What needs to be done to improve men's volleyball?

Divergent views have emerged on the steady decline of volleyball standards in Kenya after the men’s national team failed to qualify for All African Games slated for August in Rabat, Morocco.

Wafalme, as they are popularly known, finished last in recently concluded four nation Zone five qualifying tournament at Kasarani Gymnasium with a paltry two points after their hard fought 3-2 victory over fast improving Uganda.

Unlike their women’s counterpart Malkia Strikers who booked a ticket to the continental showpiece with an unbeaten record in the round-robin qualifying tournament in Kampala last month, the men’s team were a shadow of their former selves at home.

Flashes of brilliance

Save for the game against eventual champions Egypt where they demonstrated some flashes of brilliance, Kenya was given a run for their money by Uganda before they were embarrassed in straight sets defeat by Paul Bitok’s Rwanda.

The story of Kenya’s stumble both men and women in many international competition has been the collapse of their back court defence, poor reception and service.

And the script was the same during the regional event in Nairobi with Kenya failing to keep out even the modest opposition due to basic errors.

Kenya’s failure to qualify for the continental showpiece in front of their home fans is a far cry from eight years ago when they won the bronze medal in their last appearance in the tournament in Maputo, Mozambique.

After many years in the cold, the men’s team seemed to have gotten their grove back after reclaiming the regional title in Kigali (2017) and consequently booked a ticket to the African Nations Cup in Cairo where they finished tenth.

But the game’s standards appears to have stagnated as Cameroon, Rwanda and Uganda are all on an upward trajectory.

While Cameroon have suddenly become a threat to Malkia Strikers, a team that once sent shivers to its opponents, Uganda and Rwanda are giving the men’s team sleepless nights.

A few years back, Kenya was ranked above Rwanda, but there has been a paradigm shift as Rwanda are currently ranked sixth in the continent, six places above Kenya.

However, the big question, is could it be due to lack of international exposure, technical and tactical skills as well as modern facilities that Kenyan’s standard have stagnated?

And just like any other Kenyan, legendary volleyballer and Rwanda head coach Paul Bitok is concerned with Kenya’s dwindling fortunes due to lack of international exposure.

“Kenya sho have three players plying their trade in Europe and one in Japan while Uganda has three players in Europe,” said Bitok.

“As an agent in Africa, I have been giving the Kenyan players a chance to go and play in Europe only for their clubs to refuse to release them. Those are some of the reasons these players can’t handle the pressure that comes with big competitions.”

His sentiments  ere echoed by well-traveled Prisons attacker Michael Chemos, who challenged his teammates to seek greener pastures abroad.

“At the moment, we don’t have a single Kenyan player playing abroad. Rwanda has like five professional players and that really gave them an edge over us.

“Sadly, we can’t handle pressure when it matters most due to inexperience and lack of exposure. You can’t bank on the club championship exposure and expect to beat other teams,” said Chemos.

But for Kenya Volleyball Federation Technical Director David Lung’aho it’s time for the country to go scientific.

“Yes, we are naturally talented, but the game has evolved. We must go back to the drawing board and change our approach and training tactics because the game has become scientific.

“Unlike us, the governments of the other teams have heavily invested into the game and the results are there for everyone to see,” said Lung’aho in a past interview.

“Our standards have improved. We are no longer afraid of teams like Kenya because we are almost catching up with them. Soon, we will become a force to reckon with,” said Uganda coach Nason Bwesigye.