Kenya Ports Authority coach Sammy Mulinge reckons their 3-2 loss to JOA of Algeria in the Africa Club championship on Sunday, was due to the absence of key players.
The pair of Peter Kamara and David Thuita were ruled out of the contest with malaria as the coastal side crumbled despite winning the opening two sets 25-23 and 31-29 respectively.
"Kamara and Thuita are dependable players but they were unavailable. We lacked the depth to kill off the match and once we allowed them back into the game, it was always going to be difficult because they had the momentum," Mulinge said.
KPA won their first match after securing a 3-1 win over CSV Younde last Friday. The coastal side will play Senegal's ISEC on Tuesday in a must-win tie for the Kenya Volleyball Federation league silver medalists.
"We cannot cry like babies but we have to bounce back from the defeat. Only a win will revive our hopes of going deeper in the competition. Kamara and Thuita will be assessed ahead of the match but the players need to step up," Mulinge said.
KPA have finished fifth in the last two editions and an early exit from the continent's premier club competition will be catastrophic. Mulinge said fitness is an issue with his squad after most of his players left camp with health concerns.
"When we left Mombasa, most of the players had malaria. I think the weather here isn't favourable to my players. We need to work on endurance, enhance the blocks and be efficient in attack. We have a day to put our act together," he finalised.
