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Volleyball matches in
Kenya postponed to honour Baraza
 Nairobi,
Kenya, February 16 - As a way of honoring the late national team
captain Violet Baraza who passed on at Webuye District Hospital
in Western Kenya on Monday, Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF)
has announced the postponement of all volleyball matches in the
country.
According to KVF President Waithaka Kioni, the death of Baraza
is a national tragedy and the best way to honor her was to
postpone all the matches and give the volleyball family in Kenya
the chance to give her a befitting burial.
“This is one of the biggest tragedies to have hit volleyball in
recent times as such the KVF National Executive has decided to
postpone all volleyball matches which includes the National
League and other tournaments,” said Kioni.
The KVF President pointed out that all volleyball activities in
Kenya will resume on March 3 after Baraza has been buried and
called on the volleyball family in Kenya to remain united in
this dark moment.
While joining Kenyans in mourning Baraza, Sports Minister Maina
Kamanda paid great tribute to the player whom he described as a
national hero whose absence will be much felt in volleyball in
the country.
On behalf of the Sports Ministry in Kenya and the entire sports
fraternity, Kamanda said Baraza’s death has robbed the country
of a great sportswoman who had brought glory to the country.
The President of East and Central Africa Volleyball
Confederation (ECAVCO) Tom Omong’ole and his Vice Ibrahim Efumbi
who is also a former KVF President sent their message of
condolence to Baraza’s family, relatives, friends and the entire
volleyball fraternity in East Africa.
“The death of Baraza has robbed not only Kenya but East and
Central Africa of a great volleyball player. We join the family,
friends, relatives and the entire Kenyan nation in mourning this
great player,” said Omong’ole who is a CAVB Vice President and
Efumbi.
The late Baraza who was the most accomplished volleyball player
in Kenya started her career in volleyball at Lugulu High School
in Western Kenya which to-date is considered as the bedrock of
volleyball in Kenya along with Mukumu Girls High School.
She first tasted club volleyball when she joined Kenya
Commercial Bank (KCB) who are the reigning African Women
Volleyball Club Champions upon which she was spotted and called
to the national team.
After stamping her authority in the national team as a Left
Attacker, Baraza was named the captain and she led Kenya to both
2000 Sydney and 2004 Athens Olympic Games as team captain. She
also captained the team to the last All Africa Games in Abuja
Nigeria.
The late Baraza turned professional in Egypt where she played
for Al Ahly before she moved to Romania, Greece and finally
Turkey. She was instrumental in Kenya's qualification for last
year’s World Championships in Japan.
During last year’s Malta Guinness Four Nations Tournament in
Nairobi which brought together Egypt, Nigeria, Cameroon and
hosts Kenya, Baraza was called to the national team but Japanese
Head Coach Sadatoshi Sugawara who was handling the Kenyan team
opted to drop her as she was unwell.
By Jack Kwemba, From Nairobi Kenya
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