Kenya face Canada today in crucial fixture

Beach volleyball player Gaudencia Makokha in a training session in Birmingham, United Kingdom. [Kelly Ayodi, Standard]

National women beach volleyball team will play Canada today in a must-win second match of the Commonwealth Games at Smithfield, in United Kingdom.

The Kenyan duo of Gaudencia Makokha and Brackcides Agala got off to a false start on Saturday after losing 2-0 (21-10, 21-19) to New Zealand.

Makokha and Agala, who are making their maiden appearance in the beach volleyball discipline, lost easily in the first set.

Despite improving in the second set, where they led up to the 19th point, they could not stop Alice Zeimann and Shaunna Polley who levelled and took the lead to score two more points before winning the set.

"It was a tough match after starting slowly in the first set, but we picked up well in the second set. I was impressed with our performance," said coach Salome Wanjala.

While the Kenyan team camped in Mombasa for their training sessions, the New Zealand pair trained overseas in readiness for the Club Games.
Kenya must now win today's fixture to stand a chance of reaching the knock out stages.