Kenyan girls ready for the world
What you need to know:
- ‘African Queens’ look ahead after superb display in continental championship.
- Lung’aho to bank on experience of playing in Europe to make mark at global scene.
Kenya’s women’s Africa Nations Championship triumph has provided the team with yet another chance to compete at the FIVB World Cup.
Imperious ‘African Queens’ beat all at the just-concluded championship in Nairobi without dropping a single set for a record ninth continental title to gain a ticket to the World Cup in Japan between August and September.
Kenya were just too good for Botswana, Mauritius, Cameroon and Algeria. They should however expect much stiffer competition at the World Cup where they have struggled to even win a match.
Coach David Lung’aho however remains optimistic of an improved performance.
“The difference this time round is we have experienced players who have been playing in Europe. The squad is confident and in good shape. We certainly have a better chance than was the case a few years back,” Lung’aho said.
BUSY SCHEDULE
The international schedule will commence this week, when Kenya, placed 19th on the FIVB rankings — head to Mexico, and later Algeria, to compete in the 2015 FIVB Grand Prix.
They will play against Peru, who are ranked 23rd, hosts Mexico (27th), Colombia (30th), Algeria (25th) and Australia (46th) in the two week competition.
Kenya will then head for the FIVB World Cup in August, but it remains to be seen which players will be picked as the country also looks to send a formidable team to the All Africa Games set for Republic of Congo in September.
Kenya’s last visit to the Grand Prix last year ended with morale boosting victories over Mexico, Algeria and Australia. The national team has however fallen short on all the other occasions it has featured in international tournaments.
Kenya finished last in the 2012 World Cup , losing heavily to Germany, Brazil, Serbia, USA and South Korea, but Lung’aho is optimistic of a better show in Japan.
The situation wasn’t any better in 2007 when Kenya again lost in straight sets to Poland, USA, Brazil, Cuba, Italy, Japan and South Korea.
