Kenya Cereals and produce Board (KCPB) men and women’s teams have successfully defended the 2012/12 Kenya Handball Federation (KHF) league titles.
Cereals men beat Black Mamba 35-23 to take the men’s title for the 12th year running while Nairobi Water lost by a solitary goal to Cereals women in a hotly contested final played at the Nyayo national handball court Friday.
The trophy slipped out of Nairobi Water’s grasp in the last minute of the game, after late goal with just 18 seconds left to take the game forcing the game extra time after both teams tied 21-21, after they managed to bridge the three goal deficit after the second half which saw Cereal enjoying a 13-10 lead.
On resumption, a more revamped Cereal, ready to defend the title they have won for the last last fifth years took the lead in extra-time when Liza Amara put the ball past Caroline Kusa, the 2011/12 season goalkeeper of the year. Cereals goalkeeper supporters and players will have to thank goalkeeper Edna Kasambi who denied Nairobi Water four clear chances.
Jack Abat,the Nairobi Water coach believed could have changed the situation had his charges made good use of the opportunities.
“We gave a way the game today. We lost obvious balls in the extra time but next season will definitely be tough and teams must pull up their socks.”
Mercy Ombayo was again on the score card when she got Cereals 26th goal before Amara killed the game with a minute to go when she scored the game’s last goal to take the final score 27-26 in favour of Cereals who also won last year’s edition against Ulinzi.
Awards Cereals men scooped two awards, player of the year and best goalkeeper in the men’s category which was won by Maxwell Zenge and Cyrus Ochieng Nairobi Water forward, Merina Andala was voted the player of the year in the women’s category while her team mate Caroline Kusa took the best goalkeeper award.
Most promising goalkeeper went to Charles Kiarie of Kenya Polytechnic University and Pauline Ouma of Jericho Youth.
Earlier before the matches, Nigeria under 15 national team which is in the country for a series of build up matches en-route to Saudi Arabia treated fans to an entertaining curtain raiser match against local youth club Jericho Youth whom they beat 17-2.
A well oiled Nigerian side confirmed their might over local clubs overpower Aquinas secondary School in their second match.
Elvince Joshua
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