Kenya seeks exposure at Under-23 World Champs

BY OSCAR PILIPILI

National volleyball team coach Sammy Mulinge says Kenya’s participation in the  forthcoming Under-23 FIVB World Championships is aimed at preparing the players for the future.

The tournament is scheduled to run from October 3-12 in Mexico.

“Kenya has missed out on most international age group tournaments. The Mexico Championships are a great opportunity to expose our players,” Mulinge told FeverPitch during training at Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani yesterday.

Mulinge said that despite not competing in international junior events, most players in the side have played at competitive level with their respective clubs.

Team captain Gaudencia Makokha has played in the African Clubs Championships with Kenya Commercial Bank and so has Libero player Agripina Kundu, who played for Kenya Pipeline at the last competition in Madagascar.

Mulinge identified fast rising star, Violet Makuto, who is a member of the national senior team as another talented player on his team.

“Some of my players have experienced international matches before and I expect them to use the expertise gained there to achieve better results in Mexico,” Mulinge said.

“Makuto is one of the top players in the ongoing African Cup of Nations and I believe that she will leave the event having gained new skills.”

The Federation of International Volleyball (FIVB) nominated Kenya and Algeria to represent Africa in the globals by virtue of their good world ranking.

Kenya is grouped in Pool “A” alongside some of the top volleyball playing nations in the world. They are China, Cuba, Turkey, Brazil and USA.

Mulinge said: “It’s true that the competition would be very tough for us but at the end of the day we shall have exposed our junior players at the highest level.”

The head coach said that he would name a traveling squad of 12 players before the end of this week.

The team is scheduled to jet out on October 2 ahead of the Championships that will run from October 3-12.

Meanwhile, the second round men’s qualifiers for the 2014 World Championships will be staged in Kigali on October 20-25.