Soweto Academy Jemimah Ndie in action.
KISUMU, Kenya, Aug 3 – Reigning national champions Malava Boys and debutants Soweto stormed to the Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association Term 2B boys and girls volleyball semi-finals with a game to spare.
Malava, the three-time national champions chalked 2013 winners Cheptil in the boys competition while Metropolitan’s Soweto beat minnows Furaha in the second group stages matches.
Malava beat former champions Cheptil 3-1 (25-23, 28-26, 23-25, 25-18) while Soweto who made their debut to these games yesterday with a hard fought 3-2 win over Kosirai humbled Furaha of Northern by straight sets (25-4, 25-6, 25-8) in a one sided affair at the Kisumu Boys grounds.
Soweto still have to play St John’s on Thursday who lost by straight sets (25-5, 25-14, 25-5) to Kosirai in a formality last group match on Thursday.
Malava will next play 2013 champions Hospital Hill in the last group match. Hospital Hill from Metropolitan are technically out of the games despite beating Waraba 3-0 (25-8 25-9, 25-6).
The Metropolitan champions still have to play Malava whom they must beat by straight sets and hope that Waberi (Northern) beat Cheptil by straight sets in order for them to proceed to the semis and possibly win their first national trophy since 2013.
Malava won their first match against Waberi and are now in command of this group with six points while Cheptil, who have three points will next meet the Northern representative in a game expected to be a one sided affair.
The win for Malava was a consolation to coach Shadrack Tovoko who lost almost half of his players to Cheptil. All of the six players from Cheptil except one, were at one time were students of Malava before they were ‘poached’.
All eyes will be on the clash between Tetu Aberdares who must beat host Sega Girls Thursday in order to remain in the competition even as they continue to search for the ever elusive maiden national gong.
Nyeri based school have 1/1 set win-loss ration from two matches having gone down 3-0 (25-8,25-8,25-19) against Lugulu. Tetu has three points and while Lugulu ran away with the first spot, they must now come all out and overpower Sega in this match to progress.
Thursday fixture
Kosirai vs Furaha
St. John vs Soweto
Gakanga vs Lugulu
Tetu vs Sega
