EAC military games enter crucial stage in Bujumbura / Kenya proves supreme in cross-country race
BUJUMBURA, Burundi, August 25, 2011/African Press Organization (APO)/ — The EAC Military Games 2011 entered this week the final phase with all five participating East African Community (EAC) Partner States teams battling it out in football, netball, handball and basketball in the remaining four crucial days.
The Games were officially opened by Burundi’s President and current Chairperson of the EAC Summit H.E Pierre Nkurunziza on 16 August, 2011, where he underlined importance of military co-operation in all sectors, including sports and culture.
The annual military bonanza will be closed on August 27, 2011 at Prince Louise Rwegasore Stadium in Bujumbura, Burundi. More than 500 armed forces sportsmen and women from the EAC Partner States are taking part in the two-week long colourful event.
According to available results, Kenya has retained supremacy in both men and women cross country races. Kenya’s Lewis Musoti won the men’s race in 32minutes: 44.72 seconds. Burundi’s Olivier Irabaruta finished closely in 32minutes 55.38 seconds. Third was Kenya’s Robert Lagat in 33minutes: 01.28 seconds.
Hosts Burundi is in the second overall position in the classification table in the men’s category followed by Tanzania and Uganda. Rwanda was holding the tail.
Uganda’s Rebecca Cheptegei won the women’s category in 26 minutes:18.04 seconds followed by Kenya’s Gladys Chepngeno in 26 minutes 31.38 seconds. Third was Tanzania’s Jacline Sakilu in 26munites:59.66 seconds.
Uganda finished second in overall table classification in the women’s category, followed by Rwanda, Tanzania and Burundi. In football, hosts Burundi, Kenya and Uganda are all tied at five points. Defending champions Rwanda are trailing with three points followed by Tanzania without any point.
In Basketball (men), Burundi is leading with nine points, Kenya and Tanzania have six points each and Uganda and Rwanda have yet to register any point. There is stiff competition and action in handball (men) tournament with Burundi, enjoying home crowd support, and reigning champions Kenya locked at six points each whereas Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda are battling at three points each.
Another event that is generating excitement is netball where defending champions Tanzania has taken a huge lead with nine points, followed by Uganda and debutants Burundi tied at three points; Kenya is in fourth position with one point and Rwanda has yet to secure any point.
The participants and guests yesterday visited tourist and historical sites on the outskirts of Burundi’s capital Bujumbura. This is the first time Burundi is hosting the prestigious EA Military Games since joining the EAC bloc in 2007.
“I am happy to say that everything is moving smoothly as planned. The event has truly demonstrated East Africans unity and sportsmanship,” said Brigadier-General Nahimana Salvatore, Burundi’s Defence Liaison Officer and Chair of Defence Liaison Officers at the EAC Secretariat.
Alongside the sports event the EAC Defence Sector is also celebrating 10 years of cooperation which will climax in November 2011 with the theme: One People, One Destiny: Yet Another Decade for Deeper EAC Defence Cooperation.
The primary objective of the Military Sports and Culture event is not competition but to contribute to confidence building and nurturing a spirit of sportsmanship among the EAC Defence Forces as well as for the individual soldiers to demonstrate their immense talents and diverse rich cultures.
The East African Military Games and Culture Events have been held on a rotational basis since 2005 when the first edition was held in Kampala, Uganda. Other editions of the games have since been held in Nairobi/Kenya (2006), Zanzibar/Tanzania (May 2007), Kampala (June 2008) and Kigali, Rwanda (2009).
The Military Games and Culture Event is held within the framework of the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in Defence, which was signed in 1998 and revised in 2001.
The MoU has specific provisions for areas of co-operation which are visits and exchange of information to which Sports and Cultural is encompassed, joint military training, joint operations and technical cooperation among the EAC Defence Forces.
SOURCE
East African Community (EAC)
