2007 Women's African Nations Championship:

Kenya starts preparations to host Africa Cup of Nations – Women

Nairobi, Kenya, Friday August 22- Defending champions Kenya has put into top gear preparations to host next month’s Africa Cup of Nations – Women which will take place at Moi International Sports Centre in Kasarani from 3rd to 12th September.

The event which Kenya won when it was staged in Abuja Nigeria will be used to pick Africa’s representative at the World Cup which will be staged in Japan in November.

Speaking after a Local Organizing Committee (LOC) meeting, Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF) President Waithaka Kioni said in view of the fact that Kenyan was bestowed the honor to host the tournament after it was switched from Uganda, there is very little time left for preparations.

“We have formed a Local Organizing Committee which comprises several Sub Committees and I hope that we shall be able to beat deadlines and host a successful tournament,” Kioni said adding that they were so grateful to continental volleyball governing body CAVB for giving Kenya the mandate to host the tournament.

The KVF President who will also serve as LOC President pointed out that Finance and Marketing Committee will be headed by KVF 2nd Vice President Joseph Tanui while Martin Makokha who is KVF 1st Vice President will head Transport and Security Committees.

KVF Press Officer Jack Kwemba was appointed to head the Media Committee, KVF Secretary General Dan Wanyama will head the LOC Secretariat, KVF Deputy Secretary General Moses Mbuthia will head Accommodation and Hospitality Committee while former national women volleyball team and Telkom Kenya Team Manager Grace Wanguria will head Protocol Committee.

Walter Otieno who is KVF Sports Organizing Secretary was appointed to head the Technical Committee during the tournament which will bring together 11 countries among them Egypt, Algeria, Cameroon, Tunisia, DRC Congo, Seychelles, Mauritius and hosts Kenya.

The KVF President revealed that the federation has contracted Global Sports Marketing headed by marketing guru Sharad Ghai to market the tournament and acquire sponsors.

“Hosting such tournaments require money and that is why we have contracted a marketing company to assist us raise the much needed funds and we have confidence in Global Sports Marketing that they will deliver,” said Kioni.

He revealed that the Kenyan team has already reported for training at Kasarani where they will be handled by Sammy Kirongo as head coach, David Lung’aho as Assistant Coach, Abdul Muge as Trainer and Sammy Mulinge as Statistician.

The KVF boss stated that changes made on the national women volleyball team technical bench was aimed at finding a winning formula since Kenya is not taking chances in view of stiff opposition from North African teams.

Those dropped from the team’s technical bench which handled the team during the All Africa Games in Algeria last month where Kenya settled for a bronze medal are Assistant Coach Paul Gitau and Trainer Juma Walukhu.

Photo Caption

Kenya women were 2007 All Africa Games Bronze Medalists



By Jack Kwemba, KVF Press Officer