Nairobi, July 7: Kenya has named a squad of 13 players for the Four Nations Pre World Cup tournament scheduled for next week at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani in Nairobi.
Lucy Chege will captain the squad, which includes two veteran players, Dorcas Ndasaba and Violet Baraza. Ndasaba is the oldest player in the team and the most experienced, having featured in four previous World
Championships, two Olympics and 15 African Championships. Baraza has appeared in three previous World Championships, two Olympic Games and 13 African Championships.
The squad is completed by Janet Wanja (Pipeline), Catherine Wanjiru (Pipeline), Asha Makuto (Pipeline), Viola Jebichii (Pipeline), Doris Nafula (Ulinzi), Lydia Maiyo (Pipeline), Rhoda Lyali (KCB), Leonida Kamende (Pipeline), Jackline Baraza (Ulinzi) and Judith Tarus (KCB).
The team was named from a provisional squad of 22 that has been training for two weeks under five local coaches. The technical bench was last weekend cut down to three when David Lung'aho, from former African champions Kenya Pipeline, was named head coach. He is assisted by Paul Bitok from African champions Kenya Commercial Bank, while Sammy Kirongo from Telkom is trainer.
While naming the team, Lung'aho said five other players would join the squad after the Four Nations tournament to continue preparations for the World Championships in Japan in October. They are Diana Khisa, Mildred Amoyi, Jane Wairimu, Doris Muyekho and Edna Chemutai.
Veteran Japanese coach Sadatoshi Sugawara arrived in the country on Sunday to help prepare the team for the World Championships. He will use the upcoming Nairobi tournament to study the team.
The Four Nations event brings together hosts Kenya, Egypt, Cameroon and Nigeria and is being sponsored by East African Breweries under the Malta Guinness brand.
Head coach Lung'aho said: "Performance and consistency was our yardstick in selecting the team. There are so many events coming and I am sure those dropped will still be useful in the future."
(Finny Muyeshi, Press Officer, Kenya Volleyball Federation)
