Netball: Kenya team off to Zambia in search of Africa honours

NATIONAL NETBALL TEAM- AFRICA CHAMPIONSHIPS Kenya National Netball team players pose for a photograph after their training session at Kaloleni ground, Nairobi on Friday 10/08/18 ahead of their Africa Championships cum World cup qualifiers in Zambia next week[Boniface Okendo,Standard]week[Boniface Okendo,Standard]

Kenya national netball team left the country last night for the Africa Championships cum 2019 World Cup qualifiers in Lusaka, Zambia.

The squad comprising 14 players and ten officials will be gunning for continental honours for the five-day tournament that starts today.

The Kenyans will look to seal a place to the global showpiece slated for Liverpool, United Kingdom, in July next year.

Seven countries Namibia, Kenya, Botswana, Uganda, Malawi, Zimbabwe and hosts Zambia will battle it out for African glory with two top teams set to join Malawi and South Africa who have already sealed their place at the World Cup by virtue of being the top ranked teams in Africa.

Head coach Jimia Babala expressed optimism that her side will emerge top: “We have a young and versatile side eager to impress. We are confident the team will do well in Lusaka.”

Captain Parin Simuyu who plays for Kenya Prisons Service said: “We have covered great ground in training and ready to show Africa what we are made of. The players are ready. The will and morale to do well at the tournament is there.”

Kenya last participated in the continental arena at the All African Games in Maputo, Mozambique in 2011. Having failed to remit affiliation fees to the world and continental governing bodies, Kenya was sidelined. With a new office in place and fees paid Kenya is back in the fold.

“The previous office was not remitting the affiliation fees to the International Netball Federation thus attracting sanctions. So, Kenya was sidelined and were not getting invitation to participate in international tournaments,” said Millicent Busolo, the Kenya Netball Federation Secretary General said.

The new office chaired by Immaculate Kavutha came to office in April this year. [Dennis Okeyo]