Kenya ends 15-year wait for gold

Kenyan · 2015-09-16T06:13:22+00:00

The national women's volleyball team won gold at the 2015 African Games in Brazzaville after 15 years of waiting. Kenya beat Cameroon 3-1 in the final on Monday evening in Brazzaville's Massamba Debat Indoor Arena. Cameroon started strongly, winning the first set 25-15 but Kenya responded immediately, winning the remaining sets 25-14, 25-15 and 25-19. Little was expected from the youthful Kenyan team that was hurriedly assembled by the Kenya Volleyball Federation as the senior team was competing in the World Grand Prix and the 2015 World Cup. Incidentally, Kenya's head coach Paul Gitau who masterminded Monday's victory over Cameroon is the same coach who guided the team when Kenya last won the trophy in 1999 when the Africa Games were held in South Africa. Kenya has failed to reach the final since then, losing at the semis in Nigeria (2003), Algeria (2007) and in Mozambique (2011). Some members of Kenya's triumphant squad like Anne Lowem who has just graduated from Kwanthanze Secondary school in Machakos, Edith Mukavilani (formerly of Lugulu Girls), Violet Makuto, Leonida Kasaya and Joy Luseneka (formerly of Malava Girls) had not played at the big stage. Esther Mwombe who came out of retirement after three years was the only senior player in the squad.Others like captain Loise Jepkosgei, Judith Tarus, Naomi Too, Joan Chelangat, Rose Magoin and Gaudencia Makokha have not featured for the national team before. Famous victory Interestingly, the youthful team upstaged Algeria, Egypt and Cameroon which usually present problems to Kenya's senior team. Kenya's victory was greeted by wild celebrations from coaches, players and fans, among them MPs and Government officials who travelled with the team to Brazzaville. The celebrations went for over half an hour, delaying the men's play-off match between Rwanda and Egypt. "I'm very satisfied to have delivered results that Kenya has been waiting for 15 years with rookies," coach Paul Gitau said. It was sweet victory for Kenya who had lost 2-3 sets to cameroon in pool matches. Kenya, without inspirational Esther Mwombe who was injured, threw away a 2-0 sets lead against Cameroon in the pool matches to eventually lose 3-2. Source: Daily Nation

Thread starter Kenyan
Start date Sep 16, 2015

Kenyan

JF-Expert Member

Sep 16, 2015

waltham

JF-Expert Member

Sep 16, 2015

Last edited by a moderator: Jan 4, 2016

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