EAC Games: Uganda remains top in volleyball despite loss to Kenya

The Kenya Legislative Assembly volleyball team is aiming to win back the volleyball title after defeating the Parliament of Uganda men’s team 3-1 at the East African Community Inter-Parliamentary Games, held on Wednesday at Makerere University’s indoor sports arena.

Dan Wanyama, who represents Webuye West in Kenya, led his team to victory by scoring key points with powerful spikes that the Ugandan side could not stop. This win marked Kenya’s first victory in the volleyball tournament.

Kenya narrowly won the first set 25-23, but Uganda came back strong to take the second set 25-12, led by legislators Nicholas Kamara, John Faith Magoro, and Ben Baatom who served perfectly throughout the match.

In the third set, Uganda fell behind 4-1 but soon took the lead. With their fans cheering, Uganda was ahead 22-20, but Kenya won the next five points to take the set 25-23, thanks to Wanyama’s important spikes and blocks.

After losing two close sets, Uganda struggled in the final set, and Kenya won it easily, 25-11.

Uganda’s team captain, Silas Augon, who represents Kumi Municipality, said the match followed the usual script when the two sides meet in any sports event. “Kenya will do anything to win a volleyball match against Uganda because they know we beat them in most of the other sports, but it doesn’t mean that we just give up, and we have ever beaten them in Kampala,” Augon said.

“What we saw today was a tightly contested match between two elephants; they won, but I think luck was not on our side. But you also know we have divided minds between elections and these games, so we are not 100% focused. But we are here to participate and compete, and we want to win. It is not yet over until it is done, because we have another big game against defending champions Rwanda on Sunday, so we shall return stronger,” Augon stated. He said, despite the loss, Uganda remains the team to beat for the overall honours.

Kenyan Wanyama appreciated the referees for their fairness and noted that they had panicked in the second set but recomposed themselves to win the match.

“We want to reclaim the trophy we lost to Rwanda at home in Mombasa last year, but I didn’t play because of a knee injury, but we want to win it this year,” Wanyama stated.

Despite the loss, Uganda remained on top of the standings with a better points ratio (4) to Kenya’s 3, in the four-team championship ahead of decisive games on Sunday. In the women’s competition Uganda and Kenya are on three points each having won their matches against Rwanda.

Uganda's volleyball team is represented by Nicholas Kamara, John Faith Magoro, Ben Baatom, David Lagen, Francis Adome, Baffa Mbwatekamwa, Ronald Afidra, Silas Augon, Peter Okeyor, Hilary Kiyaga, Harold Tony Muhindu, and Henry Maurice Kibalya.

Results

Volleyball Men: Kenya 3 Uganda 1

Netball:  Kenya 21 Burundi 16

Volleyball Women: Kenya 2 Rwanda 1