Kenya needs quality training ahead of FIVB World Championship in Japan

Kenyan clubs — Prisons, Pipeline and Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) — did the country proud by finishing 1-2-3 in women’s volleyball African Clubs Championship in Mauritius.

The victory is a remedy for local volleyball family, especially after Prisons and General Service Unit finished outside medal brackets in the men’s version of the clubs event in Algeria early this month.

The glorious performance has come at the right time, with Kenya preparing for FIVB World Championship slated for Japan later in the year.

Pundits may argue that if the three clubs all finished at the podium place at the championship then they should be able to form a formidable national team capable of winning matches at the World Championship.

Kenyans would not want to see a repeat performance of what happened in the last World championship when the country lost all its 12 matches to finish at the basement of the league.

The onus to prevent this shameful performance lies with the Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF).

The KVF should move fast to identify players, who should be selected on merit, for the World Championship. The federation should also work on a plan to have the national team train outside Africa since there are no teams in Africa to offer Kenyans quality training.

Kenya is known to play Japanese type of volleyball that has no place in the World Championship and it is high time this approach changed even if it means seeking assistance from Europe.

A camp in Europe is what the team needs to improve performance at the World Championship.