Rwanda’s Groupe Scolaire des Parents lost to regional defending champions, St. Mary’s Kitende of Uganda 2-0 in the semi-finals of the East African Games last week.

The defending champion also lifted this year’s regional trophy after defeating Tanzania’s Makongo School 2-1 in the finals played on Saturday at Moi stadium.

Meanwhile, in girls’ handball, defending champions Mombasa High School successfully retained their crown after beating Rwanda’s Apapeki Cyuru School 70-31 in an asymmetrical final. Mombasa high schools’ Captain Brenda Wasuda emerged top scorer with 22 points while Maria Ndayingerutse bagged 12 points for Apapeki.

Meanwhile, Kenya’s local teams local teams reigned as the East African Schools Championship came to an end in Kisumu yesterday.

Defending football girls’ champions, Wiyeeta, clinched their fourth consecutive title while Maseno School and defending champions, Mombasa High completed the boys’ and girls’ basketball double to stamp the hosts’ supremacy.

Maseno, who last won the title in 2002, won the hotly contested encounter against St Austin of Kenya 54-54.

Kenya’s Kimilili went down to 25-28 to Uganda’s Kibibi in boys’ handball in a tie that seesawed to the end.

 Kibibi took an early lead and held on for a narrow 13-12 advantage at half time.

The Rwanda contingent which comprised of six schools is expected to return back home today evening aboard Regional Bus Service.

The schools included; Groupe Scolaire Aspej Rwamagana, St. Joseph Muhanga, Apapeki Cyuru, Groupe Scolaire Officiel de Butare, College Inyemeramihigo and Groupe Scolaire des Parents.

The East African Secondary Schools Championship which was sponsored by the Kenya Barclays and Brookside international climaxed on Saturday at Moi stadium.

In a related development, the regional schools’ organising body, ESSAF has suspended Kange Secondary School of Tanzania for three years after an act of gross indiscipline by one of their players during their preliminary fixture against Uganda’s Masaka Secondary School last week.

Kange School will sit out for three editions after their goal keeper, Ally Rajabu head butted referee Daniel Taabu.Ends