By Dennis Bizimana
East African News Agency
Kenya asserted her supremacy in athletics - winning both men's and women's cross-country events – as the East African Community (EAC) military games being held in Burundi entered their penultimate week.
With just four days to the end of the games, military teams from the five EAC member countries - Burundi, Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda - are battling it out for top honours in ball games - football, netball, handball and basketball.
Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza, who is the current chairperson of the EAC Heads of State Summit, officially opened the games on 16 August. He underscored the importance of military cooperation in all sectors, including sports and culture.
The main objective of the Military Sports and Culture is 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 talents and diverse cultures
At least 500 military sportsmen and women from the region are taking part in the games, whose closing ceremony will be held on 27 August at Prince Louise Rwegasore Stadium in the Burundian capital, Bujumbura.
Kenya is the top overall winner, having retained the first position in both men's and women's cross country races. Kenya’s Lewis Musoti won the men’s race followed by Burundi’s Olivier Irabaruta. Another Kenyan, Robert Lagat, came in third.
East African News Agency
Kenya asserted her supremacy in athletics - winning both men's and women's cross-country events – as the East African Community (EAC) military games being held in Burundi entered their penultimate week.
With just four days to the end of the games, military teams from the five EAC member countries - Burundi, Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda - are battling it out for top honours in ball games - football, netball, handball and basketball.
Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza, who is the current chairperson of the EAC Heads of State Summit, officially opened the games on 16 August. He underscored the importance of military cooperation in all sectors, including sports and culture.
The main objective of the Military Sports and Culture is 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 talents and diverse cultures
At least 500 military sportsmen and women from the region are taking part in the games, whose closing ceremony will be held on 27 August at Prince Louise Rwegasore Stadium in the Burundian capital, Bujumbura.
Kenya is the top overall winner, having retained the first position in both men's and women's cross country races. Kenya’s Lewis Musoti won the men’s race followed by Burundi’s Olivier Irabaruta. Another Kenyan, Robert Lagat, came in third.
Host Burundi is in the second overall position in the classification table in the men’s category, followed by Tanzania, Uganda and Rwandal. In the overall table classification in the women's category, Kenya is tops, followed by Uganda, 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) 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.
Netball is the other event generating excitement, with defending champions Tanzania taking a nine-point lead 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.
This is the first time Burundi is hosting the East African Military Games since joining the EAC in 2007.
"The Games have truly demonstrated East Africans unity and sportsmanship," said Brigadier-General Nahimana Salvator, Burundi’s Defence Liaison Officer
and Chair of Defence Liaison Officers at the EAC Secretariat.
Besides the games, the EAC Defence Sector is 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".
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) 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.
Netball is the other event generating excitement, with defending champions Tanzania taking a nine-point lead 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.
This is the first time Burundi is hosting the East African Military Games since joining the EAC in 2007.
"The Games have truly demonstrated East Africans unity and sportsmanship," said Brigadier-General Nahimana Salvator, Burundi’s Defence Liaison Officer
and Chair of Defence Liaison Officers at the EAC Secretariat.
Besides the games, the EAC Defence Sector is 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".
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