KISUMU, Kenya, Aug 2 – Minnows Soweto Girls of Metropolitan and hosts Sengera started their campaign for the Kenya Secondary School Sports Association term 2B Ball games on high when they stunned defending champions Kosirai and Tetu in the girls and boys volleyball opening matches respectively in Kisumu Tuesday.
The slum girls from Kibira came from a set down to overpower 2015 national champions 3-2 (22-25, 25-17,12-25,25-20,15-13) while Sengera, who like Soweto are making their debut at the national stage skinned 2006 champions Tetu 3-2 (25-18, 19-25, 25-20, 21-25, 16-14) in another lively match staged at the Kisumu Boys grounds.
Soweto coach Joseph Makabwa still considers his side the tournament underdog despite making a string statement on their way when they fell 2014 national champions Kwanthanze at the regional.
In this match which started on a positive note for Kosirai, Soweto twice came from a set down to win their toughest match of the group stages as they prepare to take on Furaha Wednesday.
Furaha from northern lost their opening match to St Joseph Kaloleni 3-0 (25-6,25-11,25-5) but they have promised to put their best foot forward when they tackle final favorites.
Despite their poor volleyball skills and lack of proper playing gears, Furaha, the first Day school from the expensive North Eastern region, won the hearts of local fans when they stepped to the field on sandals, something which is against the rules of volleyball but still managed to grab 22 points in all the three sets.
According to Mahat Adow, Furaha coach, this was a positive performance by his girls who lost their first match this season even as they search for their first set win at the national arena.
“We played our level best. We’ve never lost any match at the regionals. We are the champions back but the competition here is a bit tough though we hope to do better than this going forward,” said the coach who took three days on the road with his players on their way to Kisumu.
-Segera giant killers-
The first ink of the script of giants falling on day one was penned by little known Sengera of Lake Region who surpassed all expectations when they stung former national champions Tetu High in a highly tensed Boys volleyball opening match which lasted over two hours.
The team which has only lost one match in their campaign on their way to their maiden appearance at the nationals stage sent a strong signal to the opponents as they prepare to take on Mombasa region representative, Waa in their second match Wednesday.
Sengera will have their right leg out of the group stages should they force a win over Waa to their second match tomorrow. Waa embarrassingly went down against Kanyambora of Highlands who beat them 3-1 (26-24,24-26,25-19,25-20) in another pool A match.
Austine Oduor, the coach for Kisii County believe their sweet victory came because the opponents “looked down on us”
Before the start of the games which were held across the Sunshine city of Kisumu on the first day with football matches being played at the Kisumu Stadium, Kisumu Day and LION high School grounds, Sengera were considered the dwarfs of pool A which had former national champions Waa, Kanyambora.
Collated results
Kanyambora vs Waa 3-1 (26-24,24-26,25-19,25-20)
St. Joseph Kaloleni vs Furaha 3-0 (25-6,25-11,25-5)
Sengera vs Tetu 3-2 (25-18, 19-25, 25-20, 21-25, 16-14)
Soweto vs Kosirai 22-25, 25-17,12-25,25-20,15-13)
Day two programme
Sega vs Gangkenga
Lugulu vs Tetu
Kosirai vs St. johns
Furaha vs Soweto