Kenya netball teams step up preparations for Africa Cup title push

Kenya will be seeking its first continental title, with the technical bench focused on addressing the mistakes that have cost the teams in previous editions.

Head coach Joseph Makau said the priority is improving the players’ consistency, particularly in the closing stages of matches.

“We are working to eliminate the errors that have cost us the championship in previous years. We want to ensure the squad can maintain its intensity for the entire match because we tend to slip up in the final minutes. That is exactly what we are focusing on fixing,” Makau said.

Women’s national team captain Parin Simiyu is optimistic that the team can finally end its wait for the continental title under Zimbabwean coach Tapiwa Chirenda, who is working alongside local trainers.

Simiyu praised the government for providing training facilities at Kasarani, as well as access to fitness and gym sessions, saying the preparations have been excellent.

“So far, preparations have been excellent under our Zimbabwean coach, who is working alongside local Kenyan trainers. The work they are doing is very good. We thank the government for allowing us to train at Kasarani and providing a fitness trainer and gym sessions, which have really helped us. This time, we believe the tables will turn,” Simiyu said.

Meanwhile, men’s captain Julius Karanja believes Kenya has a strong chance of securing a podium finish, crediting the technical team for the intensity of the preparations.

“We are very confident that this time around we will finish on the podium because the coaches have been tremendous with us,” Karanja said.