Volleyball teams get easy tickets to African event
Jane Wacu sets the ball for Ruth Jepngetich (6) of Kenya women volleyball team in the FIVB world cup qualifiers at Safaricom stadium Kasarani against Tunisia on 22nd February 2014.The national men and women’s U-23 volleyball teams expect to be handed automatic qualifications to the Africa championships finals slated for June. PHOTO/MARTIN MUKANGU
What you need to know:
- The qualifiers in Nairobi were to attract youth teams from Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, Ethiopia, Egypt and hosts Kenya.
- The training has attracted 18 female referees from 10 countries including Egypt, Uganda, Cameroon, Tunisia, South Africa and hosts Kenya.
The national men and women’s U-23 volleyball teams expect to be handed automatic qualifications to the Africa championships finals slated for June.
This follows the last minute cancellation of the Africa Nations Zonal qualifiers that had been planed for Kasarani gymnasium from March 1 for ten days.
“We had put our teams in camp but no other single nation from our zone confirmed participation. We will officially inform our zonal headquarters in Sudan of our disappointment considering all the expenses we have incurred,” Kenya Volley Federation (KVF) official Charles Nyaberi told Daily Nation Sport in a telephone interview yesterday.
The qualifiers in Nairobi were to attract youth teams from Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, Ethiopia, Egypt and hosts Kenya.
REFEREE TRAINING
GSU coach Gideon Taurus has been preparing the men’s team for the past month while his Kenya Pipeline counterpart Josphat Munala is in charge of the ladies outfit.
Meanwhile, five Kenyans are set to benefit from the ongoing first ever Africa Volleyball Federation (CAVB) International Candidate Referee course going on at Kasarani.
The training has attracted 18 female referees from 10 countries including Egypt, Uganda, Cameroon, Tunisia, South Africa and hosts Kenya.
Among those selected by KVF for this course include former Kenya international and pipeline libero Lucy Chege, Millicent Wangare who featured for Nairobi Water during, Nakuru-based referee Linet Omare and Sera Barasa.
“We are currently performing very well on the court with our ladies teams but with not much corresponding development on the administrative and technical matters,” Nyaberi said.
This course offers some transition for former players who have served us well, to continue contributing to, and getting income out of the game” KVF first Vice Chair Charles Nyaberi said.
The course is directed by FIVB and CAVB refereeing commision President Jacek Spisak and his regional counterpart Ahmed Hassan. The main goal of the course is to increase the number and effectiveness of the women referees on the continent. Tabitha Cherono is at the moment, Kenya’s only sole recognized international women referee.
