Senegal captain Fatou Diouck has expressed her delight after guiding her team to the semifinals of the 2015 Women’s Africa Nations Championship, in Nairobi, Kenya.
Just like their first two Group B matches against Cameroon and Tunisia, the Senegalese side rallied from two sets down to beat Morocco 3-2 (23-25,22-25,25-9,25-18,15-9) and book a date with Algeria in the semifinals slated for Wednesday at the Kasarani, Gymnasium.
” We came as underdogs, but we are yet to accomplish the mission that brought us here. From our first match, the first two sets proved to be difficult but the comeback has been impressive. It was a sweet victory,” said the Thailand based opposite.
Fatou Diouck was a key factor in her team’s victory
“We have one step to go before the finals, but we are not taking anybody for granted. We will give our best and God will do the rest. There is no relaxation time and we are ready for any opponent.”
Fatou emerged as one of the best outside hitters in the tournament and was the key factor in her team’s qualification to semifinal. Senegal haven’t been in the Podium in the last 16 editions of the competition and now with the guidance of their captain they seek one of the top three positions in their history.
Senegal will meet Algeria in the semis, while Kenya will battle with Cameroon in the other semis.
Hosts and defending champions Kenya along with Algeria, Cameroon and Dark horses Senegal booked their tickets to the semifinal of the 2015 Women’s African Club Championship after they all achieved victories in day 4 at the end of the group stage held at Kasarani Indoor Arena in Nairobi, Kenya on Monday.
The 8 time African Champions Kenya continued their victories with clean sheet as they cruised past Botswana 3-0 (25-19, 25-12, 25-18) to improve their win- loss ratio in Pool A to 3-0 and continued as the only team who didn’t drop a set in the preliminary round.
The Algerian team
Kenya will be joined by Algeria from the same pool to semis after the latter clinched their second win over Mauritius 3-0 (25-15, 25-15, 26-24) to improve to 2-1. Botswana came third with 1-2 record and Mauritius finished at the bottom of the table with 0-3.
Senegal continued their thrilling come back for the third match in a row as they came as usual from two sets behind to beat the emerging Morocco team 3-2 (23-25, 22-25, 25-9, 25-18, 15-9) to lead Pool B with 3-0 and 6 points. Cameroon came back to their optimum performance on time to beat Tunisia 3-2 (15-25, 25-18, 28-26, 24-26, 15-13) and clinch the semifinal slot. Tunisia came third in Pool B with 1-2 record ahead of Morocco who finished fourth.
Now Algeria will meet pool B leaders Senegal in one of the semifinals on Wednesday with hosts and defending champions Kenya playing Cameroon who finished second in pool B.
In the Play off 5 to 8 positions Botswana faces Morocco, while Tunisia line up against Mauritius,
Mauritius during the national Anthem
Pool A
Kenya v Botswana 3-0 (25-19, 25-12, 25-18)
Algeria v Mauritius 3-0 (25-15, 25-15, 26-24)
Kenya used their talented players to beat Botswana 3-0 (25-19, 25-12, 25-18). Kenyan coach David Lung’aho is expecting a tough duel against a tricky Cameroonian side and he will be spending Tuesday’s rest day to try and analyze west Africans game as he prepares errase 2014 memory of local fans after Kenya lost a world championship qualifiers to Tunisia. Some fans are yet to forgive Lung’aho for letting the ticket slid off his hands but he may win back their loyalty if he can take Kenya to Japan’s world Cup.
Cameroon have excellent attacks and blocks but Lung’aho will try to take advantage of their slow game to win point. “We just need to compose ourselves and receive well; I know most of their players are not fast and we would want to capitalize on that” said Lung’aho.
Algeria played with most of their list to capture the second win over Botswana 3-0 (25-19, 25-12, 25-18). The Algerian coach Francois Salvagni used most of the substitutes in the third set but he was obligated to return back to his main stars to save the set and keep the straight sets win.
Tunisian team during the national anthem
Pool B
Senegal v Morocco 3-2 (23-25, 22-25, 25-9, 25-18, 15-9)
Cameroon v Tunisia 3-2 (15-25, 25-18, 28-26, 24-26, 15-13)
Senegal who were seeded third in group ‘B, considered pool of ‘death’ at the start of championship topped the group having won all their three matches by identical 3-2 sets. In all the matches, Senegal pulled a late comeback in the third sets to turn around their games which has earned them the title ‘Queens of comeback’
“We don’t know why we always comeback late in the game because during team talks before any match we always tell ourselves to take the lead but that doesn’t happen, maybe we’ll need to be in front in our semifinal match against Kenya,” Senegal’s dependable player Fatou Diouck observed.
Cameroon team after the victory against Tunisia
Asked about her hopes of playing Kenya in the finals, Fatou added: “I prefer to play Kenya in the final than Algeria. I love playing here; I love the people and they love our team too but I would really want to have a different feeling playing Kenya in front of their home fans.”
Algeria though are favorites ahead of the championship but Senegal’s head coach Amadou Sene plan to organise their game by playing fast balls.
Cameroon came from a set down to book a semi final berth in a dramatic 3-2 (25-15, 18-25, 28-26, 24-26, 15-13) win over Tunisia in their final group B match. Cameroon had only trained together for one week before the championship and coach Akono Jean Rene was satisfied by her players performances in the match.
“I am not expecting much in our next match because we never trained as a team for long,” noted Rene.
The competition’s referees with the referee Delegate Mohamed Lazroug
Semifinal Match Schedule on Wednesday 17 June
Play off 5 to 8
10:00 : Botswana v Morocco
12:00: Tunisia v Mauritius
Semifinal 1 to 4
14:00 : Senegal v Algeria
16:00 : Kenya v Cameroon
Nairobi, Kenya, June 14, 2015- Senegal surprised the Kenyan crowd with a second in a row come back over the giants Tunisia this time 3-2 (14-25, 17-25, 25-18, 25-20, 15-12) in Day 3 of the 2015 Women’s African Nations Championship held at Kasarani Indoor Arena in Nairobi, Kenya on Sunday.
Now Dark horses Senegal led Pool B with a win- loss ratio of 2-0 and 4 points like Cameroon who took over Morocco 3-0 (25-17, 25-18, 25-20).
Queens of comeback, Senegal came from two sets down to beat Tunisia 3-2 (14-25, 17-25, 25-18, 25-20, 15-13) in an entertaining group B match while Kenya took their group A point tally to six with an easy 3-0 (25-20, 25-22, 25-19) win over arch rivals Algeria.
Botswana fought aggressively to overcome the struggling Mauritian team 3-1 (25-22, 23-25, 25-23, 25-15) to come second of Pool A ahead of Algeria with the set ratio.
Senegal Women National Volleyball team.
Pool A
Kenya v Algeria 3-0 (25-20, 25-22, 25-29)
Kenya coach David Lung’aho did not make any changes to his starting lineup from the one that beat Mauritius in their opening match last Friday, preferring Janet Wanja ahead of Jane Wacu in the setter’s place with Evelyn Makuto and Mercy Moim on the left while Lydia Maiyo started ahead of Esther Wangeci on the right.
Captain Praxcides Agala provided blocks from the center with Elizabeth Wanyama as a receiver and their well oiled efforts won the opening set 25-20 against Algeria who tried to catch up with their opponent late into the set to no avail.
Mercy Moim who plays for Liga Poloski in the Finnish league was on her best form, sending hard balls to the opposite court which helped a well oiled ‘MALKIA STRIKERS cage Algeria who denied them an Olympic slot in the 2012 qualifiers.
Algeria took the first lead of the second set 10-8 but an attack by Moim and a block by Jane Wacu helped Kenya narrow the gap to within one point before Ruth Jepng’etich sent back an over received ball to Algeria’scourt to tie the scores 14-14. Kenya regained the lead at the second technical Timeout (TTO) 16-15 before wrapping up the set with a 25-22. The third set was equally easy for the hosts who won 25-19 to book an early semi final place with a match against Botswana on Monday.
The contol Committee
Botswana v Mauritius 3-1 (25-22, 23-25, 25-23, 25-15)
Botswana recovered from their 3-1 loss to Algeria in the opening match to beat Mauritius 3-1 (25-22, 23-25, 25-23, 25-15) in their second match.
Botswana who lost Daisy Golekanya Saturday to an ankle injury won the opening set 25-22 but Mauritius came back into the game in the second set having trailed west African 6-8 at the first technical time out but the Islanders took over the lead after the second technical time out to garner a slim win of 25-23.
Mauritius weaned out in the third and fourth set even with a much better receptions and services compared to their opponents who relied heavily on individual brilliance from left attacker Tracy Chaba to score points.
Chaba will however need to to improve her back court coverage and services in their next match against Kenya to fulfill her dream of steering her side to the semis.
“We want to play better and possibly meet Kenya in the final,” Chaba who plays for Kutlwano in Botswana said after their lose to Algeria in their opening match.
Botswana has been boosted by the inclusion of three players Molefha Karobo, ‘who had social problem in 2014), Gasekgonwe Gaolesetse and Chaba who was just recovering from an injury having missed the world championship qualifiers staged in Nairobi 2013.
Samuel Isaac who has scaled the leadership ladder at the helm of Botswana having joined in 2007 as a trainer before being promoted to the assistant coach position in 2010 praised his players for the hard fought win.
“That was a good match; Mauritius are good in defence but I like the character of my players. They fought very hard to win this match,” said Isaac who was confirmed as Botswana head coach in 2014.
Isaac who has tremendously transformed the team from a long-slow to a fast flowing short ball type of play added: “I will work on the psychological aspect of my players ahead of our match against Kenya which is a very tough opponent.
Jane Wacu of Kenya sets
Pool B
Senegal v Tunisia 3-2 (14-25, 17-25, 25-18, 25-20, 15-12)
Senegal pulled a late comeback in the third set to beat Tunisia 3-2 (14-25, 17-25, 25-18, 25-20, 15-13) in group B to keep alive their chances of progressing to semis. This was Senegal’s second win having pulled another comeback in their 3-2 win over Cameroon in their first match Saturday.
“When we left Senegal our main aim was to be in the podium,” Senegalese coach Amadou Sene who is looking forward to a Kenya-Senegal final said after the match. Sene however heaped praise on his outside hitter turned receiver, Dacosta Binetou who arrived in Nairobi from USA a day before the games serves off.
“It was a bit hard for me moving from a hitter to a reciever but I’ve come to like it,” Dacosta, an Accounts student who turned 20 last month noted.
“I have full trust in her. She has good catch and that helped us a lot in the last three sets,” Sene who once coach Dicosta at club Sococim said of the player whose extra ordinary performance in the third and fourth sets helped Senegal overturn a two-nil lead to win the match 3-2.
Cameroon v Morocco 3-0 (25-17, 25-18, 25-20)
In another match, Cameroon bounced back with a win over Morocco in anothet tightly contested group ‘B’ duel. Cameroon won their first match against Morocco 3-0 (25-17, 25-18, 25-20) having lost the opener 2-3 to Senegal.
This was Morocco’s second lose which came barely 15 hours after they went down to Tunisia in their opening match Saturday
Kenya team celebrating
Match Schedule on Monday 15 June
Tunisia vs Cameroon (10am),
Morocco vs Senegal (12pm)
Algeria vs Mauritius (2pm)
Kenya vs Botswana (4pm)
Nairobi, Kenya, June 14, 2015- Kenya women’s head coach David Lung’aho is Worried of the threat posed by former champions Algeria ahead of the two sides’ Group A clash of the on-going Africa Nations Cup Championship, at the Kasarani Gymnasium, Nairobi on Sunday.
Kenya began their title defense with a straight sets victory (25-12,25-13, 25-17) against Mauritius on Friday, but the decorated tactician says that was a warm up for the eagerly awaited Sunday’s match.
“Mauritius have always proven to be a good side and they really gave us a good run for our money. Their basics are superb and for sure we have learnt a lot of skills and applications ahead of Algeria match,” said Lung’aho.
Kenya coach David Lungahou
“We have played against Algeria a couple of times and both of us know each other capabilities. I don’t expect it to be an easy match but our strategy is to play a fast game. Concentration will be key in ensuring that we don’t drop any set.”
Kenya gained the African Nations Championship’s title 8 times, while Algeria won it once in 2009.
Algeria warmed up for their much awaited clash against host Kenya on Sunday with a 3-1 (25-17, 17-25, 25-20,25-15) victory against Botswana on day two of the women’s Africa Cup of Nations Championship at Kasarani Indoor Arena in Nairobi, Kenya on Saturday.
Algeria who had a month long training in Italy as part of their preparation to the championship, to qualify one African team to the world Cup in Japan started the match on a high tempo winning the opening set 25-17 in a packed Gymnasium.
Botswana who took part in the 2015 Rwanda Genocide Memorial tournament last week in Kigali on their way to Kenya re-grouped in the subsequent set which they led from the first whistle to the last only to level the score one-all with a 25-17 to throw the game wide open.
The third set was a cracker with both team exchanging leads but ‘Mafolofolo’ were dented a blow when center blocker Daisy Golekanye picked an ankle injury with the southerners up on their north African colleagues heels (17-18) but Algeria took advantage of a weaker defence department to win the set 25-20.
Tracy Chaba who plays for Kutlwano back in Botswana was no match for Algeria in the second set where she provided excellent services and attacks which gave the opponents hard time in the reception but her effort did very little to propell her side to victory when they lost the last set 25-15.
“Daisy is one of the senior players with excellent blocks and because Algeria are very good in attacks, her blocks kept them at bay. The injury was a a big blow to us. When she left the court, the team went down, “noted Chaba who once played club volleyball in Algeria with Marshall Bilatex.
Italian Francoise Salvagni who took charge of Algeria after a successful one month stint with the side following a recommendation by FIVB immediately turned his attention to the upcoming match against Kenya Sunday evening.
“I know Kenya very well and the fact that they will be playing before their fans will even make this match the best of the tournament. Tomorrow’s match (Sunday) will be a small war and we are ready because we prepared for a bigger war,” said Salvagni.
Algeria captain Fatima Zahra interviewed by the BBC
Tunisia beat Morocco
Tunisia came from a set down to beat Morocco 3-1 (24-26, 25-17, 25-21, 25-13) in the second match at the 6,000 sitter Gymnasium. Samir Dcha who has been with the Moroccan side for barely a year drew lessons from their loss but was full of praise of his players who he described as ‘very young and inexperienced’
“I don’t know what to expect from Cameroon but I just want my players to forget about today’s loss and concentrate on the coming match,”
Morocco who has missed the last two editions of this Cup is building a team for future championships with an eye on the next All Africa Games.
“We have young squad who just played together for the first time about two months ago but I want to build a team for four or five years to come with main aim being qualifying for the next All Africa Games in 2019.” added Ocha.
Four matches will be played on Sunday with Cameroon taking on Morocco, Kenya versus Algeria while Botswana will clash with Mauritius as Senegal play Tunisia.
Senegal came from two sets down to stun 2013 Silver medalists, Cameroon 3-2 (20-25, 25-27,25-16,25-20,15-12) in an entertaining five set thriller on day one of the 2015 Women’s African Nations Championship that served off Friday in Nairobi, Kenya.
Senegal who came onto the match as minnows surprised Cameroon, seeded top in group B when they stopped Akono Jean Rene charges at the second set with Cameroon enjoying an early (25-20,27-25) lead in the first two sets.
Senegalese Captain Diouck Fatou and her opposite, Sow Binetou came back into the third set after a 10 minute break to steer Senegal to a 25-16 victory with nice executions aided by defence from Dacosta Binetou and Biaye Bineta to take the game 2-1.
Fatou who won Silver with Norkhornnont in the Thailand’s league praised her team mates for the dramatic win in a post match interview.
“We took time to adapt in the first two sets because we came late for the warm up and the referee didn’t give us enough time to warm,” said Fatou who has also played in France and Finland.
Senegal Women National Volleyball team.
Defending champions and hosts Kenya beat Mauritius by straight sets (25-12, 25-13, 25-17) in a one sided second match of the day played at the 6,000 sitter Kasarani Indoor Arena.
Kenya, otherwise known locally as ‘MALKIA STRIKERS’ who are using this championship as a build up to the June 26th world Grand Prix in Mexico- won the match (25-12, 25-13, 25-17).
Kenyan coach, David Lung’aho made changes to his starting list, pulling out assistant captain, Janet Wanja for Jane Wacu with Esther Wangeci coming in for Lydia Maiyo on the right attack position but the gamble almost cost the team the third set when they allowed Mauritius to take the first lead, immediately after the first technical time out which the host were leading (8-7). Mauritius maunted scathing attacks on Kenya who surrendered the lead for the first time (9-8), with the two teams going head-to-head 10-10,11-11, 13-13, 14-14. But with local fans rallying fully behind them, defending champions, Kenya who are searching for a record ninth title opened a two point gap 17-15 before winning the match 25-17.
“We laxed after the second set but the most important thing is to win the opening match. Maybe next time we will not sit on the bench at the (10 minute) break, it almost cost us a set, ” Kenyan coach, Lung’aho observed after the match.
Mauritius Captain, Nathalie Letendrie who has played for the national team for the last 13 years said. “That was nice match but we respect the other team. This is the first time we are playing in an international match; we came here to have experience.” said the Captain who plays for Azur Sporting Club back at home.
Jane Wacu of Kenya sets
Coach Lindlay Wilson who has been with the Mauritius side for only six months observed: “That was a very difficult game because we were playing against Africa champions. Going forward, I just want to win two more games and progress as the tournament goes on.”
Tunisia will open their title campaign against Morocco Saturday with Botswana clashing with Senegal. Kenya will play her second match on Sunday against Algeria, starting 4pm and Lung’aho plans to play a fast match against the side who denied them 2012 Olympic slot.
The match will proceed a clash between Tunisia against Senegal (2pm) and Botswana versus Mauritius which will open the day from 12 noon.
Seven times Women’s African Nations champions Kenya have been drawn in Group A of the 2015 Championships that serves off on Friday 12 June at the Kasarani Gymnasium, Nairobi.
In a draw conducted on Thursday evening during a technical meeting at Kasarani, the hosts will battle it out with their North African rivals Algeria, Mauritius and Botswana in the group stages.
Tunisia who denied Kenya a chance to participate in the 2014 World Championship after beating them in a decisive match headlines Group B that has Cameroun, Morocco and Senegal.
Cameroun will battle with Senegal in Group B opening match on Friday at 4.pm local time before the defending champions Kenya entertain Mauritius in a Group A opener at 6.pm.
The winner of the ten-day championship will represent the continent at the 2015 FIVB Women’s World Cup to be hosted in Japan from August 22 to September 6 2015.
The Algerian Women’s Volleyball Team arrived in the Kenyan Capital of Nairobi to participate in the 2015 Women’s African Nations Championship to start in Nairobi, Kenya on Friday June 12.
The ex African champions passed through Cairo in their journey to Kenya, where they met in Cairo Airport the Algerian VB Federation President Okba Gougam, also the CAVB Zone 1 President, who was in Egypt to attend the CAVB Board of Administration meeting.
Algeria Volleyball Federation President Okaba with the Algerian team at the Cairo Airport
The Italian Coach François Salvani selected the final squad of 12 players after they trained in a camp in Italy last week. the squad includes Safia Boukhima, Aicha Mezmate, Newel Mansouri, Salima Hamouche, Fatma Zohra Oukazi, Zohra Bensalem, Kahina chetout, Lydia Oulmou, Kahina Arbouche, Mouni Abderahim, Ait Oumghar Nadira, Amina Guimour.
The technical staff includes François Salvani (Head coach), Toufik Benomari et Nabil Tenoune (Ass coaches), Asma Benabid (Therapist).
Nairobi to host the 2017 IAAF World Youth Championships, credit: IAAF / Philippe Fitte
The Kenyan capital was the only candidate for this IAAF competition but the Nairobi delegation convincingly persuaded the IAAF Council to endorse its right to host this event, the second IAAF World Athletics Series competition to be held in the country after the 2007 IAAF World Cross Country Championships.
The Nairobi bid team included Dr Hassan Wario Arero, the Cabinet Principal Secretary at the Ministry for Sports Culture and the Arts as well as local government and Athletics Kenya officials.
Also included in the delegation were the well-known athletes Mercy Cherono and Jairus Birech, the latter the 2014 Diamond Race winner in the men’s 3000m steeplechase.
The next edition of the IAAF World Youth Championships will take place in Cali (COL), 15-19 July 2015
Nairobi to host the 2017 IAAF World Youth Championships. CREDIT IAAF / Philippe Fitte
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.
Kenya’s Everlyne Makuto recieves the ball against Seychelles
Kenya National volleyball women’s team has started training for the FIVB World Grand Prix that will be played in Bulgaria starting July 27, 2014.
The Grand Prix is a great chance for Kenya to showcase its talent outside the borders of African especially after failing to qualify for the 2014 FIVB World Championships.
Kenya lost the World Championships ticket against Tunisia during one of the two Africa qualification rounds that was played in Nairobi early this year.
Veteran head coach David Lung’aho and assistant Japheth Munala have shown trust in veteran players who featured in the World Championships qualifiers by including them in the provisional squad.
Regular players who are in the team are: Jane Wacu and Janet Wanja (setters); Ruth Jepleting, Bracksides Agala and Joan Chelegat (centers); Monicah Biama (Pipeline), Mercy Moim, Everline Makuto, Esther Mwombe (right); Lydia Maiyo, Violet Makuto, Esther Wangeci (left) and Elizabeth Nafula (libero).
Upcoming stars who holds the future of Kenyan volleyball include Joy Luseneka (setter), Joan Muhindi Trizah Atuka, Edith Wisa, Chemtai Ndiema, Noel Murambi (centres) and Naomi Too and Agripina Kundu (libero).
The two tacticians are arguably the best in Kenya as they also handles top clubs that have dominated African and local scene over years.
Lung’aho led Prisons to second-place finish in the last African Clubs Championships in Tunisia while Munala guided Pipeline to bronze position.
The provisional team started training at Safaricom Indoor Arena in Nairobi on June 11, 2014.
Kenya Volleyball Federation first vice chairman Martin Makokha said that the Government have extended their support to the team by allowing them to train at the standard gymnasium.
“The federation would like to take this earliest opportunity to thank the Government for allowing the national team train in the indoor arena.”
Makokha believes that the team have ample time to train at the Arena before they start Grand Prix mission.
Makokha said: “We want to convenience the FIVB that Kenya deserves a permanent slot in the Grand Prix Championships and the only way to do so is by returning better results,” he said.
This is the first time that Kenya has been entered in the Grand Prix Championships. Africa will be represented by two teams- Kenya and Algeria who will all play under Group 3.
Other countries in the Group 3 are Algeria, Kazakhstan, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Mexico, Bulgaria and Australia.
KENYAN TEAM SQUAD
Setters: Jane Wacu, Joy Luseneka (Prisons), Janet Wanja (Pipeline), Joan Mulindi (KCB); Ruth Jepleting Trizah Atuka (Pipeline); Bracksides Agala, Joan Chelegat, Edith Wisa (Prisons), Chemtai Ndiema (Nairobi Water); Right: Noel Murambi, Monicah Biama (Pipeline), Mercy Moim, Everline Makuto, Esther Mwombe (Prisons); Left: Lydia Maiyo, Violet Makuto (Prisons), Esther Wangeci; Libero: Naomi Too (Nairobi Water), Agripina Kundu (Pipeline), Elizabeth Nafula (Prisons), Leonida Kasaya (KCB).
Nigeria and other African countries are at present undergoing intensive training cum competition at the 2014 International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF)-Africa Table Tennis Federation (ATTF) U-12 Africa Hopes Week and Challenge taking place in Nairobi, Kenya.
The Nigeria four-man team is made up of Michael Obayanmi, Ibrahim Umar (male) and Rophia Jimoh and Habibat Olawale (female) and tutored by Coach Friday Abah.
Beside the four-day training exercise to be handled by top ITTF coach, the participating teams will compete in a two-day tournament to decide the eight players that will be offered scholarships to attend the 2014 ITTF World Hopes Week & Challenge to be held in Otocec, Slovenia) in June this year.
The event organized by ATTF and Kenya Table Tennis Association (KTTA) will hold at the Safaricom Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, Nairobi.
Each participating team will be represented by a maximum of two boys and two girls, while the host – Kenya will be represented by a maximum of four boys and four girls.
According to Africa Development Officer, Ahmed Dawlatly, the top four players in the singles tournament for boys and girls would automatically be selected for the scholarships.
For the President, Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF), Wahid Oshodi, efforts would be geared toward grassroots development, as it is obvious that other nations are now catching up with Nigeria in the game.
“We have identified that we need to start encouraging our young players and this is one of the vision of the federation and for us this kind of programme will surely help us to expose our players to top class training and competition. We were luck to have such programme last year and we hope our players will also garner more knowledge by taking part in this exercise holding in Kenya,” “ he said.
The Nigeria Team was also accompanied by players’ representative in the NTTF board, Tajudeen Agunbiade while the trip was made possible with the singular support of Mr. Bankole Animashaun, a friend of table tennis.
newfanzone 