KPA's volleyball team in a past training session at Makande Gymnasium, in Mombasa. [Omondi Onyango, Standard]
Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) made it to the quarter-finals of the 2022 African men’s volleyball championships after they won their two pool C matches in Kelibia, Tunisia.
The dockers easily dismissed AS Injs volleyball club of Ivory Coast 3-0 (25-15, 25-17, 25-17) in their second match. They next play WSP Espoir of Congo today.
KPA began their title hunt on a winning note on Sunday after they saw off Madda Walabu University of Ethiopia 3-2 (25-21, 21-25, 28-26, 21-25, 15-13) in a see-saw match.
KPA, guided by their captain Sammy Ngeny, won the first set 25-21 where Elijah Bosire and James Mwaniki were outstanding. The Ethiopian University students came back strongly to level the sets with a 25-21 win.
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The dockers, who are coached by Sammy Mulinge, won the third set 28-26 before the Ethiopians ensured parity with a 25-21 win.
KPA won the fifth set 15-13. KPA’s Peter Kamara posted 38 points, which included 28 attacks, four blocks and six serves.
In last year’s championships at the same venue, KPA finished fifth after winning four matches and losing twice.
Meanwhile, Kenya’s representatives to the 2022 African men’s volleyball championships Equity Bank’s hopes of making it to the knock-out stage were dashed after they lost their second match.
The bankers started the tournament falsely, losing 3-0 (25-21, 25-12, 25-19) to Customs of Nigeria, in a pool D match.
Equity then lost their second match 3-1 (18-25, 25-22, 17-25, 18-25) to Gisagara Volleyball Club of Rwanda.
In other matches, hosts Olympic Club de Kelibia could not stop the resolute Al Ahly in the Pool A showdown. The African giants won 3-0 (25-20, 32-30, 25-19) in their opening match.
