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A hat-trick by Oscar Wamalwa handed Ulinzi Stars a perfect start in the12th edition of the East Africa Community (EAC) military games and cultural event as the Kenyan side picked a resounding 4-0 win against Muzinga FC of Burundi to kick-start their title defence on a positive note. 

Coach Benjamin Nyangweso had entrusted Timothy Odhiambo at goal with Hassan ‘Rio’ Mohamed leading the backline while Oscar Wamalwa led Ulinzi’s attack. 

The Kenyans wasted no time as they opened the scoring in the 10th minute. Brian Birgen delivered the ball to Wamalwa inside the box from the right flank and the Stars’ man towered above the Burundi defence for a header to put Kenya ahead. 

The hosts came close to adding a second goal in the 27th minute but Churchill Muloma’s effort from outside the box missed goal by  inches.  The match headed to the breather with Kenya holding the slight one goal advantage. 

Wamalwa missed a chance to extend Kenya’s lead seven minutes after resumption. However, a costly mistake from Burundi’s keeper Ismael Kabuntu, who left his goal unmanned in an attempt to clear a dangerous ball , handed the Ulinzi man his second goal in the 57th minute. 

Things went on a downward trajectory for Burundi as Enosh Ochieng made it 3-0 in the 77th minute. Wamalwa picked his third and the team’s fourth a minute later as he pounced on a weak pass from the start line and beat the offside trap and went on to beat the keeper for the goal.    The event brings together six countries Rwanda, Tanzania, Burundi, new entrants South Sudan,  and Uganda as well as hosts Kenya.  

The opening ceremony, attended by Cabinet Secretaries Raychelle Omamo ,for Defence and her Sports counterpart Amina Mohammed, was charactersised by cultural displays and march ons from the participating countries. 

In her opening speech, chairperson of the organising committee Major General Fatma Ahmed urged  the games leadership to  include para athletes  in future events. 

“I call on all the countries and more the organising committee to consider including categories for the para athletes in these events. That will allow those athletes to interact with their able-bodied colleagues throughout the games,” said Ahmed.  

Meanwhile,  the rest of the disciplines start their competition this morning with Ulinzi Warriors,  Ulinzi Swords and KDF ladies representing Kenya in basketball, netball and volleyball, respectively.