National beach volleyball teams to be named in Makueni leg

Beach Commission of Kenya has hinted that it will use next month’s (December 11-12) national circuit in Wote, Makueni County to pick national teams for the upcoming Africa Commonwealth Games qualifiers to be held in Ghana.

After the second circuit in Makueni, the event will move to Mombasa and Nairobi for the third and fourth circuits respectively before the end of the first phase. The eight-legged series is set to enter into the second phase in April to August when the season is expected to end.

Gladys Wangu and Phosca Kasisi lead in the national circuit after the Homabay event with six points while the pair of Maurine Wekesa and Mercy Iminza are second with five points. Marion Indeche and Joan Baraza have four points while Lilian Akinyi and Janet Agaya have three points for the fourth position.

In men’s category, Naftal Chuma and Brian Melly lead with 20 points, two points more than Edward Kibet and Sila Makisu. Noah Bett and Nicholas Lagat are third with 16 points, while Allan Kimurgor and J. Muliro are fourth with 14 points.

“We expect the African qualifiers to be at the end of January and we need to name our both men and women teams early enough to avoid last minutes hiccups,” said Commission’s Secretary General Sammy Mulinge.

Mulinge, who is also the head coach of the national women’s beach volleyball team, said by the virtue of being the continental women’s champions, proper preparations are paramount.

Brackcides Agala and Gaudencia Makokha won the only available women slot during the African qualifiers to represent the continent at the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.

Mulinge said adequate preparations are needed for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.