2006
Women's World Championship - Kenya
Kenya starts the journey to 2006 World Championships in Japan
The Kenyan women national volleyball team has started training
at Kasarani in preparations for the World Championships
Qualification Tournament Pool B in aim to qualify to the finals
will take place in Japan next year.
The qualification tournament which is being organized under the
umbrella of world volleyball governing body FIVB and hosted by
Kenya Volleyball Federation will be held from July 20-24 to pick
Africa’s third qualifier after Egypt and Cameroon clinched the
first two slots for the most prestigious FIVB tournament.
Leading Kenya’s provisional team of 18 players are four
Olympians, Dorcas Ndasaba, Judith Serenge, Violet Baraza and
Mercy Wesutila who have represented the country in the Sydney
and Athens Olympic Games. Janet Wanja who made her maiden
appearance at Athens Olympic Games is also in the team.
Other players in the provisional squad which will be coached by
David Lung’aho assisted by Sammy Mulinge and Paul Bitok as
trainer are, Esther Jepkosgei, Jackline Baraza, Esther Munyasia,
Judith Tarus, Catherine Wanjiru, Sarah Chepchumba, Emilly
Chemutai, Lucy Chege, Salome Wanja, Asha Makuto, Rael Rotich,
Phylis Mutembete and Doris Muyeko.
The 18 players in the provisional team know too well that the
road to the 2006 World Championships in Japan will not be smooth
sailing since they will have to fight for the twelve slots in
the team thereafter face opposition from Algeria, DR Congo,
Congo Brazaville and Eritrea who are both eager to bag Africa’s
third and last slot from Group B during the July 20-24
tournament at Kasarani.
Kenya as a country has done Africa proud in that it has
represented the continent at three previous World Championships
and it has also sent the women national team to two Olympic
Games in Sydney 2000 and Athens 2004 thus making it a volleyball
powerhouse in this region and indeed the African continent.
"the coaches have faith in the players they have selected" Said
Kenya Volleyball Federation secretary general Jacob Owiti. "The
role of selecting the provisional and the final team has been
left to the coaches and it will now be up to individual players
to fight for a slot in the final 12 slots since Kenya as a
country is stopping at nothing to ensure that the team qualifies
for the World Championships in Japan next year,” Added Owiti.
Owiti who was accompanied by KVF President Ibrahim Efumbi, KVF
Press Officer Jack Kwemba, KVF Vice President madam Grace Minja,
KVF Sports Organising Secretary Walter Otieno and other members
of the executive committee during the inspection tour of the
venue at Kasarani said they need to be ready in all areas when
the participating teams and tournament officials arrive in the
country for the high profile tournament.
CGI
