BEACH VOLLEYBALL: Kenyans seek to be last team standing

Kenyan Beach Volleyball player Gaudencia Makhoha after a training session at the Flamingo By PrideInn Beach Resort's beach. [PHOTO BY GIDEON MAUNDU/STANDARD].

Kenya Prison’s Loise Tarus and Kenya Commercial Bank’s Metrine Nabwile were dropped from the national beach volleyball team that leaves today for the Africa Zone Five sub-zonal Tokyo Olympic Games qualifiers in Tanzania.

The team that comprises captain Phoscah Kasisi, Gaudencia Makokha, Brackcides Agala and Yvonne Wavinya, concluded its training yesterday at Flamingo Beach Hotel, ready for today’s departure.

The team will be accompanied by head coach Sammy Mulinge, assistant coaches Patrick Owino and Salome Wanjala.

The qualifiers, which have brought together teams from Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and hosts Tanzania, will begin on Friday to Sunday at Balamwezi Beach, in Dar es Salaam.

Youthful Sharon Jepkosgei, who had been with the team in Mombasa, was released to resume with her classes at Soin Primary School in Kapsabet, where she is in standard eight.

Mulinge said the 13-year-old Jepkosgei was at the camp to gain experience and exposure for future assignments.

“We have released Jepkosgei to go back to school to prepare for her 2020 KCPE examinations and we shall be calling her in future championships," said the tactician.

Winner after the three qualifiers will bag a ticket to the Summer Games in Tokyo, Japan.

The first and second runner-up at the continental qualifiers will have the last chance to qualify for the quadrennial sports extravaganza at the World Championships.

Captain Kasisi said the players have blended well during the residential camp and much is expected from them.

“Our focus is to grab the top two slots at stake in the first round. We shall plan for round two once we are done with round one,” said Kasisi.

“We have gained the needed skills from our three coaches and the ball is on our court to perform. We are ready for the task ahead,” assured the Prison warder.

Mulinge said the technical bench has prepared the girls well and added that they expect a stiff challenge from Rwandan teams.