SaturdayPolice (Rwa) 41-43 Ulinzi (KEN)

Rwanda’s Police Handball Club’s campaign at this year’s East and Central Africa Handball Federation (ECAHF) tournament ended in a pretty unceremonious style after the local handball powerhouse failed to defend their title in Nairobi, Kenya.

The defending champions were just a win away from retaining their title before taking on Kenya’s Ulinzi in the final game yesterday. However, Kenya’s military side denied them a chance of clinching the title for the second time in a row with a slim defeat (43-41) hence claiming the title.

Police’s Felix Mukunzi scored the game’s high 12 goals but they were not enough to guide his side to victory.

This year’s 28th edition that started on November 19 had attracted only four clubs in the men’s category that included Police from Rwanda, and Ulinzi, Black mamba and Cereals all from Kenya playing in a round robin format.

After three games each, Ulinzi finished on top of this group with four points and a goal difference of seven, Black Mamba finished in the second place also with four points and a goal difference of six while Police finished in the third place also with four points and a goal difference of three while Cereals finished bottom without a point.

"We tried our best and dominated the whole game but luck was not on our side, it was a very balanced game but we lost concentration at the last minute which cost us the title,” said Police head coach Alphose Udahemuka in a phone interview with Times Sport yesterday

In their opening game on Monday, Police defeated Cereals 39-32 goals, thanks to efforts from Captain Gilbert Mutuyimana, Norbet Duteteriwacu and Jean-Baptiste Habimana who each scored six games to guide their side to victory.

In their second game, on Wednesday, Police again defeated Black Mamba 40-38 with Felix Mukunzi finding the back of the net 12 times; Zacharie Tuyishimire scored nine goals while Gilbert Mutuyimana scored six goals.

The team is expected to return to the country today aboard RwandAir.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw