Entebbe — Defending champions Kenya put up a spirited fight in Friday's final round singles to bag seven and half points but their poor opening day and the third round four ball better poor performance saw them surrender the East Africa Challenge golf trophy to hosts Uganda at the par 71 Entebbe Golf Club course.

And team coach Fred Kamau said it was a good effort coming too late for his team that eventually got used to the course, but a day too late.

"The players eventually got familiar with the course but it was a day too late. It is, however, a wake-up call for us," said the veteran professional.

Kenya, which has won the trophy eight times out of 11 events, won seven matches and halved one for a total of 16 points to finish second, just two and half points behind Uganda who won six matches and lost two in the final day singles for a total of 18.5 points to win the trophy for the first time since 2001.

But during Friday's singles, Kenya's Abdul Sihag gave his team the first win when he beat Rwanda's Ernest Ndayisenga 9-7 in a match which did not pass the 11th hole.

Then Kenya's top seeded player, Collins Omondi, scored an 8-6 against another Rwanda player Fransior. Boniface Simwa beat Uganda's top player Vincent Byamukama 2-1 in a match which could have easily gone either way.

"It's my driving which actually made me beat the Uganda as he was playing well particularly on the greens," said Simwa.

Youngest player

Sigona champion Deep Shah scored a 5-3 victory against Burundi's Koudra after leading by four holes at the turn to give Kenya the fourth point.

Kenya's youngest player, Jay Patel, beat Justin Helela 4-2 in another tough match in which the 16-year-old was able to take the pressure from the hard charging Burundi golfer.

Kenya's team captain, Francis Kimani, and Thika's Sullivan Muthugia won their matches 6-4 and 4-2 against Burundi's Mwafrica and Uganda's Muhenda for Kenya's seven points while a newcomer in the team, Anthony Kinuthia of Karen, halved with Tanzania's A. Mcharo.

"I believe we need to give chances to the juniors to play in this event as they prepare their way to the main team for the Africa Zone Six or All Africa Championship," said Kamau who insisted that the team should have arrived in Uganda early to play the Uganda Open which, as a competitive event, would have given the players a chance to master the course.

But for Uganda's team manager George Bagambisa, it was long-term team preparations that contributed to his team's victory.

"We had young boys most of whom were in the junior team whom we groomed and gave chances to play in a number of events outside and at home, including the annual match between Entebbe and Jinja, and they were more than ready for the event," said the manager.

"In this event, you need young players because they can take the pressure of playing four rounds in three days" said Bagambisa.

Burundi, who came into the Challenge Cup few years ago, and who are coached by Kenyan professional John Kisia and captained by another Kenya, Imtiaz Ali.