Perfect Kenya too good for Uganda

National volleyball team members celebrate their 3-1 victory over Egypt in the opening match of the 2015 All Africa Games qualifiers in Kampala on April 21, 2015. PHOTO | ISMAIL KEZAALA |

What you need to know:

  • Coach Lungaho now eyes continental gold
  • Hosts have no answer in attack, defence and service as they fall to African volleyball queens
  • Kenya took advantage of Uganda’s poor court cover to good effect.
  • Kenya raced to a 21-9 with their service game proving too to handle for the Ugandans.
  • Kenya defeated the hosts 3-0 (25-11, 25-15, 25-19) in a game that had endless breathtaking rallies to qualifier top for this year’s All Africa Games.
  • Rivals Egypt qualified second.

David Lung’aho and his volleyball queens have been able to walk the talk, after Kenya finished unbeaten at the Zone V All Africa Games qualifiers that ended on Saturday in Kampala.

Kenya defeated the hosts 3-0 (25-11, 25-15, 25-19) in a game that had endless breathtaking rallies to qualifier top for this year’s All Africa Games. Rivals Egypt qualified second.

“Qualification was just the beginning of the real battle,” Lung’aho told Sunday Nation Sport.  “Now that we have achieved it, we need to work for gold in September,” he added.  Kenya hasn’t won gold since 1996 in Johannesburg, settling for bronze in the last three editions.

 Lung’aho made one change from his starting team as Evelyn Makuto got the nod ahead of Monica Biana.

From the first Technical Timeout at 7-8 of the first set to the second at 7-16 Uganda didn’t make any points as Kenya’s attacks of Mercy Moim and Esther Wangeci meted punishment.

Kenya took advantage of Uganda’s poor court cover to good effect. Ugandan tactician Bart Murting brought on Josephine Nammanda for Margaret Namyalo.

ON POINT MOIM

Kenya raced to a 21-9 with their service game proving too to handle for the Ugandans.  At 23-11, Uganda had lost the fighting zeal as Kenya took the set 25-11 with back-to-back blocks from Esther Wangeci.

Kenya led 8-3 by the first TTO of the second set, still relying on the on point reception of Moim. Kenya led 13-9, while Ugandan crawled back to narrow the gap, 13-11, Lung’aho then called for a timeout and Kenya returned rejuvenated to lead 16-11 by the second TTO.  At 23-15, Lung’aho brought on Triza Atuka for Edith Mukuvulani. She served for Kenya to stretch the lead to 2-0 with a 25-15 win.

Kenya started the third set brightly leading 6-2, but Uganda hit back with six unanswered points to take the lead 8-6 by the first TTO with Peace Busingye in the serving box.  But the writing was always on the wall as Kenya ran away with the game.