Volleyball: Kenyans confident ahead of junior tournament in Slovenia

Kenya's Ann Lowem and Doreen Marani (right) block spike from Morsy Mariam of Egypt during their game with Egypt during 2016 Women's U23 African Nations Championship Ranking at Kasarani Stadium on Monday, Oct 24, 2016. [PHOTO: JONAH ONYANGO/STANDARD]

Volleyball:  Local girls have tough task against top teams led by champions Brazil and Cuba

Captain Jepkemboi believes team can surprise opponents despite being viewed as underdogs.

Kenya Under-23 volleyball team are confident ahead of this year’s FIVB Volleyball Women’s U-23 World Championship in Ljubljana, Slovenia.

The team left yesterday morning ahead of the one-week tournament which will serve off today and has attracted twelve teams.

Despite being drawn in a tough Pool B alongside champions Brazil, runners-up Turkey, Cuba, Japan and Bulgaria, the junior Malkia Strikers are out to improve on the 2013 performance in Mexico, where they finished last without a single win.

But having been labelled as underdogs, a tag that they are not accustomed to, captain Shyrine Jepkemboi believes the team can still use it to its advantage and shock their opponents.

And motivated by their impressive preparation, the team, which finished second behind Egypt in the 2016 African Qualifiers at Kasarani last year,is ready to face any opponent.

“We are ready for war, whatever comes on our way. When you go for war you don’t expect to lose.

“We believe in ourselves, the coaches have done their job now it is our turn to implement what we have been doing in training,” Jepkemboi told The Standard Sports.

“Going there as underdogs will take a bit of pressure off the team and allow us to play our own game comfortably. It will actually motivate us and push us to deliver good results.”

Asked about what they expect in their opening match against fancied Brazil on September 10, the Prisons Kenya middle-blocker said: “They (Brazil) are the champions,so the pressure is on them, not us. We are going there to prove to the world that Kenya is still a hot bed of talent in volleyball.”

Jepkemboi’s club-mate Anne Lowem is equally optimistic of causing upsets at the tournament in its third edition.

“We are well prepared and ready for any team. We are going there with our heads high and eager to put Kenya on the world map. Let nobody underrate us. In volleyball anything is possible.

“On paper Brazil are favourites, but they should not expect an easy game,” said Lowem.

“Everybody is psyched up and eager to show the world that just like the other 11 teams, we deserve to be at the championship.”

After the opening match, the Catherine Mabwi’s side will battle with Bulgaria on September 11 before facing 2015 runners up Turkey the following day.

They will then clash with Cuba on September 14, a day before wrapping up their group matches against Japan.