Netball team eyes second title at Military event in Nairobi
By Lynette Matheka, August 8, 2019
After winning gold at first appearance during the East African Community (EAC) Military Games and Cultural Events in Burundi, Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) women’s netball team, Ulinzi Swords, are ready to make it two gold medals in as many appearances.
Netball was included in the EAC event in the last edition as a replacement for men’s handball and Kenya were crowned winners. The move was aimed at encouraging more women to participate in the games.
Former Kenya international Rebecca Serenge who has guided the team to back-to-back league titles since taking over the team three years ago as coach is confident her charges will leave nothing to chance in their quest to retain their title.
“We have been in training for close to five months with the last four weeks spent in residential camp and we are ready for the stiff competition we are expecting in these games.
I have two new additions to my team in wing defender Lilian Mboga and centre Irene Ngesa who were not part of us in 2017. Their presence strengthens my squad,” said Serange.
The tactician will depend on Florence Ndombi and Linda Okingo who are expected to team up with Mboga in defence. Field captain Brigit Nanzala’s experience coupled with that of scorer Caroline Makokha is likely to cause trouble for opposing teams.
“We remain unbeaten in the local league this season. We played in Eldoret two weeks ago and that helped us with preparations for this competition,” added the former netball and basketball international.
She was speaking on the sidelines of a flag handover ceremony where KDF vice Chief of Defence Forces (VCDF) Lieutenant-General Robert Kibochi called on the participants to shun doping compete clean both in the games and other competitions in the tournament.