Kenya beach volley teams in tough draws for C’wealth Games qualifiers

The national beach volleyball team manager Sammy Mulinge has warned his players they have their work cut out after the men and women sides were drawn in tough pools for the African Commonwealth Games qualifiers.

The women’s side will confront the 2018 Gold Coast Games Africa’s representatives Rwanda, South Africa and Mauritius in pool ‘B’ for the qualifiers which serves off Saturday in Accra, Ghana.

Hosts Ghana headline pool ‘A’ which also has Nigeria, Gambia and Seychelles.

The Patrick Owino-coached men’s team were grouped in pool ‘B’ alongside Africa’s top ranked team Gambia, Zambia and South Africa.

The other pool has hosts Ghana, Rwanda, Seychelles and Nigeria.

The women’s side coached by Salome Wanjala will launch their campaign against fellow East Africans Rwanda while men’s team take on pre-championship favourites Gambia starting 2pm (Kenyan time).

Mulinge has warned there can be no margin of error as they chase the ticket for the Games.

“We’ve an assignment ahead of us and it will not be easy. Everyone is out to win this championship and later represent the continent. We’re ready and so is every one and I implore my players to be more cautious. We will approach each game differently,” Mulinge told Citizen Digital.

Two slots, one for each gender, are up for grabs for the Games due for July 28 to August 8 in Birmingham.

The organisers have adopted the round-robin format in the first stage before the quarter finals.

The women’s team comprises of Olympians Brackcides Agala and Gaudencia Makokha, Naomi Too and fast-rising Veronica Adhiambo.

Ibrahim Oduor, James Mwaniki, Nicholas Lagat and Donald Mchete form the men's team.