National women beach volleyball head coach happy with draw for Club Games

National women beach volleyball head coach Salome Wanjala has described the Commonwealth Games draw as favourable as she expressed confidence the girls will make it to the knockout stages.

Kenya has been pooled in pool A with reigning champions Canada, New Zealand, and Ghana.

Kenya will be making her debut in the games scheduled for Birmingham from July 28 to August 8.

Birmingham has an elevation of 459 feet and Wanjala believes her girls camping in Mombasa will be an added advantage to acclimate to the beach weather in Smithfield, the venue of the beach volleyball.

Wanjala said a few changes have been made in the national beach squad. She said Yvonne Wavinya and Veronica Adhiambo have been dropped from the team after they were included in the Malkia Strikers squad set to tour Brazil for training in readiness for the World Championship.

As a result, Wanjala has retained Phosca Kasisi, Naomi Too, Gaudencia Makokha, and Brackcides Agala to prepare for the Commonwealth Games.

However, Kasisi and Too are in Mombasa to start early preparations and will be joined later by Olympians Makokha and Agala who are in Rome, Italy for the World beach championship that starts today.

Wanjala said she has enough time to prepare her team.

“We know our opponents are going to be tough, but our experience in Olympic Games and Africa competition will be an added advantage,” she said.

“All the 12 teams set for the competition are tough. By the virtue of being defending champions, Canada pose a stiff challenge to my girls,” she added but exuded confidence that they will challenge New Zealand and Ghana.