Beach volleyball: Makokha named in All Africa Games team

Kenya national beach volleyball player Gaudencia Makhoha in past action. [FIle]

Beach Volleyball Commission of Kenya went for experience when naming men and women’s teams for next month’s Africa Games in Morocco.

The commission’s secretary Sammy Mulinge said the named players have invaluable experience in both local and international assignments.

Mulinge, who is also the national beach volleyball head coach, said Gaudencia Makokha and Naomi Too, both from Kenya Pipeline, have made the team to the continental games.

Mulinge said the duo has represented the country in several international assignments including the 2017 Senior World Championship in Austria.

“I will bank on Makokha and Too’s experience to win a medal in Morocco,” said the coach.

Kenya made her debut at the Africa games in 2011 in Maputo, Mozambique and won bronze before finishing fourth in the 2015 Africa Games in Congo Brazzaville.

Mulinge added that the commission has settled for Ibrahim Oduori (Prisons Kenya) and Equity Bank’s Jimmy Mwaniki in the men’s team.

“With such experience, we expect Kenya to do better in this year’s Africa Games in Morocco,” said Mulinge.

Kenya’s men team has, however, never won a medal after finishing fifth at both Maputo and Brazzaville championships.

Mulinge said the beach volleyball teams will use Africa Games as part of their preparations for September’s Africa Continental Cup-cum-2020 Tokyo Olympic qualifiers.

Kenya’s women beach volleyball team is ranked seventh in Africa, while their male compatriots are 13th.

Meanwhile, Mulinge said the national beach volleyball circuit will resume with the fifth leg after the Africa Games.

The first three circuits were held at Strathmore University, while Mombasa hosted the fourth circuit last April.

Mulinge said his commission will partner with the Ministry of Education to introduce the sport in school games. [Ernest Ndunda]

“For future growth of the sport, we must bring on board young and potential players and our target is schools and colleges,” said Mulinge.