RWANDA DEFENCE FORCES (RDF) football team suffered a major blow in the on-going East African Military Games as they lost their second game against Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) side Ulinzi Stars at Amaan Stadium in Zanzibar on Tuesday.

Goals from Kevin Amwayi, Stephen Waruru and Boniface Onyango were enough for the former Kenyan champions to remain on course to clinch the title with a 3-1 victory. RDF scored a consolation goal with nine minutes to end of play through Maxim Sekamana.

Rwanda were reduced to ten men after Ernest Sugira was sent off for head butting Geoffrey Kokoyo off the ball.

The win was Ulinzi Stars’ third victory of the tournament following their 1-0 win against Tanzania before producing a late comeback to down Burundi 4-2 in their second group fixture.

Kenya is top with nine points, one ahead of Tanzania, while Uganda is third on the standing with three points after defeating Rwanda 2-1 on Monday. Burundi and Rwanda have yet to register any point.

Kenya will still qualify to represent the region in Africa Military Games to be held in Tunisia.

Bronze medal

In the 12-kilometres men cross-country at the weekend, Rwandan Felicien won a bronze medal for the military side after clocking 37:20:17.

Tanzania’s Ismail Juma shattered Kenya’s dominance in athletics by winning in 36:49.33 followed by Kenya’s Kiplimo Kimtai (37:12:06).

However, Kenya women soldiers proved their prowess in the eight-kilometre race by grabbing all three top positions. Pening Nenkamp led the pack in 28:31:55 followed by Agenes Jesang and Fridah Mwibali 28:55:08.

In netball, defending champions Tanzania People’s Defence Forces (TPDF) maintained their winning streak by defeating Burundi (113-10), Rwanda (95-10) and Kenya (33-25).

The host girls are sharing six-point mark with Uganda but the former have scored more goals (241) against the latter’s 154.

In handball, Kenya has taken a lead of four points followed by Burundi, Tanzania, Rwanda and Uganda with two points each.  

The Games will climax on August 29.