National Cereals and Produce Board men's team fell 28-27 to Rwanda Police in the final of the East and Central Africa Handball Federation Senior Club Championship (ECAHF) at the Benjamin Mkapa Indoor Stadium, Dar-es-salaam, today.
The Kenyan champions gave it their all as they battled the reigning regional champions goal for goal to the delight of the crowd.
NCPB trailed 17-16 at the breather and efforts to turn the tables proved fruitless as the Rwandese hung on to retain the title they won in 2019 at home in Kigali.
Robert Marsha-led NCPB's scoring tally, hitting the net seven times, William Maluvi bagged six and Peter Omondi added four.
Yves Kayijamaha top-scored for Police with seven while Murwa Nashyaka shot six as Vitecur Rwamanywa managed five.
NCPB had locked out compatriots Black Mamba 23-18 in an all-Kenyan semifinal while Police dismissed Ngome 29-23 in the other.
Kaloleni-based Mamba won the bronze medal after they beat Ngome of Tanzania 22-17 in a game that saw Victor Lwale and Brian Mumbi chalk up four goals a piece.
On Friday, Nairobi Water Queens showed their dominance when they retained the women's crown whipping Kiziguro of Rwanda 32--18.
The Kenyan champions showed they are in a class of their own convincingly winning all their four matches. They led 19-12 at halftime.
Gladys Chilo and Brenda Ariviza bagged six goals each while Melvin Akinyi hit five and Brenda Musambai four.
" I am happy. I thank God for this far he has brought us. I also thank the players, technical team, and the water management," said coach Jack Ochieng.
" We approached this championship differently by not putting pressure on the players. We went out to have fun and it worked."
NCPB women bagged silver after they drew 24-24 with Kiziguro of Rwanda. Purity Mwangi led with six goals while Elizabeth Atieno, Leli Akinyi, and Joan Akinyi hit four each.
Water Queens, who won their seventh title, managed to bag eight points, NCPB five and Kiziguro four, Ngome two and JKT one.
