Kenya women’s beach volleyball team aim to improve on their performance in the 12th African that serves off in Casablanca and Rabat, Morocco today.
Kenya made her debut at the African Games in 2011 in Maputo, Mozambique with Margaret Indakala and Dorcas Ndasaba winning bronze before Edna Rotich and Eunice Maiyo finished fourth at the 2015 competition in Congo Brazzaville.
But fresh from winning bronze medal at the inaugural Africa Beach Games in Sal, Cape Verde, in June, the experienced duo of Gaudencia Makokha and Naomie Too are eager leave a mark in Morocco.
The duo also finished third at African Nation Cup in May 2017 in, Maputo, Mozambique to secure a ticket to FIVB World Championship in Australia the same year.
The draws of the tournament which has reportedly attracted a record 16 teams was due to be conducted last night during the technical meeting.
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And with their good preparation, head coach Patrick Owino believes the team has what it takes to finish on the podium again. The team held their first training session yesterday morning, barely 12 hours after arriving in Rabat.
“We have had good preparations with the African Beach Games that gives us a perfect training ground for this competition. I’m encouraged with the mood in the team and the girls are ready for the championship,” Owino told Standard Sports on phone.
But he is wary of the threat posed by hosts Morocco, Egypt, Namibia, Rwanda and Nigeria.
“We will know our opponents after tonight’s (yesterday) technical meeting. We expect tough opposition from hosts Morocco, Egypt, Namibia, Rwanda and Nigeria. But since we’ve had good training and exposure, we are ready for the challenge. We are ready to tackle any teams that will land in our pool,’’ said Owino.
Just like the beach team, the national women’s volleyball Malkia Strikers are oozing with confidence as they seek to defend their African Games title.
The first batch of players comprising setters Jane Wacu, Janet Wanja, Agripina Kundu, Emmaculate Chemtai, Sharon Chepchumba, Leonida Kasaya and Noel Murambi departed for Rabat last night, while captain Mercy Moim, Caroline Sirengo, Violet Makuto, Edith Wisa and Trizah Atuka will leave at 5pm today.
Head coach Paul Bitok knows he has his work cut out ahead of the Morocco challenge where Kenya have been drawn in a ‘tough’ Group B alongside their newfound rivals Cameroon, Senegal and Algeria.
