Kisiwa’s Coach Mary Akidinyi praised her players for their effort but cited Abuga’s injury and the team’s fatigue – having arrived in Nairobi at 3 AM – as key factors in their loss.
Kenya National Women’s Handball debutants, Kisiwa TTI, faced a challenging initiation when they faced Kenyatta University Vampires on Saturday morning at the Nyayo National Stadium handball court. Kenyatta University claimed victory with a score of 41–34.
The KU Vampires dominated early on, scoring four consecutive goals within the opening minutes. It took Kisiwa some time to settle into the game, and by the time they called their first timeout in the tenth minute, they were trailing 10–6, with KU’s standout player, Dorris Odende, leading the charge with her impressive performance.
Kisiwa gradually gained momentum as they managed to narrow the gap with halftime approaching, ending first half at 17 – 23. However, the Bungoma based side suffered a major blow in the second half when their captain Valary Abungana went down with a dislocated shoulder, leaving her team disoriented without her leadership.
Kisiwa’s Coach Mary Akidinyi praised her players for their effort but cited Abuga’s injury and the team’s fatigue – having arrived in Nairobi at 3 AM – as key factors in their loss. “We started the match slowly but picked up as time went by. This is the first time these girls are participating at this level and with time, they will show their full potential.” She spoke.
“Arriving in Nairobi so late left no time for the girls to rest, and fatigue caught up with them during the match. Losing our captain in the second half disoriented the team, but am confident we will come back stronger in our next match.”
Kenyatta University’s’ Dorcas Wanjala was the top scorer of the match netting nine times, followed by teammate Jannerita Awour with nine. Kisiwa’s injured captain Valary Abungana led her team with six goals.