Nairobi, Kenya, May 30, 2006 -- Kenya has named a provisional squad of 21 players for a training camp in early June to prepare for this year’s women's World Championships in Japan, starting October 31.
Omitted from the list are Salome Wanjala of Kenya Commercial Bank and Kenya Pipeline libero Mercy Wesitula, whose place is likely to be taken by Ulinzi’s Mildred Odwako. Odwako has made a comeback after being dropped at the eleventh hour when Kenya left for the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens.
The squad includes 12 players from former African women's club champions Kenya Pipeline, four from Ulinzi and three from current African women's club champions Kenya Commercial Bank.
Breaking with tradition, the team will train at the exclusive world-class Kenya Pipeline premises in Karura Forest rather than at Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani.
Addressing a major press conference during the naming of the team, Kenya Volleyball Federation President Waithaka Kioni said the five coaches entrusted with producing the provisional squad had been given a free hand in selection.
“As a federation we decided to give the coaches a free hand to select the players since they are better placed to do so. We shall now embark on preparing the team for the World Championships and at the end of it all we hope the 12 players who will make the final team will do us proud in Japan,” said Kioni.
The KVF president, who was flanked by secretary general Dan Wanyama and vice president Martin Makokha, pointed out that the team would camp at the Kenya Pipeline premises in Karura Forest and appealed to well wishers to come forward and support the team financially so that they can prepare adequately.
After trimming the team to12 players, two coaches will be retained to travel with the team to Japan and will be joined by Japanese veteran tactician Sadatoshi Sugawara before they jet out to Japan for another spell of training ahead of the lucrative World Championships.
Only one professional player, Violet Barasa, who plys her trade in Turkey, has been called to the team, while all the USA-based players -- Roselidah Obunagah, Edna Chepng’eno, Hellen Elele and Rose Nyongesa -- have been left out in preference to local, upcoming players.
Some of the experienced players in the team are Dorcas Ndasaba, Asha Makuto, Judith Serenge, Leonidas Kamende, Violet Barasa and Lucy Chege, who have been to the Olympic Games and World Championships.
COACHES: Paul Gitau, Sammy Kirongo (Telkom Kenya), David Lung’aho (Kenya Pipeline), Paul Bitok (Kenya Commercial Bank), Juma Walukhu (Co-operative Bank).
(Jack Kwemba, Press Officer, Kenya Volleyball Federation)
