KVF: Upbeat Mombo backs Kenya Army to bounce back from poor season

Kenya Army captain Godfrey Mombo has admitted his side found it tough to get going in the just-concluded Kenya Volleyball Federation campaign, with their indifferent season seeing them miss out on the playoffs.

This comes after Kenya Army wrapped up their campaign last week, finishing 13th out of 16 teams.

Kenya Army ended the season tied at 12 points with Western Prisons and Rift Valley Prisons but fell short of making the top eight, which would have secured them a place in the playoffs.

"The league this season has been very tough. If you look at the teams that were promoted this year, they have also been competitive, and there was no team from which you could easily earn free points. In the past, there were teams you could be sure of beating, but this season was different. Next time, we will do our best to prepare better," said Mombo.

In their last match of the season, Kenya Army faced off against Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) in an electrifying encounter at Nyayo Gymnasium. KDF delivered a dominant performance, securing a 3-1 set victory.

KDF started strong, winning the first set 25-21 before extending their lead with a commanding 25-18 victory in the second set. However, Kenya Army showed resilience in the third set, engaging KDF in a nail-biting battle that saw multiple ties at 6-6, 10-10, 20-20, and 24-24.

Led by Captain Mombo, Kenya Army mounted a spirited comeback to claim the set 28-26.
Despite Kenya Army’s resistance, KDF regrouped and executed powerful strikes and strategic serves in the fourth set. Despite timeouts and tactical adjustments from Kenya Army, KDF sealed the match with a 25-19 win under the guidance of coach Elisha Aliwa.

Reflecting on the season, Mombo emphasized the need for better preparations and acknowledged the strength of their opponents.

"We tried our best, knowing that our opponents had more experience and exposure at the international level, making them more formidable. Some of our players had injuries, and our overall preparations were not up to the required standard.

One key lesson we learned is the importance of strong serves, which our opponents executed well. We remain hopeful and will work on our weaknesses," he added.

The top eight teams that qualified for the KVF playoffs after 14 matches include General Service Unit (GSU) – Former champions, Kenya Prisons, defending champions Kenya Ports Authority (KPA), Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), Trailblazers, Kenya Forest Service (KFS) and  Kenya Administrative Police Unit (KAPU)