Cameroon’s Palais Polyvalent des Sports arena has brought both tears and joy for Kenya’s Malkia Strikers, in equal measure, and this year’s CAVB African Nations Championship was no different.
The nine-time champions have won and lost here, all very emotional results, whichever way they leaned.
On Wednesday 23 August, it was tears of joy for the Luizomar de Moura-coached side as they silenced bitter rivals Cameroon 3-1 (25-27, 25-14, 25-11, 25-18) at a fully packed arena to storm the final where they play Egypt for the title Kenya last won in 2015.
It was song and dance on the court as Sharon ‘Chumba’ Chepchumba scored Kenya’s final point, locking out Cameroon from any hopes of qualification for Paris Olympics which was a point of contention in this match.
“We played against a relatively new team and the plan was to go ahead and put the pressure on them which is something we did not do well in the first set. After the players settled down, we managed the game better.Â
We also knew that this is the only FIVB competition in Africa that could qualify us for the Olympics so this was the focus today and I am happy we have achieved that. Any other African team looking to go higher than us in ranking to qualify will have to compete outside the continent,” assistant coach Paul Bitok said after the match.
Coach Luizomar started his usual starting lineup of  Veronica Adhiambo, ‘Chumba’, Emmaculate Nekesa, Trizah Atuka, skipper Mercy Moim, Edith Wisah and Agripina Kundu on libero duties.
Coach Peter Nonnenbroich, on his first assignment against Kenya started the experienced Stephanie Fotso, Ivan Nancy, Christiane Brandy, Paule Arielle, Estelle Adiana and Odette Menkred
The unsettled Malkia lost the opening three points with their attacks going out before Chumba could win Kenya’s first for 1-3.
Luizomar’s charges, however, settled down and worked their way up to level the score at 5 points with a monster block from Wisah.
Kenya assumed lead at 6-5 with Moim extending the lead to 2 at 7-5 with an ace but the lead was shortlived as the hosts were back level at 8 and 9 points.
The hosts went ahead 9-11 forcing Luizomar into a timeout whose charges returned with a four-point scoring streak to take the lead at 12-11 with a Adhiambo ace and 13-11 with a Moim overpass kill.
Cameroon, however, kept Kenya close coming level at 15 and 16 point as Luizomar mase his first change at 17-16, introducing Jemimah Siang’u for Wisah.
The Cameroonians also introduced Emelda Piata for Fotso with the score tied 17. The hosts assumed lead at 18-19 but it was shortlived as the lead was back in Kenya’s side at 23-20.
It looked over for the hosts but the Kenya’s made some basic mistakes allowing the opponent back at 23 with a late change, Chumba and Nekesa rested for Loice Simiyu and Rose Magoi did not bare the expected result as Kenya went on to lose 25-27 sending the entire arena into a frenzy.
Luizomar and Bitok could be seen giving their charges a pep-talk as the teams prepared for the second set.
Whatever was said in those short minutes must have hit hard, adding to the weight of the match and what was at stake, as Malkia Strikers returned on the court breathing fire.
So different was their performance that they led 6-3 in short miniature forcing the hosts into a timeout. Coach Peter brought in Andrea Moussol to try and change his side’s attack with the score at 7-3 but Malkia Strikers were unstoppable.
The East Africans went ahead 12-7 and with Moim making it a 10-point game at 18-10 with an ace. Nekesa made it 20-11 with Siang’u who came in for Wisah at 22-11 taking Kenya ahead with an ace of her own.
A temporary loss in concentration saw Cameroon score three in a row before Kenya could kill the set at 25-14.
The third set was business unusual for the Kenyas who had silenced the entire arena in the second set as they started strong for a 8-3 lead, completely killing the opponent’s momentum even after a timeout at the point.
The advantage was 11 points at 16-5, with Siang’u brought in a point later, pushing the score to 22-9 before Wisah was back, the set ending 25-11.
In the crucial final set, it was a see-saw, Kenya drawing first blood but the Cameroonians rallying for a 5-6 lead as Palais arena erupted back to life.
Kenya opened the gap at 16-12 with a Wisah blocking making it 17-13. Luizomar was forced into a timeout when the hosts fought back to come to within two points at 18-16, the break helping his charges to regroup and go on to win 25-18.
