Kenya U-20, U-18 volleyball teams gear up for Africa Championships

With the 2024 Africa Junior Volleyball Championship fast approaching, Kenya’s U-18 boys and girls U-20 volleyball teams have ramped up their training efforts at the Nyayo National Stadium Indoor Arena ahead of the tournament’s qualifiers that will be held from 22nd – 31st August 2024 in Tunisia.

The teams are working tirelessly under the guidance of their coaches to ensure they are in peak condition to compete against the continent's best.

The squads have been subjected to intense training regimens, focusing on improving their technical skills, tactical awareness, and physical fitness.

The girls' team is under the tutelage of Kwanthanze Girls Volleyball team Coach Justin Kigwari assisted by Catherine Mabwi and David Muthui.

According to assistant coach Catherine Mabwi, girls are responding well in training, emphasizing agility drills, spiking accuracy, and team coordination.

“We have good girls with exceptional talent, and we are trying to correct a few mistakes here and there. At the end of the day, we should be able to have a good team that will represent our country well.” Said Catherine.

The boys' team, led by Coach Sila Makiso, assisted by Geoffrey Omondi and Gideon Njine, has been focusing on enhancing their blocking and serving techniques, key areas identified during recent preparatory matches.

“So far, for the two or three days that we have been together, the boys are faring well, and we hope that God willing, on Wednesday or Thursday, we shall be able to have a strong squad to represent Kenya.” Said Sila.

KVF deputy general secretary CPA John Ogara says that despite facing challenges such as limited resources and the pressure of high expectations, the teams remain focused on their goal of advancing past the preliminaries.

“To us as a federation, this is a milestone because, for the last six years since 2018, that was the last time we had an age group competition. So to us, this is a plus because we are coming up again to participate in an age group competition.” Said Ogara.