Africa-Press – Kenya. Kenya Prisons volleyball coach David Lung’aho has called on the women’s team to show grit in the final leg of the Kenya Volleyball Federation league matches set for this weekend in Nandi county.
The wardresses lost in straight sets to Kenya Pipeline in the inaugural Eldoret City tournament on Sunday with Lung’aho unimpressed with their show.
The former Malkia Strikers coach said there were weaknesses that need to be ironed out if the team harbour any hopes of successfully defending their title.
The wardresses have won the past three editions of the KVF league titles but looked a pale shadow of their former selves during the Eldoret assignment.
“We saw a lot of loopholes that need to be urgently addressed. The setting department was in tatters, forced errors were evident and the team was not aggressive enough.”
“Pipeline were the complete opposite. They were combative, played with vigour and for such a young team, it becomes hard to tackle them.”
Prisons are missing five experienced first-team players due to family commitments. The quintet includes Emmaculate Chemtai, Joy Luseneka, Sherine Chepkemboi, Lydia Maiyo and Meldine Sande.
The team is in transition and Lung’aho believes this is the time for athletes who have graduated from Kenya Prisons Training College to rescue the team.
“Sharon Sandui and Mackline Akoko will bring the much-needed stability to the team. Employment is motivation and they have to repay the faith invested in them.”
He went on: “Akoko is an upcoming setter while Sandui was the best libero coming through the Kwanthanze ranks and so we need to see improvement going forward.”
Lung’aho said Prisons will not relinquish their title without a fight. The team is ranked fourth in the eight-team league. They have accrued six points from the last five matches despite giving the Mombasa leg last month a wide berth.
“The shortage of players is evident but we can’t talk of losing the title at this point. We believe the team will rise to the occasion in the next assignments.
The prisons men’s team have pitch-tent at Eldoret Prisons in readiness for the league kick-off this weekend after their exploits in the Eldoret tourney.
“By Saturday, players will have fully acclimatized to the weather here (Eldoret). We want to fully concentrate on the first leg matches at Kiotalel Arap Samoei University.”
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