Kenya to 'get new coach' ahead of World Championships

What you need to know:

  • Kenya - who qualified for this competition after finishing second at the Africa Nations Championship in Yaounde earlier this year - are pooled in Group D alongside Brazil, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Serbia and Kazakhstan.
  • African champions Cameroon, who are the continent's other representatives in the showpiece, will compete against the hosts, Netherlands, Argentina, Germany and Mexico in Group A.

The International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) has committed to seconding a professional coach to assist Kenya in preparing for next year’s women's World Championship slated for Japan.

And while at it, the Kenya Volleyball Federation has also teamed up with stakeholders in a mission to raise funds to enable the Malkia Strikers to prepare adequately ahead of the Championship, which will be held in five Japanese cities namely Hamamatsu, Kobe, Nagoya, Osaka and Sappro from September 29 to October 20.

The target, according to KVF first vice chairman Martin Makokha, is to raise at least Sh55 million.

As per the draw conducted in Tokyo on Monday, Kenya - who qualified for this competition after finishing second at the Africa Nations Championship in Yaounde earlier this year - are pooled in Group D alongside Brazil, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Serbia and Kazakhstan.

African champions Cameroon, who are the continent's other representatives in the showpiece, will compete against the hosts, Netherlands, Argentina, Germany and Mexico in Group A.

"It is a tough draw but we remain keen to perform better against the best teams in the world," KVF first vice chairman Martin Makokha stated.

"FIVB have promised us a coach. And we are seeking funds to enable us host an international tournament in Nairobi which will act as a build-up, and also, prepare the team to set-up a training camp in Europe or Asia for a month."

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Besides the yet-to-be-known foreign trainer, Kenya Pipeline coach Japheth Munala, his Western Bombers counterpart Dorcas Ndasaba, KVF technical director David Lung’aho and Japan-based Kenyan coach Godfrey Owese, who is currently handling a Philippines club, are expected to handle the team.

Meanwhile, 24 teams, consisting five from Asia (including the hosts), two from Africa, eight from Europe, two from South America and seven (plus defending champions USA) from the North, Central America and Caribbean Confederation, will take part in this quadrennial event.

The competing teams have been divided into four pools each consisting six teams, which will compete in a round-robin system with the top-four teams in each pool advancing to the second round.

Full Draw:

Group A: Japan, Netherlands, Argentina, Germany, Cameroon, Mexico

Group B: China, Italy, Turkey, Bulgaria, Canada, Cuba

Group C: United States, Russia, South Korea, Thailand, Azerbaijan, Trindad and Tobago

Group D: Serbia, Brazil, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Kazakhstan, Kenya