Top players to miss as volleyball league serves-off in Nakuru

[PHOTO: COURTESY]

Players from defending champions General Service Unit (men) and Kenya Prisons (women) will miss the fifth leg of the National Volleyball League that serves off at the Afraha open grounds this morning.

The Kenya Prisons players include Braxides Agala, Jane Wacu, Mercy Moim, Edith Wisa, Everlyn Makuto, Ann Lowem, and Joy Luseneka.

They form the bulk of the national team that is preparing for the World Championships African Zone Five qualification rounds in Kigali, Rwanda, and Nairobi.

The men’s team have jetted out to Kigali for the zonal championships commencing tomorrow and ending on July 25 while the women’s competition is scheduled for Kasarani from July 28-31.

Women’s head coach David Lung’aho said the team is busy in residential training camp and cannot feature for in league matches.

“Players from the two clubs form the bulk of the national team squads and cannot equally compete for their clubs in league matches and cannot simultaneously get along well in preparations for international championships,” Lung’aho told Standard Sports.

Three female sides from Egypt, Rwanda, and Uganda are expected in Nairobi from tomorrow while Sudan, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Burundi should confirm their participation before the tournament serves off next week.

Twenty-two female players have been alternating between Nyayo National Stadium and Kasarani for training.

“Fitness levels are superb and we are once again ready to conquer in this tournament,” said Lung’aho.

The league matches would be played this morning ahead of the Challenge Cup Championships tomorrow and Sunday.

Kenya Volleyball Federation Central Rift branch secretary Osinde wa Musamia said plans have been finalised for the three-day competition.

Five pitches have been set aside.