Over the years, Kenya has proven beyond reasonable doubt that it is not only a force to fear in athletics but it is also a volleyball nation.
For instance, just but to brag, the national women’s volleyball team Malkia Strikers boasts of nine African Nations Women’s Volleyball championships, a record in the continent.
However, it is the women’s team that raises Kenyan flag higher globally as their male counterparts, Wafalme Stars struggle to showcase their prowess.
But as the 2021 season was going to be a tragedy for Kenyan volley ballers, Malkia Strikers rose to the occasion once again to give the nation something to smile about and hope of future glory.
After a low performance at the delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympic games in August, Malkia Strikers saved Kenya the disappointment by amending their mistakes and qualifying for the for the FIVB 2022 World Championships.
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The East African queens were knocked out of the Olympics in group stage after falling to hosts Japan, South Korea and Dominican Republic.
Many questioned the team set up and doubted experienced coach Paul Bitok but they would be forced to swallow their own words in September.
Kenya, who are the record African champions with nine titles, were seeking to dethrone Cameroon who beat them 3-2 in the 2019 final in Cairo, Egypt when they headed to Rwanda for the 2021 African Nations Women’s Volleyball Championships finals.
Kenya were pooled in Group B against defending champions Cameroon, former champions Tunisia, Burundi and DRC Congo. Pool ‘A’ has hosts Rwanda, Senegal, Morocco and Nigeria.
Bitok took a fresh team team which saw the inclusion of three new players including Kenya Pipeline duo of Esther Mutinda and Sinaida Yvonne as well as Veronica Adhiambo of Director of Criminal Investigations (DCI).
Other players included captain Mercy Moim, Joy Lusenaka, Edith Wisa, Lorine Chebet, Gladys Ekaru, Leonida Kasaya, Pamela Masaisai, Sharon Chepchumba, Emmaculate Chemtai, Aggripina Kundu
Kenya would go on to overcome a poor start at the African volleyball event after going down to rivals Cameroon 3-0 (25-20,25-21,25-19) to thrash Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Tunisia 3-0 in straight sets of (25-11, 25-12. 25-19) and (25-20,25-19,25-21) respectively.
Malkia proceeded to book FIVB 2022 World Championships slot by edging out Morocco 3-0 in the semi-finals. Kenya spiked Morocco in straight sets of 25-12, 25-21 and 25-11, to qualify for the finals.
The two finalists in the continental showpiece earn an automatic ticket to the world games set for Poland and Netherlands in August, next year.
Kenya will be joined by defending champions Cameroon in the global volleyball games after they knocked out Nigeria in straight sets in the second semifinals.
Seeking a 10th African title, Kenya renewed their rivalry with Cameroon in the finals which did not go to plan.
Kenya will have to wait for another two years to reclaim their lost glory after Malkia Strikers lost 3-1 to Cameroon in the finals of the FIVB African Nations Championships which yesterday ended in Kigali, Rwanda.
Cameroon women's volleyball team completed a double over Kenya in the (25-2125-23,15-25 and 25-23) win to retain the African women’s volleyball title.
Cameroon had defeated the East African in straight sets in the first match of pool "B". Kenya last won the title in 2015 in Nairobi.
This is the third successive final Kenya is falling to Cameroon with the West Africans, once again, denying the East African queens their record-extending tenth continental title.
For our male counterparts, it was not all glory but a mixed fortune for the national male volleyball team Wafalme Stars.
Wafalme ended their 2021 Africa Nations Volleyball Championships on ninth position in the volleyball tourney in Kigali, Rwanda.
Kenya ended their campaign on a high note after thrashing Mali in straight sets in a classification tie to finish ninth of the 16 teams that featured.
Wafalme dominated the ranking tie before easing to victory easily in sets of 25-21, 25-21 and 25-16.
Wafalme won five out of six matches-against Egypt, Tanzania, Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali.
After kicking off the continental volleyball tourney on a brighter note that saw them fight from a set own to shock tournament favorites Egypt 3-2 (19-25, 25-22, 25-20, 18-25, 15-12), Kenya were a pale shadow of themselves in their second match against Morocco.
Wafalme Stars suffered their first loss at the hands of leaders Morocco who also came from a set down to win 3-1 (25-19, 21-25, 17-25, 21-25) and taking their tally to six points which handed them a slot in the quarter-finals.
Kenya had two points and needed to defeat Tanzania to stand a chance of going through to the quarter-finals which they did courtesy of a 3-0 (25-0, 25-0, 25-0) walkover after the neighbours failed to show up.
However, Wafalme Strikers fate lied on their tormentors Morocco had to defeat Egypt by any means for Kenya to go through to the quarterfinals.
Kenya’s prayers went unanswered as Egypt fought hard to floor Morocco, ending Kenya’s journey at the Kigali tournament.
Nevertheless, Wafalme Stars have all reasons to smile as they come out of the tournament with one of the biggest wins in their history which came at the group stage when they slayed the Egyptian Pharaohs.
In beach volleyball, Kenya has proved beyond reasonable doubt that it is quickly become a beach volleyball nation.
The national women beach team spiked her way to the world map after making history when it qualified for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
The pair of Gaudencia Makokha and Brackcides Agala saw off Nigeria Two team 2-1 after coming from a set down at the African final qualifiers in Morocco
Despite losing the opening set 17-21, the duo won the subsequent sets 21-18 and 15-10 to topple the West African giants.
Phosca Kaisi and Yvonne Wavinya were also in their best element, flooring their opponents 2-0 21-17 and 21-10 as Kenya qualified to the global show for the first time ever.
As the Kenyan ladies had their fair share of success, the men team also performed well after settling for the sixth position at the qualifiers won by Morocco who defeated Mozambique to book their place at the Olympics.
At the Olympics, Kenya who was represented by Gaudencia and Brackcides was paired together with star-studded Brazil, USA and Latvia in group D.
Kenya lost all her matches with three points but the pair coached by Sammy Mulinge took every game as valuable experience and learning lessons.
Captain Gaudencia said they showed a lot of fighting spirit despite playing the world best teams. “Our level of standards was high and we shall transform the experience to better performances in future,” said the captain.
She says representing Africa at the Olympics was the most enjoyable duty that we had.
“Despite the pressure we had at the qualifiers, our main goal was to make history by becoming the first Kenyan female beach volley ballers to play at the Olympics,” said the experienced captain.
Additional Reporting by Ernest Ndunda
