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10 teams compete
for a World Cup slot
 Nairobi,
Kenya, September 4, 2007-: It will be a great fight when 10
teams compete for a World Cup slot as they start the 16th
Women’s African Nations Championship here at
Moi International Sports Centre in Kasarani, Nairobi- Kenya on
Wednesday. The competition will be the strongest ever in the
history of the Women championships as it will feature all the
big forces playing for the only African ticket in the
prestigious FIVB event.
The opening day
will show a Magnificent clash between Algeria and Cameroon in
what is described as a repeated final for the 2007 All Africa
games held in Algeria last July in the competition pool A. The
defending champions Kenya will start their programme meeting
Botswana in the same pool. Pool B will feature an expected
interesting face off between the emerging South Africa and
Tunisia, while Senegal meets Rwanda.
 The
exciting competition will show all the big continental forces at
the women’s level led by the last All Africa games Gold
medalists Algeria who had a considerable preparation in an
Egyptian camp where they played three friendly matches against
the other big contenders for the title Egypt which was ended all
towards the Algerian side. The last champions Kenya will play to
keep the title which they had the record of its victories with 8
cups in 15 competitions. the Kenyan team had concentrated
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.
Kenya Volleyball
Federation (KVF) President Waithaka Kioni 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
specially Algeria and Egypt.
Egypt came to
Kenya with a new look team following the retirement of the big
historic star Tahani Tosson and the last minute withdrawal of
the two main setters Yosra Abdel Karim and Miral Abel Kader.
This situation compelled the head coach Hesham Badrawy who
returned back to his job after the Cuban Head coach Carlos
Gonzales left the team following the disappointing performance
in the last All Africa games to use a new look team led by the
experienced middle blocker Ingy El Shamy and the strong wing
spiker Sherihamn Sameh.
Following their
surprising performance in the All Africa Gamers where they have
got the silver medal, Cameroon team wants to compete for the
gold this time using the eurpean based professionals Ruth Deboue
and Rebecca Nkot.
The emerging star
Hihel Elghoul will lead Tunisia again after she performed well
during All Africa Games where they were near a semifinal slot.
Other competing teams are Senegal, Uganda, South Africa and
Rwanda.
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