• Mackline Akoko (setter) and libero Sharon Sandui formerly of KCB are in recruits training school so we have started from somewhere-Baraza.
• Prisons are continuing with training despite missing a number of players.
Image: /COURTESY
Kenya Prisons women's volleyball team is looking to revamp their squad to remain competitive both locally and internationally, coach Josp Barasa has pointed out.
The wardresses have won the last three editions of the Kenya Volleyball Federation League. However, their performance has stagnated on the continental front with the Brackxides Agala-captained side's last triumph in Africa having been in 2012.
The four-time African champions last appeared in the Africa Club Championships finals in 2014, where they were beaten by Algier of Algeria while KCB are the only team to have stopped North Africa's dominance after winning this year's edition in style.
Egypt's Al Ahly and the Carthage of Tunisia have six titles between them (2014-2021). Barasa said injecting fresh blood into the squad is their priority but warned that only the right players will be brought on board.
"I believe this is the time to remodel the team with players who can fit into our system. However, building a new team is not a one day affair as it calls for patience which is sometimes hard to find.
"We don't want to be caught between a rock and a hard place and so, the earlier the better. Mackline Akoko (setter) and libero Sharon Sandui formerly of KCB are currently at the Kenya Prisons Staff Training College in Ruiru and so we have started from somewhere."
Prisons are continuing with training despite missing a number of players. Joy Luseneka and Emmaculate Chemtai are currently on maternity.
Meldinah Sande, Lorine Chebet and Yvonne Wavinya are also away with Malkia Strikers for the ongoing World Championships in Poland and The Netherlands, where Queens lost their opening two matches against Netherlands and Belgium.
At the same time, Baraza has called on KVF to establish an academy or centre of excellence for various age groups to ease the transition of players from school to clubs and finally the national team.
He said at the club level, coaches have no option but rather sign players from high school who sometimes isn't good enough.
"I am against the notion of bringing the players from the school straight into the club but we have no choice in the wake of limited options. We need youth structures so that the age group competitions can be used to assess the players to see their progress."