The EAC/EALA team bowed out of the Inter-Parliamentary Football Tournament 2011after loosing 3-2 on penalties to Burundi in a match played today. In regular time, both teams settled for a 2-2 draw in a thrilling encounter that saw the EALA Speaker, Rt. Hon Abdirahin Abdi strike for the team. The EAC/EALA team will rue over missed chances in the early minutes of the entertaining game.
Defender Babuu Almasi capitalized on a defensive lapse by the Parliament of Burundi to open the score for the EAC/EALA in the 18th minute. Earlier on, the EALA Speaker missed a chance to put his team ahead in the 12th minute after been put through by winger Charles Kadonya. Meshack Nyambele could have stretched his team’s lead had he connected a long pass from Hon Augustine Lotodo in the 31st minute. On his part, Parliament of Burundi’s Nkurunziza Joseph also shot over the bar soon thereafter.
Both teams piled pressure in the second half which was equally balanced. Left winger, Hon Nkurunziza Aime scored in the 67th minute after dribbling past the entire EAC/EALA defence to send the home crowd in to a frenzy. In the dying minutes, Hon Bernard Mulengani scored after receiving a pass from Emmanuel Diah to equalise.
Taking the spot kicks, Meshack Nyambele and Proches Kamugisha scored for EAC/EALA while Babuu Almasi and Khalfan Mohamed missed their penalties. Parliament of Burundi scored through Ibrahim Iddi, Hon Ndayisenga Serge, Hon Desire Uweyizimana and B. Ayubu. EAC/EALA goalkeeper Tumaini Ikomba saved one spot-kick.
Earlier on, Parliament of Uganda also beat Parliament of Kenya 5-4 to advance to the finals. Both teams drew 1-1 in regular time. Kenya’s goal was scored by Hon Ababu Namwamba in the 20th minute following the spadework by Hon Peter Ngugi. The scorer was a constant threat in Uganda’s danger zone. Second half substitute Nsubuga Joseph levelled for the Parliament of Uganda in the 47th minute. Hon Odonga Otto misfired in the dying minutes of the second half when he only had Kenya’s goalkeeper, Hon. Richard Onyonka to beat.
Taking the resultant spot-kicks, Ssekide Daniel, Nsubuga Joseph, Hon Bagoole Johnson, Hon. Nsereko Hamad and Nsimbe Kasim scored. Kenya converted through Stephen Njatta, Hon Peter Ngugi, Naman Agengo and Ben Anima while Hon David Koech’s penalty went wide.
Uganda and Burundi now meet in the finals scheduled for November 29, 2011 while EAC/EALA and Kenya shall play in the 3rd and 4th place.
The Inter-Parliamentary Football Tournament 2011 marks part of the celebrations of the 10th Anniversary celebrations of EALA.
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For More Information contact: Bobi Odiko, Senior Public Relations Officer, East African Legislative Assembly | AICC Building, Ngorongoro Wing, 2nd Floor, P.O. Box 1096 Arusha, Tanzania | Tel: +255-27-2508240, Cell: +255-787-870945 +254-733-718036 Email: BOdiko@eachq.org
