Kenya’s beach volleyball teams today suffered double defeat as both the men’s and women’s teams failed to reach the semi-final of the on going All Africa Games at La Boma Beach in Accra, Ghana.
The men’s team of Elphas Makuto and Jairus Kipkosgei lost 2-0 (21-12, 21-16) to tournament favourtites South Africa who were represented by the pair of Leo Williams and Danilo Von Ludwiger.
It was even more painful for the Kenyan women, who arrived in Accra as silver medallists and were eliminated prematurely in quarters.
Gaudencia Makokha and Yvonne Wavinya went down to Egypt’s Marwa Magdi and Doha Tawfik 2-0 (21-12, 21-16).
Both teams started well but ran out of gas as the match progressed.
Team manager, Moses Mbuthia admitted that beach volleyball has always been unpredictable and doesn’t even have respect for the champions.
“If there is a game where the past counts for nothing, then it is beach volleyball. All depends on how you wake up and prepare,” he added.
He, however, thanked both teams for putting up a good fight and winning what to many appeared impossible. “We have tried considering the calibre of teams we were competing against here.
“A team like South Africa is very professional and have the right equipment and one needs to be well prepared to bring them down,” he said.
“With the kind of equipment they have, it is sometimes next to impossible to bring them down,” he added.
“ For example, this is the second time Makuto and Kipkosgei, are featuring in an international tournament. Their first was an international beach volleyball Tour in Bujumbura, Burundi.
“They are, however, growing very fast considering the kind of upsets they have been able to pull off here in Accra. Beating Rwanda was no mean achievement and that tells you the calibre of the team we have,” Mbuthia quipped.
He said they have now lined up a programme for the two teams that will culminate in the Africa Games qualifiers.
The team manager said their main undoing was exposure but was quick to add that they are working on it.
“ We have three tournaments lined up thus Nock beach tournament in Malindi at the end of this month and two other tournaments-Deep Heat Beach Volleyball Tour and Savlon tourney in May. Both events will take place in Mombasa in May.
