2016 Women’s African Olympic Qualifier- Drawing of lots
African champions Kenya were drawn in a tough pool along with hosts Cameroon and the favourites Tunisia after the drawing of lots for the Women’s African Olympic qualifier held at Djeuga Hotel in Yaoundé, Cameroon on Thursday evening.
Mr Majore Timba speaking during the technical meeting
Pool B comprises of Egypt, Algeria, Botswana and Uganda. The top 2 teams in each pool will qualify to the semifinal where the winners book the tickets to Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games, while the second and third of the tournament have another chance to qualify through the world Olympic qualification tournament.
Coaches of the 7 teams expressed their hopes to clinch the tickets to the prestigious Olympic games to play in the elite event.
The coaches at the 2016 Women’s African Olympic Qualifiers
“We are coming here to win the tournament to continue our great performance at the international level after we gained the gold medal of the World Grand Prix last year,” Said Kenya coach Japheth Munala.
“Our pool is very tough but I know my ladies are able to make it to the Olympics.” He added.
The competition will be opened on today with an epic face off between Cameroon and Tunisia in Pool A. Uganda face Egypt and Algeria line up against Botswana in Pool B
Day 1 program on Friday February 12:
13:00 Uganda v Egypt
15:00 Algeria v Botswana
17:00 Opening Ceremony
18:00 Cameroon v Tunisia
David Lungahu drawing at the 2016 Women’s African Olympic Qualifier
women’s Volleyball Africa Cup of Nation Championships folding up the curtains on Saturday, the event has given bare platform to coaches to scout for fresh talents ahead of the new FIVB calendar.
Among the coaches that have made their intentions known are the France based coach Toubani Atman who is in Nairobi and is attached to club Charmalier and national team assistant coach Japheth Munala who doubles as Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF) reigning national league champions Kenya Pipeline head coach.
Kenyan players
Atman who signed Kenya Prisons women’s volleyball club duo of Jane Wacu (setter) and centre blocker Praxidise Agala last year before their contract elapsed in May, said he wants to acquire more players from Kenya.
Chamaliers has five foreign players from Kenya and Cameroon and Atman who has been with club for 16 years praised hid foreign legion whom he signs out for playing a major role in the clubs recent good performance.
“The five players played a major role in our promotion to division one from division two at the end of the last season. I want to bolster the squad ahead of the new season that serves off in October,” noted Atman.
He continued,” I hope that they-Wacu and Agala will renew their contract. Kenya is a powerhouse in Volleyball in Africa which have continued to churn out good players and that’s why I am here.”
Among the other players who feature for Charmalier club from Cameroun include left attacker Moma Bassoko, right attacker Tchoudjang Nana and centre player Fotso who are both playing for the Cameroon national team in the ongoing championship.
Cameroon players
Speaking after attending the afternoon training session of the Cameroun team, Atman revealed that he was interested in signing a right attacker from the Kenya team.
“That department was our main undoing in the last season and so am keen on that position. However, that does not tie me to only Kenya side, but also Cameroun and any other players from other nations.” observed the coach who leaves the country on Sunday.
Kenyan players who stand a strong chance in that position and are possible targets include Lydia Maiyo from Kenya Prisons and Esther Wangeci from Kenya Pipeline.
Meanwhile Munala has his eyes set on Botswana left attacker Tracy Chaba.Munala singled out Chaba whom he said has staged good performance in the entire championship and will definitely be happy to have her services.
“I will hold the meeting with my club management to discuss the development and if the deal goes through definitely we will have her next season.” noted Munala of the player who weighs 75Kg with 185 height
Reached for comment, Chaba said, ” Yes am aware a certain club in Kenya is interested in me. I would love to play in Kenya as the league here is competitive. However, I will have to listen to the offer first and decide the way forward .”
Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF) has named Kenya Pipeline coach Japheth Munala to the National women’s team technical bench.
Munala now will be part of the technical team that will prepare and handle the National team for 2014 FIVB World Grand Prix Championships Group 3 scheduled to take in Bulgaria on July 25 to August 24.
KVF Secretary General Evans Wasike announced that Munala will serve the team in the position of assistant coach, alongside Esther Jepkosgei, also of Pipeline.
Munala first served the team as trainer during the 2012 London Olympic Games Qualification tournament that was won by hosts Algeria.
Gideon Chenje, the current National and Prisons men’s team coach, was then at the helm of the team. Long serving Kenya Prisons and National women’s teams head coach David Lung’aho retains the position.
Dr Paul Mangoli is the medical doctor, Sarah Karongo physiotherapist while David Kilundo is the manager. Kilundo is also manager of the Prisons women’s team.
Kenya Women’s Volleyball team add new technical staff for the World Grand Prix
Wasike said: “The technical bench has been asked to select provisional team as soon as possible.”
Kenya is in Group 3 alongside Algeria, Kazakhstan, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Mexico, Bulgaria and Australia.
The East Africans are the highest ranked team in this group at position 13 in the FIVB rankings followed by Algeria in position 14th.
The host cities of the World Grand Prix have been confirmed with Tokyo, Japan hosting Group One, Kozalin, Poland staging Group Two and the Group Three Finals being held in Samokov, Bulgaria.
Kenya would play their matches in Samokov since the team falls under Group Three. The World Grand Prix 2014 features 28 teams for the first time in its history. The teams are split into three groups, which will culminate in their own finals.
Groups Two (Pools J to O) and three (Pools P to S) will start their preliminary round action on July 25 followed by Group One (Pools A to I) on August 1.
After three weekends of preliminary round action, the groups will enter finals mode with Group Two taking place in the Kaozalin Sports Hall from August 15 and 16, Group Three being staged in Arena Somokov from August 15 to 17 and Group One taking place from August 20 to 24 in the 10,000 capacity Ariake Collesium.
Following in the footsteps of the FIVB Volleyball World League, the number of countries competing in the FIVB Volleyball World Grand Prix has increased from 18 in 2013 to 28 in 2014.
A Drawing of Lots was conducted on December 2, allocating teams into the respective pools (by group) based on a predetermined formula.
Group One features 12 teams including defending champions, London 2012 Olympic winners and world number one Brazil, USA, Japan, China, Russia, Italy, Serbia, the Dominican Republic, Germany, Korea, Turkey and Thailand.
Group Two includes eight teams – Poland, Peru, Puerto Rico, the Netherlands, Argentina, Canada, Cuba and Belgium.
The Group One finals will feature six teams – the four best in the preliminary round ranking, the finals host Japan and the winner of the final four from Group Two. Group Three will feature two weeks of preliminary round action before four teams participate in the final four.
These will include the three best from the preliminary round ranking and the hosts Bulgaria.
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