The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) are bracing for a fiery rematch on Saturday against defending champions Kenya Pipeline in the Women’s Kenya Cup volleyball semifinal at the Kasarani Indoor Arena.
Having fallen 3-0 and 3-2 in the best-of-three Kenya Volleyball Federation league final last month, DCI are determined to exact revenge and earn their place in the final.
Malkia Strikers call-up and DCI libero, Peninah Nafula, believes this is their moment.
“For the first time, we have the morale to deal with it,” said Nafula. “We’ve faced both Pipeline and KDF before, and we know what to expect. We’re calling on fans to come in large numbers. We want to go play Kenya Cup.”
Nafula’s rallying cry is backed by assistant coach Patrick Sang, who insists the detectives have learned from their past mistakes. “We have proved we can match Pipeline in the second leg of the final,” said Sang.
“We lost because of small errors, which we’ve worked on. Our backcourt defence, service, and attacks have all improved. We’ve prepared well,” he went on.
Sang, a former General Service Unit (GSU) assistant coach, said he is adamant that they will not take anything short of victory.
“We are going to win a gold medal. That’s what we promised ourselves at the beginning of the season. We’re going to give our all and achieve our objective.”
DCI’s ambitions have been further boosted by the return of powerhouse attacker Veronica Adhiambo, whose partnership with the ever-reliable Sarah Namisi will be key in dismantling Pipeline’s towering duo of Trizah Atuka and Gladys Ekaru. Sang said he is banking on the momentum in camp and the hunger in the squad to deliver the much-needed breakthrough. “We still feel we had bad luck in the last outing, but this time, we are better prepared and confident.”
The Kenya Cup semifinal stage also features a showdown between KCB and Kenya Prisons in the other women’s fixture.
In the men’s category, reigning champions GSU will take on Kenya Prisons, while Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) clash with Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) in the other semifinal.
