- Equity Bank 1-3 Sport-S (25-15, 21-25, 22-25, 20-25)
It wasn’t the clinical start Sport-S fans are used to, but the result was the perfect welcome to their maiden CAVB Men’s Africa Club Championship.
Despite a shaky opening frame, Sport-S rallied to defeat their opponents 3-1 in a high-stakes continental encounter at Petit Stade on Thursday.
After dropping the first set 25-15, the debutants found their rhythm to sweep the remaining three sets, proving that composure is just as important as firepower.
Speaking after the final whistle, Head Coach Malic Ddamulira was candid about the team’s early struggles. While he admitted the bad note start was somewhat expected given the current roster, he praised his squad’s mental fortitude.
“The feeling is great. We needed our players to be calm because they were a bit on tension. The team we faced today is one we have not played in a long while,” Ddamulira noted.
The match provided a classic clash of styles. Ddamulira pointed out that the aggressive, offensive philosophy typical of Kenyan sides caught his team off guard initially, leading to a string of unforced errors.
While the win brings a wave of relief and celebration, the coaching staff is already looking at the work in progress sign. Ddamulira was clear that while the comeback was impressive, relying on them is a dangerous game.
Sport-S walks away with the points, but with a stern reminder that in regional volleyball, you cannot afford to sleep through the first set.
Going forward, Sport-S will have to finish in the top four to qualify for the round of 16 of the ongoing tournament.