Bitok: Youngsters Farida Boke, Terry Tata carry Kenya’s volleyball future

KCB women's volleyball team technical director Paul Bitok has tipped youngsters Farida Boke and Merlin Terry Tata to shine in the Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF) league.

This is after the Kwanthanze Secondary School graduates shone at the Kipchumba Karori Volleyball tournament last weekend, helping KCB reign supreme while also bagging individual accolades.

Tata, who was crowned the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the tournament, and Boke who bagged best setter's award, proved to be the missing piece for the Japheth Munala-led side after a poor start of the season.

“Farida (Boke) is the next (Janet) Wanja and (Jane) Wacu,” said Bitok, who is also the KVF deputy president.

“She has an immense talent. It's surprising to see something like that.”

The 19-year-old Boke filled in the void left by experienced setter Esther Mutinda who has proceeded for maternity.

She is however not a new name on the volleyball scene as she won the MVP during the national secondary school games finals in Kisii in August.

Tata already made a mark last year after helping KCB ascend to the league title while she was only in Form Three.

The 18-year-old played with confidence like a player who had played for a decade. Her skill and composure were a joy to watch and when she came back to the court after recently concluding her national exams, it was like the court had been yearning for her return.

“We’ve had problems on the left, right and the centre of the court after Mariam Musa left for Kenya Pipeline and Mutinda proceeded for maternity. We moved in with speed to acquire Boke and Tata who have immense talent. It is very rare for a player who just came from school, trained for a few days and bagged individual awards,” said Bitok.

KCB will be relying on the two youngsters to propel them to defend their title with Kenya Prisons and bitter rivals Kenya Pipeline looking to dethrone them.