Wanja named in Malkia Strikers squad after rescinding retirement decision

Janet Wanja of Kenya Pipeline. /FILE

Celebrated Kenya Pipeline setter Janet Wanja has been included in the provisional 24-member Kenya Women's national team, Malkia Strikers, for the upcoming Zone 5 World Cup qualifiers after reversing her decision to retire from international volleyball.

The 33 year old setter made her retirement announcement in April immediately after arriving from Tunisia where she had steered the national league champions to a fifth-place finish at the 2017 African Women’s Volleyball Club championship.

 But with less than three weeks to the continental tournament to be held between July 28-30 in Nairobi,  the Japheth Munala led technical bench have convinced her to rescind the decision.

“Looking at the setters around, Wanja is still one of the best in that area.

 I think she made that rushed retirement decision under pressure. We still need her and that's why we have talked to her and included her in the team.

We also don't have enough time to start making bigger changes in the team," Munala told The Standard Sports.

Munala has called up eight players from the U23 team preparing for the World Championships in Slovenia.

 They include Kenya Commercial Bank left attacker Doreen Marani, Kenya Pipeline's quartet of Veronica Tanui (setter), Yvonne Sinaida (middle-blocker), Celestine Nyongesa (libero) and right attacker Beldine Akinyi. Middle-blocker duo of Anne Lowem, Shyrene Chepkemboi and left-attacker Yvonne Wavinya are from former champions Prisons Kenya.

Other new faces in the senior team to report to training camp at Nyayo National Stadium on Thursday are Nairobi Water's Praxydes Simiyu and Nancy Mulonza alongside KCB's Milgrene Lutuvula and Emaculate Chemtai (Prisons).

The regulars in the team are led by captain Mercy Moim and her predecessor Brackcides Khadambi together with assistant captain Noel Murambi.

 Provisional squad: Noel Murambi, Leonida Kasaya, Trizah Atuka, Violet Makuto, Janet Wanja, Agripina Kundu, Sinaida Yvonne, Beldine Akinyi, Celestine Nyongesa, Veronica Kilabat (Kenya Pipeline), Mercy Moim, Everlyne Makuto, Anne Lowem, Emaculate Chemtai, Jane Wacu, Yvonne Wavinya, Brackcides Khadambi, Joy Lusenaka, Shyrine Jepkemboi (Prisons Kenya), Edith Wisa (Prisons), Milgrene Lutuvula, Doreen Marani (KCB), Praxydes Simiyu, Nancy Mulonza (Nairobi Water) Technical Bench: Japheth Munala (Head Coach), Dorcas Ndasaba (Assistant coach), Aisha Otieno (Team Manager)