Kenya Volleyball Federation most valuable player Jairus Bett will captain the men’s national team to the CAVB Zone V World Championship qualifiers set for Kigali, Rwanda between July 22 and 27.
The championship will feature Egypt, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and hosts Rwanda.
Bett is among 14 players who leave for the Rwandese capital tomorrow.
A provisional squad of 20 players have been in a non-residential training camp at the Nyayo Stadium for one week.
Others are fast-rising setters Brian Meli and Kevin Maiyo, middle-blockers Rodgers Kipkirui, Cornelius Rotich, Linus Sang and Hudson Wanyama.
Left-attack will be spearheaded by the hard-hitting Cornelius Kirwa, Bonifentry Wekesa, Nicholas Matui and Bett.
In the right-attack department, the well exposed Michael Chemos will wrestle Sila Kipruto for a starting slot.
Sam Juma and Noah Bett will take care of the libero department. Juma has been instrumental for his side, Kenya Ports Authority, in the KVF national league which saw the coastal side finish third last season.
Chemos, who has had professional stints in Europe, alongside Wekesa, Wanyama and Kirwa bring on board vast experience bearing in mind that the quartet have in one way or the other featured for the national team in previous national team assignments.
Team manager Ismail Chege said they based their selection on confidence of the players and general conduct during the one-week training camp.
“If you look at the squad, we have a cocktail of experienced and fast-rising players. The 14 players were picked on merit and despite the short period we have had to train prior to the championship, we are optimistic of a good outing,” said Chege, who double up as the KVF sports organising secretary.
The six players who failed to make the cut are Kenya Defence Force’s Alisha Aliwa, Nairobi Water duo of Fredrick Muiruri and Martin Kiptoo, Mombasa Prison’s Meshack Wambua, Co operative Bank’s Cleophas Kirwa and Cornelius Lagat from the General Service Unit.
The team is under the stewardship of GSU technical director Moses Epoloto and Kenya Prisons men’s assistant coach Paul Muthinja.
The female version of the same event is set for July 27-31 at the Safaricom Indoor Stadium at Kasarani.