After 57 games, the 2021/22 edition of the Kenya Beach Handball League knows its final play-off teams for the grand finale which is set to take place at the Nyali Beach Hotel in Mombasa on Sunday 13 March.

A total of 16 teams – nine men’s and six women’s – battled it out in two leagues, with the first phase played from 20 October 2021 to 20 February 2022.

Saints, Pwani University, Mtwapa Youths and KCNP MSA fielded teams in both genders, while White House Voi, KRA MSA, Kizingo Tigers, Mtwapa Legends and TUM represented in the men’s competition with Changamwe All Stars, Glorious Queens and Coast Queens appearing in the women’s league.

The Coast Queens ended up as the only 100% team in both leagues. They won all six of their games, dropping only one set – in their final match against Mtwapa Youths – to finish top of the women’s league. The league featured 21 games, with just four going to a shoot-out.

In the men’s league, it was all about shoot-outs, with 28 of the 36 games featuring the dramatic ending. Eventually, Pwani University took the honours, but were pushed hard, taking seven wins out of eight to finish top, their only loss coming against the Kizingo Tigers, who finished fourth.

The top four teams in each league have now qualified for the play-offs next month which will decide the winners of the league title.

Pwani University, Saints, Whitehouse Voi and Kizingo Tigers made it through from the men’s league, while Coast Queens, Changamwe All Stars, Mtwapa Youths and Glorious Queens sealed their tickets in the women’s competition. The league also saw a junior competition with four teams in each gender.

“Our league attracted participants from all corners of the coast and Kenya at large,” said Titus Wanson who managed the league for the Kenyan Handball Federation and who is also a member of CAHB African Beach Handball Working Group. “They are all embracing this new sport of beach handball in the country. Handball is growing very fast in Kenya.”

His thoughts were echoed by Caroline Nyadiero, KHF Executive Board member in charge of beach handball in the country.

“It was a great success with a total participation of 16 teams, in spite of the COVID-19 pandemic still ravaging our communities,” she said. “We had new teams participate and even had others travelling long distances from other regions to play.”

Photo: Kenya Handball Federation