Uasin Gishu will have the lion's share in the national men's team to the Par Africa Games set for Accra, Ghana in September after impressing in the just concluded national volleyball trials in Eldoret.
Nairobi County emerged champions at the just concluded para-volleyball national trials after fighting off Nairobi County 12-25, 25-20, 12-25, 26-24, and 15-10 in a five-setter battle.
This was a repeat of a pool match, where the champions won with a similar score. The three-day event, which started on Thursday and ended Saturday was held at Gulab Lochab Hall, Uasin Gishu.
Coached by Joseph Arondo, the hosts lost the opening set 12-25 and in alternating formula, they managed to squeeze in the second set 25-20 before losing the third set again.
In an interview, coach Arondo said: “It was a tough match. After losing the first and third sets, I had to change the tactics. I avoided aimless attacking and capitalised on reception and good service to score points,"
He said that is how they managed to win the tense fourth and fifth sets. He said the Nairobi side was the most experienced and if they had played their game, they could easily have won.
In the women's category, Nairobi outplayed Uasin Gishu to lift the title in straight sets of 25-23, 25-22, and 25-12.
Head coach Joseph Juma Walukhu said the victory will give them an upper hand to bargain for more sponsorship from the county government of Nairobi.
“We want to develop big team support and we wanted this victory to earn us the bargaining power. At the same time, we want to have as many players as possible on the national team,” said Walukhu. Team captain Sylvia Olero echoed the same sentiments.
In the men’s semi-final matches, Uasin Gishu County beat Bungoma 3-0 (25-15, 25-23, 25-15) while Nairobi County thrashed Nakuru County 3-0 (25-15, 25-16, 25-16).
In the women’s semis, Nairobisaw off Kisumu 3-0 (25-8, 25-11, 25-10) while Uasin Gishu County hammered Narok County 3-0 (25-12, 25-15, 25-13).
