The final 14 Kenya women travelling to the African Olympic Games volleyball qualifiers in Yaounde, Cameroon have been decided.
They are Jane Wacu, Joy Luseneka (setters), Lydia Maiyo, Gaudencia Makokha (right attackers), Mercy Moim (captain), Evelyne Makuto, Noel Murambi (assistant captain), Monica Biama (left attackers), Violet Makuto, Joan Jelagat, Triza Atuka and Edith Wisa (centre bockers). Elizabeth Wanyama and Agrippina Kundu are the liberos.
Kenya Pipeline’s Kundu is making a debut in the national team, as right attacker Gaudencia Makokha graduates from the junior to the senior team.
Kenya Prison’s centre attacker Joan Jelagat and Pipeline’s centre blocker Volet Makuto are making a comeback in the national team.
Utility player Leonida Kasaya was dropped from the travelling squad that jets out of the country tomorrow morning for Cameroon.
Commenting on the development, technical director, David Lung’aho said they based their final selection on positions and form of the players.
“We are glad the FIVB rules and regulations have given room to participating countries to have either 12 or 14 players. That’s why for the first time, we will have two liberos in the team in Kundu and regular national team player Elizabeth Wanyama in that position.”
He added, “Most of the players in the squad have in one way or another featured in international championship and they know exactly what to expect, what to do and how to do it. We expect stiff competition from the hosts Cameroon, champions Algeria, Tunisia and Egypt, but we are hopeful of posting good results. We have held domestic friendly matches with selected sides and have tightened our loose ends. The players are rearing to go.”
Asked if left attacker Evelyne Makuto and setter Jane Wacu who joined the squad last week from France where they are attached to club Chamalieres had had enough time to gel with the rest of the home-based players, Lung’aho said “It’s all systems go!”
“ The whole of last week, our focus has been on the combination of these two (Wacu and Makuto) with the rest of the players and so far we are looking good,” added Lungaho who doubles up as Prisons women’s team head coach.
The ogverall winner in Cameroon qualifies for this year’s Rio de Janeiro Olympic Games in Brazil.