By Rebecca Magoma
Kenya Volleyball Federation(KVF)men and Women’s league defending champions, Kenya Prisons and Kenya Pipeline both lost to local rivals, General Services Unit and Kenya Prisons respectively during the second round of the league played last Friday on the shores of Ndakaini dam in Muranga County.
pipeline, the reigning women’s league lost to local arch rivals Kenya Prisons while the men’s defending champions, Prisons Kenya stumbled against 2015 champions, General Service Unit in Murange which hosted the first league matches.
Prisons begun their search for the sixth national title and first since 2013 on a high following triumphant 3-1(25-19,25-21,25-
Even the presence of Qatar based, Kenyan international, Mike Chemos could not salvage the situation defending champions.
“There is nothing to worry about the defeat,” said Prisons tactician Gideon Chenje in a post match interview.
“The season has just started. We are coming off indoors tournament (club championship) and it took us sometime to adapt to the game. We will judge ourselves after the tournament on Sunday,” added Chenje.
Earlier, GSU held their nerves to beat fast rising Nairobi Water at their backyard with 3-2 (25-23,27-25,18-25,20-25,15-
Prisons denied GSU the title last year when they beat them, alongside Water and Kenya Ports Authority in Mombasa to lift the national trophy to win the title.
“I am building a youthful team that will be hard to beat in the next five years or so. The victory means alot to us. We hope to continue with the performance as we aim to reclaim the title. Am proud of my boys performance -Gideon Tarus, the GSU head coach.
Co-oporative Bank cashed in the army men, Kenya Defence Forces with a 3-1 (25-22,28-26,19-25,25-18) while KPA overwhelmed Administration Police by straigyt set (25-22,25-22,25-15) to register a first win of this season.
But it was the match between Pipeline against Prisons that pulled the crowd. The rivalry between these two sides dates back to 2006, when Prisons (women) was founded but it is their latest clash before this game that is still fresh in the minds of most fans.
Mid this month, Prisons painfully knocked Pipeline out of Africa club Championship quarter final in Tunisia and Pipeline’s fans would have loved to see a revenge served to Prisons but they’ll have to wait a little longer.
Pipeline were considered the pre-tournament favourites but an experienced Prisons shot them down with a 3-2 sets in Monastir-Tunisia and it was expected that Pipeline would want to evenge the loss by drawing Prisons at the Ndakaini dam.
Though Pipeline fielded a youthful squad in Ndakaini, Prisons confirmed their dominance on the defending champions with a convincing three-one win to take charge of the women’s devising race.
“I missed most of my senior players, but I am proud of the youngsters performance. This is just a routine game,” Japheth Munala allayed any fear aboit the loss.
But Josp Baraza, Prisons assiatant head coach believes that the win will give his players the needed psychological edge over their opponents with the sight on the top prize in November.
“Our approach was good won the first two sets easily, but recovered I the fourth set. We are determined to win all the upcoming matches and end our three years title drought,” noted Baraza.
The league will pave way for the Nairobi Water and Sewerage Company sponsored Chairmans Cup open tournamet.
Niairibi Water women came from a set down to beat Kenya Commercial Bank 3-2 (23-25,25-24,14-25,25-20,
Water who acquired the srevives of Kenya Prisons setter florence Bosire missed the first leg held in Nyeri.
Collated results:
Men
GSU 3-1 Kenya Prisons (25-18,26-24,25-21,25-22)
Mombasa Prisons 2-3 Forest Rangers (25-22,23-25,25-22,22-25,13-
KDF 3-1 Nairobi Prisons (25-16,25-14,22-25,25-17)
GSU 3-2 Nairobi Water (25-23,27-25,18-25,20-25,15-13
KDF 1-3 Cooperative (22-25,26-28,19-25,18-25)
KPA 3-0 AP (25-22,25-22,25-15)
Vihiga County 3-0 Nairobi Prisons (25-18,25-17,27-25)
Forest Rangers 1-3 Kenya Prisons (11-25,17-25,25-20,19-25)
Women
Pipeline 1-3 Prisons (19-25,25-21,17-25,22-25)
Nairobi Water 3-2 KCB (23-25,25-24,14-25,25-20,15-
