Kenya Prisons, KCB a heart beat from Africa Club Quarters

Kenya’s representatives at the Africa women's Club championships - Kenya Prison and Kenya Commercial Bank - won their second matches at the Moi International Sports Center, Kasarani and Africa Nazarene University to enhance their chances of qualifying for the quarter finals.

Prisons beat Tanzania’s Jeshi Stars in straight sets while KCB saw off Ethiopia’s Water Sport. David Lung'aho, the Prison head coach rested Lydia Maiyo and captain Dian Khisa in the match which also saw setter Jane Wacu rested for Sally Wanjala in the first set which they won 25-10.

Effective spikes by Mercy Moim and Evelyn Makuto aided the defending champions to take the second set 25-15 and the third 25-11. They will now meet Daring Club Motema Pembe from the Democratic Republic of Congo in the next match.

The win was a sweet revenge over Jeshi Stars who won with a similar margin when the team met last year. On Monday, Jeshi were beaten by FAP from Cameroon. Commenting about the second win.

Lung’aho said: “This is an upcoming team. We have played them before. I know them very well and that was the reason why I rested some of my of my players. Prison still need to beat Varieties Gabon and FAB from Cameroon.

The Cameronians whom they meet on Sunday have won their opening two matches and Lung’aho predicted a thrilling encounter.

Moim who did an outstanding job for the wardresses in their 3-0 win over Jeshi warned they will not be overwhelmed by the good start they’ve had in the championship.

“We don’t take any team for granted. We’ll take each match seriously each day,” she said.

“We had good preparation for the tournament and everybody has improved compared to how we played in the national playoffs last year.In Prisons everyone is a good player and always ready to perform when called upon but personally I think I’ve improved more on my form,” explained Moim when asked about the decision by the coach to rest first choice team.

Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB), also continued with a good outing at the Moi Sports Centre, Kasarani with a win over Ethiopia's Water Sport.

The bankers who were playing under new coach Paul Gitau narrowly won the first set 26-24 and battles 25-21, 25-20 in the next two sets. Gitau has only been in charge of the team for one month.

In other matches, D.C Motema Pembe recovered from their loss to Mafolofolo on Thursday to beat their neighbours, DGSP of Democratic Republic of Congo 3-0 (25-13, 25-20, 25-19) in a Pool D match played at the Africa Nazarene University while FAP continued to pile pressure on Prison in the pool B with a 3-0(25-12, 25-10, 25-13) over Varieties.

The win places FAP on the same points (six), as Prison and the two teams are the group B favourites to progressing to the next stage. After a day’s rest, Kenya Pipeline will entertain NRC on Saturday in a late kick at  Kasarani. Pipeline must win their match to kick their hopes of winning the title.

There is a personal rivalry between Pipeline coach Japheth Munala and Lung’aho. If Prison beat Varieties then Pipeline must beat Stef Auto of Mozambique on Sunday.

Collated results Thursday- Mafolofolo beat DC Motema Pembe (DCMP) 3-1 (24-26, 25-13, 25-20, 25-17); Kenya Pipeline beat Manga Sport 3-0 (25-2, 25-4, 25-4), Water Sport beat Stef 3-0 (25-20, 25-22,25-18); Prison beat Canon 3-0 (25-10, 25-19, 25-13); KCB beat Stella 3-0 (25-9, 25-9,25-15), Blue Angels beat DGSP 3-0 (25-23, 25-21,25-15). Friday- Prison beat Jeshi 3-0 (25-10, 25-15, 25-11), D.C Motema Pembe beat DGSP 3-0 (2-13, 25-20, 25-19); FAB beat Varie 3-0 (25-12, 25-10, 25-13); KCB beat Water Sport 3-0 (26-14,24-21, 25-20). Saturday’s fixture Prison v Varieties (14.00pm)- Nazarene, Stella vs Water Sport (14.00pm), Kasarani, Stef Auto vs Revenue (16.00 pm) Kasarani, Blue Angel vs Mafolofolo (16.00pm) -Nazarene, Canon vs Jeshi (18.00pm) Nazarene, Pipeline vs NCR (18.00pm)-Kasarani.

Elvince Joshua

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