Volleyball. Lung’aho is confident team can weather storm

Kenya's Malkia Strikers captain Mercy Moim (centre) spikes the ball against Uganda during their openinig match of the 2017 CAVB Zone V World Championship Qualifiers at Kasarani Gymnasiun on Friday, July 28, 2017. [Photo: Jonah Onyango, Standard]

Kenya’s squad leaves this evening for the FIVB World Women Championships that run in Japan on September 27-October 20.

The 14-member team, which picked the ticket after finishing second in the African qualifiers behind Cameroon in Younde, depart Jomo Kenyatta International Airport at 6pm via Ethiopian Air to Addis Ababa then connect South Korea. They are set to arrive in Tokyo at 8:25pm tomorrow.

According to Kenya Volleyball Federation secretary general Ben Juma, Malkia Strikers are lined up for a number of friendly matches organized by former head coach Takawishi Sugawara ahead of their first match on September 29.

“The friendlies will help the team as they acclimatize ahead of five competitive preliminary matches before the knockout stages,” Juma told Standard Sports.

Kenya are in Pool D with Serbia, Dominican Republic, Brazil, Kazakhstan and Puerto Rico in the contest that comprises 24 teams.

Pool A has hosts Japan, Argentina, Netherlands, Germany, Cameroon and Mexico while Pool B has China, Italy, Turkey, Bulgaria, Canada and Cuba.

United States of America, Russia, South Korea, Thailand, Azerbaijan and Trinidad and Tobago are in Pool C.

No injuries

Experienced setter Jane Wacu and Janet Wanja lead the team that has centre attackers Edith Wisah, Trizah Atuka, Lorine Chebet and Christine Siwa.

Mercy Moim, Noel Murambi, Shaon Chepchumba and Leonida Kasaya are the left attackers while the right attackers are Violet Makuto and Emmaculate Chemtai.

Elizabeth Wanyama and Agripina Kundu are the liberos.

Coach Japheth Munala will be assisted by Jos Barasa while David Kilundo is the team manager while David Lung’aho is the technical director.

Josephine Wanza is the team doctor while the physiotherapist is Sarah Karonge.

Lung’aho said the team are in high spirits and have no injuries.

Japan are hosting the event for the fifth time having previously staged in 1967, 1998, 2006 and 2010. They have also hosted the men’s event in 1998 and 2006.

Kenya play their first match against Kazakhstan on September 29 (7:20pm) before facing Serbia the following day at the same time.

They will play their third match on October 1 against Puerto Rico before meeting Brazil on October 3 (at 4:10pm) and Dominican Republic on October 4 at the same time.

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