win against Polisi Zanzibar in the close contestant.
Speaking during the presentation ceremony the Director of Sports, Leonard Thadeo on behalf of Minister for Information, Youth, Culture and Sports appealed to sports associations to strengthen East African Community (EAC) through sports.
“I want to compliment Tanzania Netball Association (Chaneta) for making this tournament possible; my appeal for you is to use sports to cement our community. I would also like to see joint regional team, which will comprise top players and represent East Africa in the international arenas,” he said.
Chaneta Chairperson Anna Kibira said that her association faced many challenges in organising the event including financial constraints. Chaneta needed more than 100m/- to organise the event but managed to raise only 19m/-.
Seventeen teams from Kenya, Uganda, Zanzibar and Tanzania Mainland battled it out for the top honours while Burundi and Rwanda could not send their teams.
Source Tanzania Daily News