Kenya Pipeline Coach Geoffrey Omondi attributes speed and level-headedness to their hard-fought victory over perennial rivals Kenya Prisons.
Pipeline decimated Prisons 3-2(25-14,25-27,25-22,23-25,18-16) as the new season of the Kenya Volleyball Federation National League served off at the Kamukunji grounds in Nyeri County on Thursday.
The win marked an enterprising start for Omondi who joined Pipeline from Trailblazers men’s volleyball team this season.
It was also a sweet revenge for Pipeline who had lost to rivals Prisons 3-1 during the play -offs last June at the Kasarani indoor Arena, Nairobi.
Omondi said ahead of their match against Post Bank today and in the forthcoming Leg matches, the team will have to improve on their cordination which was wanting in the match against Prisons.
“I’m glad that one of the systems of play i have introduced in the team worked in this tough match. Our speed and reaction was top notch and that worked for us and I will build on that going forward. Also our cordination upfront was not good but the coverage at backcourt was good. The liberos performed pretty well,” said Omondi on phone from Nyeri.
Prisons coach Josp Barasa decried poor officiating especially in the last set where he says they were denied two clear scores that would have won them the match.
“It was a tough match but I believe we would have won were it not for biased officiating in the last set. But we will dust ourselves up and plan for our next match against Young Spikers tomorrow(today). They are new in the league and so we don’t know them well but we will be keen to bounce back,” said Barasa.
“We have also protested and notified the Federation for allowing players who signed for Pipeline from KCB Womens Volleyball Team to play without proper clearance and we wait to see what will come out of the protest,” added Barasa, who also double up as national women’s volleyball team assistant coach.
The players in question are left attacker Miriam Musa and middle blocker Marian Sokoiyo.
Kenya Pipeline will today play Post Bank, while Prisons will tackle Young Spikers.
In the other women’s results, Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) under new coach Jeremiah Mukopi started the season on winning note after they beat new comers Young Spikers 3-0(25-04,25-5,25-8).
Mukopi filled the gap left by the late Daniel Bor who past on last April.
Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) defeated Vihiga Volleyball Team 3-0(25-16,25-23,25-18).
In the men’s League, Equity Bank lost two matches against Kenya Defence Forces 3-0(25-21,25-15,29-27) and against Kenya Ports Authority, while former champions General Service Unit (GSU) dismissed Rift Valley Prisons 3-0( 25-13,25-17,25-17).
Defending champions Kenya Prisons men’s team launched their title campaign on high recording two wins against Kenya Army 3-0(25-22,25-15,25-14) and Trailblazers 3-1(25-21,19-25,25-15,25-20).
DAY ONE RESULTS
KAPU v Base Yetu(M)
3-0(25-13,25-17,25-18)
KPA v Equity Bank (M)
3-0(25-13,25-21,25-22)
Kenya Prisons v Kenya Army (M)
3-0(25-22,25-15,25-14)
KDF v Vihiga Volleyball Team(W)
3-0(25-16,25-23,25-18)
Kenya Army v Maranatha (W)
3-1(25-12,25-15,23-25,25-14)
Kenya Pipeline v Kenya Prisons (W)
3-2(25-14,25-27,25-22,23-25 and 18-16)
DCI v Young Spikers (W)
3-0(25-04,25-5,25-8)
Equity v KDF (M)
0-3(21-25,15-25,27-29)
GSU v RiftValley Prisons (M)
0-3(13-25,17-25,17-25)
Kenya Prisons v Trailblazers (M)
3-1(25-21,19-25,25-15,25-20)
