Tartar leave Tanzanians in tatters

Tartar Girls on Monday hammered poor Makongo Secondary from Tanzania 3-0 in their first match of the Brookside East Africa Secondary School Games at the UTC grounds here in Lira, Uganda.

Tartar’s goals came from Mariam Chelangat, who struck twice, and Nancy Chesis. But Olympic High, the national girls’ football champions, lost 2-1 to Burundi’s Ecotech Bujumbura.

Burundi’s best woman basketball-player-turned-footballer, Sifa Florence, scored both goals for the victors while Corozan Odhiambo managed the consolation for the Kenyans.

In 15s rugby, Kangaru School, the national runners-up, needed some luck to edge out Uganda’s Ntare High 10-7 in an entertaining contest. Jack Macharia set the ball rolling by touching down after 24 minutes but Martin Muthengi failed to convert for a slim 5-0  lead at the break.

Billy Muthomi extended Kangaru’s lead against the run of play at the start of the second half, but the Kenyans were again exposed for a lack of sharpness after failing to convert that try, with Jeff Mwema the culprit on this occasion.

Kangaru had a scare in the final minutes as Byarehuga James reduced the deficit for the hosts with a late try, before picking himself up to make the conversion. Kangaru then held on for the slimmest of victories in this contest.

At the same venue, Makongeni from the Coastal region laboured to beat Uganda’s Lake Side 23-21 in an entertaining handball contest. Makongeni were on top of the proceedings from the onset and led 12-9 at the break as Maxwell Musumba and Vincent Rotich’s trickery around the opposition’s box proved crucial in determining the outcome.

LACKED MATCH FITNESS

Musumba topped the score charts with six points, closely followed by Mike Mutasi (four) and Vincent Rotich (three).

“The boys didn’t play their game, we underrated them but that is something I am going to work on before our next fixture,” Makongeni coach, Ken Bunyasi, said.

In hockey, defending champions Kerugoya ran riot, hitting a hapless Kakungulu Memorial 6-0 in a lop-sided match. “We are lacking match fitness and have not practiced for a while and the Kenyans took full advantage of that,” Kakungulu coach Nsereko Moses said after the game.

Rehab Nyuthe scored two goals for Kerugoya, while Everlyne Warunguru, Brenda Wanjala and Alice Odhiambo were all on target to complete the rout.

In other results, Malava Boys extended their dominance in volleyball after thrashing Lycee from Burundi in three straight sets of 25-18, 25-19 and 25-17.

And not to be left behind, AIC Kosirai joined the winning queue by claiming the first girls’ volleyball contest against St Josephs (Rwanda) 3-1 (25-23, 25-19, 25-18, 25-17).

UPPER HILL A HILL TOO FAR

National basketball champions Upper Hill started their campaign well beating Haile Selassie from Zanzibar 65-30 while girls’ champions Shimba Hills also made mincemeat of Ndejje School from Uganda, whom they beat 67-32 in matches played at Lango on Monday.

Against the Zanzibaris, Upper Hill under the tutelage of international basketball instructor Ronnie Owino raced to a 17-08  first quarter lead and 31-17scoreline at the break putting the game beyond the reach of the otherwise determined an skill islanders.

Towering Fred Amwayi scored a game high 26 points while William Okombo, who had a good game, scored 15 points among them four three-pointers. Abdi Juma and Abraham Baki scored 13  and nine points respectively for the losers.

The girls’ encounter saw Shimba Hills lead their opponents 19-04 in the first quarter and 36-09 at the break. Taudencia Katumbi and Felmas Adhiambo led the scores for Shimba with 18 and 15 points respectively whil Everlyne Nakinyinyi managed six points for Ndejje.

In the only other girls’ basketball match, former champions Nabisunsa girls weathered the storm to beat Ape Rugunga from Rwanda 49-48.

In the boys’ basketball matches programmed for Tuesday, Kibuli  from Uganda take on ETG Bujumbura from Burundi, Friends School Kamusinga of Kenya take on St Mary’s Kisubi from Uganda, LD Kigali from Rwanda square it out with Maseno School, while Upper Hill School take on  Col Ami de Enfants from Rwanda.