GICUMBI HANDBALL club coach Ebenezel Mulenzi is optimistic his team can bounce back from their bad performance earlier in the season to retain the title.

The reigning league champions Gicumbi beat rivals ES Kigoma 29-22 on Sunday to move to 27 points, six points behind leaders Police. Gicumbi has played 10 games this season, two less than Police.

"We last won a game in May and this greatly affected our performance morale. Also the injuries suffered by some of my star players have  affected us,” Mulenzi said.

Felster Hakizimana and Emily Giraneza scored 9 and 4 goals respectively to help the champions in their first win in nearly two months. ES Kigoma dropped to third position.