National women’s Kenya Handball Federation league champions Nairobi Water recorded their first win of the ongoing 38th edition of the Africa Club Championship in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso with a 26-24 win over Bandama of Ivory Coast yesterday.
The side, coached by Jack Ochieng, had lost their two previous Group ‘B’ matches, going down 22-31 against TKC of Cameroon and 19-48 to defending champions Primero de Agosto of Angola. Kenya will play their last match today against Asel of Congo Brazzaville and a win will see them qualify for the quarters. Team manager Caroline Kusa said their first two losses were due to fatigue and jet lag.
“We arrived in Burkina Faso and played our first match immediately and played against the defending champions without a rest. It has been tough for our girls but they played well in both matches despite the fatigue,” said the official. She added: “ We are happy we have recorded our first win of the competition and we hope to wrap up the group stage with another win, a development that will see us have a chance to qualify for quarters.”
In other fixtures in Group ‘B’ Brazzaville’s Asel picked a 34-25 win over Bandama of Ivory Coast and went ahead to post a 24-22 win over Cameroon’s TKC.
In Group A, FAP of Cameroon overcame ASPAC of Benin 30-26 while Mikishi from DR of Congo picked a 34-25 win over the hosts, Burkina Faso’s in another match.
The nine-day championship has attracted nine women teams and 10 men’s sides.
