The national Under-19 girls’ team start their Africa Women’s Junior Championship campaign against Angola on Thursday in Monastir, Tunisia.
A total of 10 teams will take part in the eight-day tournament, whose winner will qualify for next year’s World Under-20 Championships at a venue to be determined.
Kenya Handball Federation official, Charles Omondi, said the confident Kenyan team is all raring to bring home the title.
The Kenya juniors qualified for the continental showpiece after deflating Tanzania 34-16 at their Dar es Salaam backyard.
“The team left in two batches for Tunisia last night (Monday). One group through Istanbul and the other through Qatar,” said Omondi.
“Apart from three players, the rest of the girls participated in last month’s regional school games in Huye, Rwanda and are in good shape.”
“We picked the best available squad. We even gave them the coaches who handled the teams in Huye. We, therefore, expect good results,” he observed
Kenya tackle Democratic Republic of Congo on Friday, Ivory Coast on Saturday and wind up their Pool ‘A’ fixtures with a clash against Guinea on Sunday.
Competing in Pool ‘B’ are Algeria, Egypt, Madagascar, Mali and hosts Tunisia. Four top teams will book their tickets to the World Junior Championships.
Squad: Esther Nangami, Zipporah Amati, Merceline Nasimiyu, Lydia Nafula and Caroline Akinyi (St. Joseph Kitale), Diana Wanjala, Mary Auma, Leah Namwenya, Jentrix Masika, Cynthia Juma and Lirnah Masika (Moi Girls, Kamusinga), Mary Vivian Edwachi (Aboloi Girls, Busia), Arnet Akinyi (St George, Nairobi), Sheila Atsachi (Dagoretti Girls, Nairobi).
Coaches: Edwin Adamba (St Joseph Kitale), Godfrey Simuyu, (Moi Girls Kamusinga), Gerald Juma (National Youth Camp)
Team manager: Purity Mwangi
