NCPB, Nairobi Water win in regional handball tourney opener

Kenyan sides National Cereals and Produce Board (NCPB) men and Nairobi Water women got off to bright starts as the East and Central Africa Handball Federation Senior Clubs Championships (ECAHF) got underway Monday evening at the Benjamin Mkapa indoor stadium in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.

Former champions NCPB won against hosts Jeshi  La Kujenga Taifa (JKT) 42-21, while reigning champions Nairobi Water overwhelmed JKT 42-20  in the other match played at the same venue. 

Thodosia Sangoro (8),William Malwi (5),Francis Sande (5) and Bryan Makokha (5) emerged top scorers for the visitors, while Mashaki Mgeni (6) and Khalid Jamanne (4) top scored for the losers.

Cereals coach Danstun Eshikumo welcomed the first win saying they can only get better.

"It gives us a head start and we can only build on the win going forward," offered Eshikumo.

In the women's match, Brenda Musambai (9),Brenda Ariviza(8) and Gladys Chillo (8) emerged top scorers for Nairobi Water, while Doto Pembe (5), Zona Mohamed (4) and Doto Pembe (4) shone for the home team.

Nairobi Water team manager Caroline Kusa said they will take one match at a time with focus on retaining their title.

"We just began the event but we are hopeful of better ending," stated the official.

The regional event will run till December 4 and has attracted teams from Uganda, Rwanda, Zanzibar, Kenya and Tanzania in both genders.

Rwanda Police men and Nairobi Water are the defending champions after they won the respective titles in 2019 in Rwanda. 

Kenya is represented by Nairobi Water and NCPB in the women's competition, while self supporting Black Mamba and NCPB will carry Kenya's flag in the men's version.

The technical meeting of the week-long event will be conducted Monday night.

The top two teams from the men's pools will proceed to the semifinals.