HAMMAMET, Tunisia, Jun 14 – The Nairobi Water duo of Michelle Adhiambo and Brenda Ariviza showed their experience and composure, starring for the Kenyan team as they rallied from an 8-0 deficit at the first period to stun Algeria by straight sets (19-13, 11-5) in their opening game at the second edition of the Africa Beach Games in Hammamet, Tunisia on Saturday.
Adhiambo starred in the specialist player position, claiming eight points for Kenya, with Ariviza adding six more, as the Kenyan girls started off their medal with a victory in the five-team tournament.
Skipper Adhiambo said she was delighted with the victory, and the character shown by the players in coming from down to win the game.
“Within the first four minutes we identified where our mistakes were and we called for a time out and changed our approach and that enabled us to win. It feels very nice because we are one step closer to the medal bracket. This is a round robin tournament and a win pushes you closer,” Adhiambo offered after the match.
She added; “It is a huge morale booster to win the first game and now we have something to protect and that is our place on top of the table.”
The Kenyan girls started slow and the Algerians led 8-0 after just three and a half minutes, with Ben Moudetter Selma, who had a game high 11 points, being the chief destroyer for the Algerian side.
But, the Kenyan girls scaled their way back into the game and keeper Abigael Waeni scored the first two points with a quick launch from her goal area before Glady’s Chilo’s spin score put the game at 9-4.
The decision to change skipper Adhiambo into a specialist player was the key turning point as she engineered a comeback that saw Kenya go into the lead for the first time in the game at 11-10 with under four minutes to play.
The Kenyan girls didn’t look behind with Ariviza’s two spin shots, counting for two points each and Viona Wandera’s similar score taking the team to a 19-13 lead at the end of the first period.
In the second period, it was smooth sailing for the girls who were now playing a more flawless and coordinated game and despite some moments of brilliance from Algeria’s Selma, they couldn’t play catch up.
Euphrasia Mukasia’s spin shot with 30 seconds to play was the final marker for Kenya as they clinched the set 11-5.
Kenya will face off with neighbors Uganda and Mali on Sunday before a final showdown against hosts Tunisia, who beat them in the Global Tour, on Monday.
