2007 All Africa Games:

Kenyan men eye finals in All Africa Games

Nairobi, Kenya, Thursday June 30: As the D-Day draws nearer, the Kenyan men national volleyball team is beaming with confidence that they will reach the finals at next month’s All Africa Games in Algiers, Algeria.

Pooled with hosts Algeria, South Africa, Ghana and Seychelles, the Kenyan team has vowed to go through the group stage and reach the semi finals after which they will plot for a ticket to the finals.

Speaking at Kenya’s All Africa Games training camp that is situated at ultra modern Moi International Sports Centre in Kasarani, the men volleyball Team Manager Kenneth Tonui said they are focused and their destination is the final.

“The training has been very good and the players have vowed to fight up to the last man and ensure that they reach the finals and possibly win the gold medal,” said Tonui who is also Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF) National Treasurer.

The Team Manager who is a former player with Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) pointed out that the 18 players in camp are in good shape since there have been no reports of injuries and head coach Jack Omukahami along with his assistants Moses Opolot and Abdul Muge have been taking the players through physical fitness and modern techniques.

He pointed out that though they respect all the teams in their pool, their main threat in the group is Algeria since they will be playing before their home crowd and they have players with a lot of experience on the continent.

“Our player’s majority who are from Ulinzi and General Service Unit also have what it takes to go out there and play well and that is why we are confident of coming through in the group and going all the way to the finals,” Tonui said.

While supporting Tonui’s sentiments, Jacob Owiti who was the Team Manager when the Kenyan men finished 5th during 1999 All Africa Games in South Africa said people should expect a miracle in Algeria.

“The current KVF Leadership under Waithaka Kioni as President have done a lot to uplift the standard of men volleyball in the country within the short time they have been in office. My prediction is that the current team will go far at the All Africa Games,” said Owiti who is ECAVCO Secretary General and member of CAVB Sports Commission.

The 18-member Kenyan team which has been in training since May 30 before starting residential training with all Algerian based squad on June 6 will be relying heavily on their sole Japan based professional player Philip Maiyo who has been the star attraction in camp.

Full Kenyan men team in camp- Sila Makiso (Centre), Elisha Aliwa (Centre), Samuel Onyango (Setter), Philip Maiyo (Right), Patrick Owino (Left), Dennis Mokua (Left), Kokonya Bilasio (Right), Danson Tali (Centre), David Opiyo (Centre), Isaac Bor (Centre), David Kirwa (Right), Faustine Barasa (Libero), Kirwa Salim (Centre), Elphas Biwott (Left), Jeremiah Rotich (Left), Saul Wafula (Left), Stephen Mathenge (Setter), Bernard Musumba (Left).



By Jack Kwemba, KVF Press Officer