The women's team after winning their opening match
The women’s team won their first match against Algeria
The men’s team was beaten
They play their second round of matches on Sunday
The opening day of the Africa Beach Games in Hammamet, Tunisia saw Kenya’s handball teams post mixed results, with the women’s team getting off to a flier with a win against Algeria, while the men’s team started off with defeat at the hands of hosts Tunisia.
The women’s team staged a stunning comeback to beat Algeria by straight sets (19-13, 11-5) to begin their campaign at the second edition of the Africa Beach Games in Hammamet, Tunisia, in winning fashion.
Captain Michelle Adhiambo and Brenda Ariviza starred for the Kenyan side, scoring eight and six points respectively, as the Kenyan girls put off a slow start to win the game and move top of the five-team table.
Kenya started slow and the Algerians led 8-0 after just three and a half minutes, with Ben Moudetter Selma, who had a game high 11 points, being the chief destroyer for the Algerian side.
Slowly scaled back
The women’s team in action against Algeria
However, the Kenyan girls slowly scaled their way back into the game and keeper Abigael Waeni scored the first two points with a quick launch from her goal area before Glady’s Chilo’s spin score put the game at 9-4.
The decision to change skipper Adhiambo into a specialist player was the key turning point as she engineered a comeback that saw Kenya go into the lead for the first time in the game at 11-10 with under four minutes to play. The Kenyan girls didn’t look behind with Ariviza’s two spin shots, counting for two points each and Viona Wandera’s similar score taking the team to a 19-13 lead at the end of the first period.
In the second period, it was smooth sailing for the girls who were now playing a more flawless and coordinated game and despite some moments of brilliance from Algeria’s Selma, they couldn’t play catch up. Euphrasia Mukasia’s 360 shot with 30 seconds to play was the final marker for Kenya as they clinched the set 11-5.
Kenya will face off with neighbors Uganda and Mali on Sunday before a final showdown against hosts Tunisia, who beat them in the Global Tour, on Monday.
Meanwhile, the men’s team went down by straight sets (24-10, 28-16) to hosts and defending champions Tunisia.
Improved second half performance not enough
The men’s team in action against Tunisia
They had an improved performance in the second period, but slight errors in ball handling and passing was the difference.
Derrick Otieno, who amassed 10 points in the game, said they had a slow start as most of them were playing such a level for the first time.
“Maybe there was some element of fear and we still hadn’t caught a grasp of the game especially in the first half. But after we settled down in the second half, we played better and had a good performance,” Otieno said.
He added; “We had a few errors and lapses in concentration especially in defensive marking, but it is something that we will work on for our next match.”
They play Algeria on Sunday, and a win might hoist them into the semi-finals.
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