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Kenya
wins women and men East and Central Africa Volleyball
Championships
It was song and
dance at Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani main
indoor gymnasium last Sunday when both Kenyan women and
men national teams clinched regional volleyball titles.
The new look national women volleyball team which
finished the three days East and Central Africa
Volleyball Senior Challenge Cup tournament with an
unbeaten record unearthed new talents capable of doing
national duty in future. The most notable player in the
youthful team which is in the age bracket of 16 to 21
years was libero Elizabeth "Tindi" Nasarian who is the
first ever volleyball player from the Masaai community.
She was the darling of the crowd at Kasarani which
included her parents. Enroute to clinching the regional
volleyball tournament, the national women volleyball
team whose hunt for the title was led by team captain
Asha Makuto, Janet Wanja and Salome Wanjala the only
survivors from original national team opened the show
with 3-0 drubbing of Uganda. The Kenyan ladies followed
the first victory with a similar 3-0 win over Tanzania
before being given a big scare by Kenya B team coached
by former professional player Paul Bitok despite going
on to win the match 3-0. The Kenya B team opened the
show with a 3-0 win over Tanzania following it with an
identical win over Uganda but going down 0-3 to the
eventual winners Kenya A which was under the tutelage of
Sammy Mulinge and veteran Paul Gitau. The Kenyan men
under Sammy Kirongo on their part ensured that they did
not let Kenyans down during the championships when
finished the tournament with an unbeaten record with
Tanzania clinching the second slot and Uganda coming
third.The Kenyan men had to fight every inch of the way
before beating hard fighting Tanzania 3-1 in their
opening match but in their second match the Kenyan team
made easy team of Uganda whom they walloped 3-0. Uganda
registered their first victory when they hit Tanzania
3-1 but that could not salvage their position as they
went on to finish the tournament in third place.
Speaking during the closing ceremony, Commissioner for
Sports Gordon Oluoch assured KVF National Executive
Committee that the government fully supports radical
changes made in the national women volleyball team. "The
move you have made to come up with youthful national
women volleyball team is commendable in view of the
coming assignments and be assured that he government
will give you full support," said Oluoch. KVF acting
National Chairman Ibrahim Efumbi said the federation was
out to give young players and coaches the opportunity to
showcase their talent and with positive results
registered in the regional event they felt encouraged.
On his part, KVF secretary general Jacob Owiti said the
national women volleyball team which won the regional
event was constituted with next year’s World
Championships, 2007 World Cup and 2008 Beijing Olympic
Games qualifiers in mind. "This is a young team which
has a bright future. With support from the government,
clubs, coaches and sponsors I can assure you that sky is
the limit for this team," said Owiti. The East and
Central Africa Volleyball Confederation President Tom
Omong’ole from Uganda who is also CAVB Vice President
said the just ended regional event was aimed at
developingvolleyball in Zone Five. Director of Youth
Development in KVF Paul Nzuki congratulated the Kenyan
men and ladies team for clinching the regional event
adding that the future of volleyball in East Africa lay
in the youth.
By JACK KWEMBA- Press Officer,
Kenya Volleyball Federation |
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