Volleyball: Kenya team target win in FIVB Grand Prix

Janet wanja urges her teammates on against Tunisia during the Women's African Club Championship.

The national women's volleyball team departed yesterday for Tijuana, Mexico for the FIVB World Grand Prix.

It will be the first time for the Kenya team at the competition, which brings together 28 countries. The Kenyan girls eyeing a finals berth in the grand prix will play in two separate tournaments with the aim of finishing among the top four that will see them inch closer to the finals. Their first task will be against their African counterparts Algeria, Bulgaria and hosts Mexico in their pool Q battle.

Head Coach David Lung'aho told FeverPitch the team was in good form and ready for the challenge.

"We have prepared well for this event compared to past assignments. It's now time to prove our time in camp and hard training was not in vain," he said.

Lung'aho said they have high chances in Tijuana and aim to win all their three matches in pool Q. The countries were grouped according to their FIVB world rankings and Kenya is the top ranked country in the group at 13, Algeria 14, Mexico 28 and Bulgaria 35.

The girls will then head to Porec, Croatia for their group S matches that will take place from August 1-3. They will be up against Australia, ranked 100, Bulgaria and hosts Croatia at 24.

Meanwhile the national team received Sh1.8 million sponsorship from the Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC). The cheque was presented to the team by the firm's Corporate Communication Officer Kasujaa Onyonyi at Sports View hotel, Kasarani.

Kasujaa lauded the women's team for their determination, hard work and enviable performance at international stage.

"Our team has worked very hard to become the best on the continent, and with more support they can do better," he said.

National team vice Captain Janet Wanja, who received the cheque on behalf of the team, was grateful to KPC for their support.

"On behalf of the team I thank KPC for sponsoring us and seeing to it that we had a residential training and also had our allowances. We will prove your support was not futile."