Irene Akinyi was the star player when Divas, the national women’s netball team won bronze medal at the concluded UAE Netball Championships after whipping Ireland in the third play off match.
The resilient Kenya managed to win 46-37 at the six-day tournament where Namibia were crowned champions following their 62-53 win over.
With six teams- Kenya, Namibia, United Arab Emirates, USA, Singapore and Ireland- competing for the crown, Kenya managed third-place playoff with confidence, having already defeated Ireland in the round-robin stage.
Winger attacker Elsa Ndong and Center Irine Akinyi orchestrated several incisive plays that fatigued the Irish defense.
With the bronze medal within reach, Coach Mugisha Ali made strategic substitutions in the final quarter, introducing Ramadhan Pauline and Vida Adhiambo in place of Cynthia Milinya and Ndong. The changes injected fresh energy into the team, allowing the Divas to close out the match 46-37.
“This tournament has been a real test—every team came well-prepared,” said head coach Mugisha Ali. “We came here with a fresh squad compared to the one that played in Singapore last August, and I’m proud of the progress we made in every game. We minimized errors, and even in the absence of Dorine Akinyi due to illness, Hellen Sinoya and Delilah Akinyi stepped up impressively. Going forward, the federation needs to secure more international matches to keep the team in top form.”
Captain Parin Simiyu also praised the team’s performance, especially after a difficult start which saw Kenya narrowly lose to Namibia and Singapore in the group stages.
Standout center Irine Akinyi was named Kenya’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the tournament for her consistent and impactful performances throughout.
Elsewhere in the competition, hosts United Arab Emirates defeated the United States 65-48 to finish fifth.