Kenya, Tunisia and Senegal won their opening matches as the 2014 FIVB Women’s World Championships Africa qualifiers in group 2 started at Safaricom Stadium Kasarani yesterday.
Kenya players Jane Wacu (1) and Ruth Jepngetich block an attack from Uganda’s Eunice Amuron during their World Championships Africa qualifiers match at Safaricom Stadium Kasarani yesterday. PHOTO: DENNIS OKEYO/STANDARD
Kenya outplayed Uganda in straight 3-0 sets of 25-16, 25-10 and 25-14.
Kenya starting line had setter Jane Wacu, Everline Makuto, Esther Wangeshi, Ruth Jepngetich, Mercy Moim, Bracksides Agala and Elizabeth Nafula.
Uganda started with Irene Adeke, Eunice Amuron, Moreen Mwamula, Milly Laker, Saidat Nnungi, Agaaba Astreed and Flavia Nandawula.
The first minutes of the first set were closely contested with just one point separating the teams.
Jepngetich played the role of secret weapon in the Kenyan team as she scored crucial points especially from the centre position.
Jepngetich, Moim, Makuto, Wangeshi and Agala were also outstanding in Kenya’s attack as the home team raced to 6-2 lead. Uganda’s attacking combination of Amron, Laker, Mwamula improved and gained three straight points to help their team catch up with Kenya 8-8.
With perfect reception, setting and fast attacks, the host team went ahead to take 16-12 advantage at the second official break.
Kenya then moved to 18-12 forcing Ugandan coach Peter Lakony to call the time out to re-organise his charges. However, his magic failed to work and Lakony called for yet another time out with Kenya now leading 21-13. But the exploits of Jepngetich and Moim’s furious attacks saw the Kenyan team claim 25-16 set victory.
In the second set, Kenya went for quick points and the home team used their powerful attackers — Moim, Jepngetich and Makuto to take 8-2 lead at the first break.
Ugandans appeared to have ran out of steam as Eunice Nuwabigaba and Christine Alupo tried in vain to respond to Kenya’s team of all-rounders continued to bombard their court with powerful attacks from all angles.
The Kenyan girls displayed a powerful and skillful game to claim the set 25-10 and take a two-set advantage.
Uganda came up strongly in the third set to claim 8-7 lead at the first technical time out before Kenya rallied to open four points gap at 13-9.
Head coach rested Wacu for Wanja and also brought in Violet Makuto with Kenya leading 20-9. Kenya won the set 25-10.
Earlier, Senegal defeated Seychelles 3-1 (25-23, 22-25, 25-18, 25-22) in an entertaining four setter thriller that kept fans on their toes.
Tunisia also won their first match of the tournament after they easily breezed past inexperienced Mozambique in straight 3-0 sets of 25-11, 25-12 and 25-14.
By Oscar Pilipili, The Standard