East African Community (EAC) member-states have been challenged to form a united team for international competitions.
Officially closing the 8th EAC Military Games and Cultural Events 2014 at the Amaan Stadium in Zanzibar over the weekend, Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda said that this year’s event has once again mentored and discovered emerging world class talents in all sports disciplines, especially athletics and soccer.
“It is, therefore, no doubt that our (EAC) armed forces will always be a source of pride and inspiration to the region,’’ he told the large attentive audience.
Pinda challenged EAC armed forces to use the EAC Military Games as a platform to go beyond the region and feature at continental and international sports’ events as a best re-enforced unit.
“This will entrench EAC desires and objectives,” he said. The premier commended partner states security forces for playing a positive role in enhancing regional peace and security, adding that regional armed forces must remain committed to foster defence co-operation through a number of defence related activities, including the annual joint military exercises, sports and cultural events.
Pinda saluted all participating players for a great sportsmanship, discipline and unity demonstrated throughout the two-week bonanza.
“The solidarity and friendship of our armed forces is a vivid testimony of East Africa’s vision of one people, one destiny,” he said. Kenya emerged overall winners of the Games after collecting eight trophies, including individual honours.
Kenya won football, handball, women’s cross-country and snatched both best soccer scorer and best player’s awards through Steve Mwalula.
Kenya also secured second position in basketball (which was won by Uganda) and men’s cross-country (won by Tanzania’s Ismail Juma; shattering Kenya’s seven-year dominance).
Hosts Tanzania retained for the eighth year in succession the netball crown and won the event’s individual awards through Doritha Mbunda (best defender) and the towering Mwainaidi Hassan (best scorer).
By MTUS SALIRA, EANA