Burundi and Uganda Crested Cranes made winning starts as the CECAFA Senior Women’s Championship kicked-off at the FUFA Technical Centre in Njeru, Uganda today.

The Burundi team humbled 10-man Djibouti in the opening Group A match, while Uganda also stopped Rwanda 2-0 in the second match of the same group.

In the opening match Sandrine Niyonkuru put Burundi in the lead after 30, before Joelle Bukuru made it 2-0 six minutes later.

Djibouti who were playing a highly defensive approach had Nadia Nour sent off three minutes to half time for a bad foul. In the second half Niyonkuru netted her second of the day with a beautiful volley after 90 minutes.

The Burundi head coach Gustave Niyonkuru said he was happy to start the tournament with a win and not conceding. “We need to keep improving in every match,” added the coach.

Hassan Kako Mohamed, the Djibouti coach said although they lost the match, his team tried to play good football against a strong side.

In the second match Fazila Ikwaput netted in each half to make sure the hosts pick maximum points. Ikwaput who was also the top scorer in the just ended FUFA Women’s League scored after 39 minutes and four minutes into the second half.

The forward Anne Marie Ibangarye also had some chances at goal, but missed the target.

Uganda’s coach George Lutalo said that they played against a very strong and physical Rwanda team. “It is good to start with a win in such a tournament and we want to continue yet another good performance when we face Djibouti on Friday,” added Lutalo.

On Thursday Zanzibar will take on Ethiopia in the first Group B match, before Tanzania, the 2019 runners-up battle South Sudan.

The regional tournament, the first on the CECAFA 2022 calendar has attracted eight teams. - Confédération Africaine de Football

Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) torched Ulinzi Warriors 71-50 to take a 2-1 series lead in the Kenya Basketball Federation (KBF) men's playoff finals tie at Nyayo National Stadium gymnasium on Saturday.

The porters got this Game Three off to just the start they needed after a three pointer by Lennox Wanje. They piled on the points as the soldiers struggled to hit the target.

With just over a minute to the end of the quarter, KPA sailed away to a comfortable 20-4 cushion. They hanged on 20-8 at the end of the stanza.

Victor Odendo nailed a three pointer from the wing to open the third quarter but Eric Mutoro swifty replied with one of his own.

Another trey by Odendo made it a 28-15 scoreline before Ken Wachira hit a basket and followed it with a three pointer for 33-17 KPA lead. Ulinzi trailed 37-18 at the break.

"This was the fruit of our hard work during trainings. We have trained well and played good defense. We also do better on offense. If we pick up from where we left, we will be okay,” said KPA coach Sammy Kiki. 

Wachira turned on the show as the third quarter got underway drilling three consecutive treys, two from the top of the key for a 46-23 advantage.

"My teammates trust me when I start making those shots. My mind set was in the game and they started giving me the ball. I just had to finish,” said Wachira.

With 4:00 to play in this quarter, Job Byron rebounded a Wanje miss inside and easily connected as KPA build a 50-25 margin.

Wachira fed Nick Ogol for an easy basket, he again stole a wayward Ulinzi pass and drove for a 61-33 edge that marked the end of the stanza.

Ogol got the fourth quarter off where he ended the third, scoring from the line for a 63-33 edge that dampen Ulinzi spirits.

Halfway through the last quarter, KPA had sailed away 65-40 as Ulinzi suffered a blow following the injury of Joseph Owino .

Ulinzi coach William Balozi blamed their loss on poor start but said KPA were the better team.

"Today nothing worked for us. We started off badly and ended it badly. We couldn't balance the court and box out."

He went on, "We are normally a good three lint shooting team but none of our shots went in. It was just a bad day in office."

Wachira recorded 19 points and Ogol tallied 14 for KPA. Ulinzi had 10 a piece from James Mwangi and Jose Khaemba. - DANN O’WERRE, The Star

Kenyan runners Rodgers Kwemoi and Hellen Obiri have won the 17th Istanbul Half Marathon, an annual road run that this year featured hundreds racing through Türkiye's metropolis.

Rodgers Kwemoi of Kenya finished first in the men's half marathon with a time of 59 minutes and 15 seconds, setting a track record on Sunday.

His countryman Daniel Mateiko finished second with a time of 1 hour and 5 seconds, followed by Kenyan Emmanuel Bor at third with a time of 1 hour and 20 seconds.

Kenyan runner Hellen Obiri also took first place in the women's category with a time of 1 hour, 4 minutes, and 48 seconds.

Ethiopia's Tsehay Gemechu was second with a time of 1 hour, 5 minutes and 52 seconds, followed by Kenya's Vicoty Chepngeno with 1 hour, 6 minutes and 58 seconds.

Turkish athletes

Among Turkish athletes, Ramazan Ozdemir completed the race with a time of 1 hour, 4 minutes and 2 seconds in the men’s categories, and Yasemin Can ran the race in 1 hour, 7 minutes and 57 seconds in the women’s category.

Another Turkish athlete, Alihan Yilgin, won the 10 kilometre (6.21 miles) race.

An award ceremony was held near the starting area for the winning runners.

The event, with more than 650 foreign athletes from 65 countries competing, had two categories: 21 kilometres (13 miles) and 10 kilometres.

The first-place winners were awarded $7,500, second-place finishers $5,000, and third-place finishers $4,000. - TRT World