Kenya U-23 volleyball girls ready for Africa
What you need to know:
- Nafula was named team captain as coach Catherine Mabwi announced a strong 14-member team on Wednesday evening to do battle in the four-day continental showpiece.
- Rwanda, led by Kenyan Paul Bitok, were the first team to arrive on Monday while Botswana and Senegal were scheduled to arrive on Thursday. North African power houses Egypt and Tunisia are expected on Saturday at 6am.
- Coach Mabwi said the team is adequately prepared to tackle their opponents, singling out Tunisia and Egypt as Kenya’s main threat to the title.
Kenya women’s Under-23 volleyball team captain Pauline Nafula has called on her teammates to make use of home advantage at the Africa Nations Championship, which serves off on Sunday at the Safaricom Indoor Arena, Nairobi.
Nafula was named team captain as coach Catherine Mabwi announced a strong 14-member team on Wednesday evening to do battle in the four-day continental showpiece.
The KCB centre attacker believes the squad has what it takes to come out on top in the six-team competition whose winner will represent Africa at the World Championship in Slovenia next year. “We have been preparing well for this competition and the onus is upon us to do well in front of our fans,” Nafula told Daily Nation Sport Thursday.
AKUMU, NANJALA DROPPED
Rwanda, led by Kenyan Paul Bitok, were the first team to arrive on Monday while Botswana and Senegal were scheduled to arrive on Thursday. North African power houses Egypt and Tunisia are expected on Saturday at 6am.
“Our aim is to ensure the trophy remains at home. In executing this, there will be no fear, we are confident and committed.” Veronica Kilabat and Faith Imodia have been named in the setters’ position, while Beldin Akinyi and Damaris Chepkorom will do duty for the nation in the right attacking positions.
Ann Lowem, Yvonne Synaider, Shyrine Chepkemboi, and Wafula made the middle blocking position cut while Kenya Prisons attacker Yvonne Wavinya, Edna Mwombe, Dorine Marani and Maurine Agwalas will fight for the left attacking positions.
Sarah Were and Celestine Nyongesa were named as the team’s liberos. Leah Akumu and Esther Nanjala were dropped from the final squad having missed training sessions due to school commitments.
Coach Mabwi said the team is adequately prepared to tackle their opponents, singling out Tunisia and Egypt as Kenya’s main threat to the title.
“We are prepared for them. We have trained for two months and worked on recovery and mentality because this isn’t a small tournament,” Mabwi, a former Kenyan international, said.
North and West African teams have consistently posed a headache for Kenyan teams in volleyball. Egypt’s senior women’s team denied Kenya a chance to compete at the Olympics earlier this year, with Cameroon eventually grabbing the opportunity.
Tunisian club Carthage also defeated Kenya Pipeline in the final of this year’s Africa Club Championship held in Tunis in May.
Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF) said that Rwanda will train at the playing surface from 12 noon on Friday before the hosts train at 4pm.
