Volleyball: The dream for a record tenth title comes to an end
Volleyball and Handball
By
Rodgers Eshitemi
| Oct 16, 2017
The dream for a record tenth title comes to an end
Nine-time African champions Malkia relinquish title in straight sets.
Kenya women’s volleyball team’s continental dominance came to an abrupt end on Saturday night after they lost to hosts Cameroon (25-22, 25-19, 29-27) in a pulsating African Nations Cup final at the Palais des Sports Hall in Yaoundé.
Malkia Strikers, who were chasing a record tenth title and fourth trophy of the biennial championship in a row, fell short of expectations as they relinquished the title to the more-exposed and fast-improving West Africans.
The Japheth Munala’s side put on a brave fight and seemed to force the match into a tie breaker in the third set, only for a resilient Cameroon, who were enjoying the support of their home fans, to kill the game at 29-27 and eventually clinch their first ever continental crown.
Fighting spirit
Both Kenya and Cameroon had already confirmed their qualification berth to the 2018 FIVB World Championship in Japan after winning their semifinal matches the previous night.
Despite losing in the final, Kenya Prisons duo of Mercy Moim and Edith Wisa had something to smile about as they both walked away with individual awards.
Impressive Wisa was named the best blocker - her second continental award after winning the same accolade at the Club championship in Tunisia, while her captain Moim scooped the best attacker award.
“Though we lost, I am very grateful and thank God for the award-my second continental individual award,” Wisa told Standard Sports.
Asked if it was embarrassing for a team of Kenya’s stature to loss by straight set to Cameroon in the final, Wisa said: “Yes, it is but looking at the scores, the fighting spirit was there. So, for someone who understands the sport it is not.
“We fought hard and gave our best but I think it was just not our day. We lost to a better team. Cameroon are good and they have really improved; training abroad seems to have really helped them.”
But for head coach Japheth Munala, Cameroon’s meteoric rise is a wake up call for Kenya.
“Boosted by their home supporters, Cameroon played a very good game. A bit of defensive slip and poor reception at critical moments denied us sets that would have changed the whole scenario,” said Munala.
“We need to improve on our left attack. They couldn’t rise to the occasion.
“Cameroon’s participartion in the Olympic Games and the Grand Prix, has strengthened them both mentally and tactically. It has changed their pattern of play and given them courage.
“They are now a force to reckon with. But what we need as a team is enough time for preparation, gel and form a winning pattern.
On his part, asistant coach Josp Barasa said: “Nothing worked on our side, especially in the quick attacks which was our strong point. At times, our reception failed; we tried to fight back in the third set but it was too late.”