Nervous start costs Kenyan Divas in UAE Netball Cup opener
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Reading Time: 2min | Mon. 16.06.25. | 11:07
The Kenyan team put in a spirited fight in the closing stages, but their efforts could not undo the damage done by Namibia in the first quarter
Kenya’s national netball team, the Divas, launched their campaign at the inaugural UAE Netball Cup with a 41–33 loss to Namibia on Sunday, 15 June, at the Sheikh Rashid bin Hamdan Indoor Stadium, Al Nasr Club in Dubai.
Under the leadership of captain Parin Simiyu, the team came up short in the opening minutes, trailing by seven points within the first five minutes.
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Coach Ali Mugisha responded with an early tactical change, bringing on Doreen Akinyi as goal shooter instead of Delilah Akinyi to try and inject some pace into Kenya’s attack.
The Namibian team, nicknamed Debmarine Desert Jewels, took the first quarter 11–8, and maintained their dominance to head into halftime with a comfortable 21–13 lead.
By the end of the third quarter, they had stretched the margin to 33–22.
Although the Divas mounted a spirited comeback in the final quarter, they could not close the gap, eventually falling 41–33.
There were standout performances for Kenya, particularly from goal attacker Hellen Subira.
She delivered a flawless display, converting all 22 shots to finish with a perfect 100% shooting record.
Her teammate Doreen Akinyi also impressed, scoring 11 of her 14 attempts for a 79% success rate.
Speaking to Mozzart Sport after the match, the coach praised his team’s resilience and defensive discipline despite the early setbacks.
“We started a bit slow; the girls were a little nervous, but they eventually got into the game. Defensively, we played very well. There were just a few minor mistakes, which we will correct before our next game against Singapore. The third and fourth quarters were very positive, and I believe we can go all the way to the finals,” Mugisha said.
His sentiments were echoed by captain Simiyu, who promised a more focused and consistent performance in their next fixture.
“In the next game, we will focus on improving our endurance and consistency to ensure we win,” she said.
The Divas will be looking to bounce back when they face Singapore on Monday, 16 June at 1600 hours.
The UAE Netball Cup runs from Sunday 15 to Saturday 21 June and features a round-robin format involving six teams: Kenya, Namibia, Singapore, the United Arab Emirates, the Republic of Ireland, and the United States.
Kenya Divas Squad:
Parin Simiyu (captain), Hellen Sinoya, Pauline Ramadhan, Teresa Othuon, Irine Atieno, Mary Atieno, Elsa Ndong, Lucy Akumu, Dorine Akinyi, Nelly Mohammed, Winfred Oyugi, Cynthia Milanya, Delilah Akinyi, Vidah Adhiambo.
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