Net Kings turn heartbreak into podium ambition

BY NEWSFLASH REPORTER

The painful memory of losing last year’s bronze-medal match by a solitary goal is driving Kenya’s national men’s netball team, Net Kings, as they target a podium finish at the Africa Netball Championship in Nairobi.

The championship runs from September 19-26.

Team manager Joseph Makau said the heartbreaking loss has remained fresh in the players’ minds after Kenya led for the better part of the third-place playoff before losing in the final seconds.

“The pain has been driving us and has been burning in our hearts since then,” said Makau. “It is driving us towards achieving a podium finish in this edition of the championship.”

Makau noted that the squad, which has been together for about three years, is well bonded and is now concentrating on correcting the mistakes that have denied them a place on the podium in the last two editions.

Net Kings seek stronger preparation

Kenya will head into the championship without international build-up matches after efforts to secure stronger opposition from other countries failed due to unavoidable circumstances.

However, the Net Kings are working to organise practice matches against a select team comprising players who missed out on the national squad and another select side drawn from university teams.

“The next few weekends we will be busy doing that,” said Makau, expressing confidence that the local build-up matches will adequately prepare the team.

The men’s competition will feature reigning champions South Africa, Eswatini, Malawi, Uganda, Botswana, Zimbabwe and hosts Kenya.

South Africa, Eswatini stand in Kenya’s way

Makau singled out South Africa and Eswatini as the teams Kenya must overcome in their quest for honours.

South Africa beat Kenya by three goals in last year’s semi-final before Eswatini inflicted further heartbreak by edging the Net Kings by a single goal in the bronze-medal playoff.

“South Africa is always a major threat. The same case with Eswatini,” observed Makau, adding that Kenya’s matches against Eswatini have always been tight and closely contested.

“If we correct the mistakes that cost us those matches, which we are doing now, we will finish on the podium and our eyes are on the big prize, that is number one.”

Although the championship is not a direct qualifier for a men’s World Cup, Makau said there are indications that men’s teams could be included in a future global event, making a strong African showing potentially important for Kenya.

Makau also praised the new federation leadership under president Immaculate Kabutha for improving players’ welfare and training conditions, saying the changes have lifted morale in the camp.

He said previous non-residential camps lacked basic provisions such as lunch and water, while access to training facilities was also a challenge.

The manager disclosed that the players are now happy and comfortable, adding that the improvements introduced just weeks after the new office took charge offer hope for even better support in future.