Cuban coach directs Egypt's World Championships challenge
07/11/2006
Cairo, Egypt, July 7, 2006 -- Egypt's women's volleyball team will start an important stage in the long-term preparations for the 2006 FIVB World Championships with participation in the Four Nations Championship in Kenya alongside the host country, Cameroon and Nigeria. The competition will be held in Kasarani Hall in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi from July 13-15.
The competition will be the first action for the new head coach, Juan Martinez of Cuba, who started his work with the team in May after signing a contract with the Egyptian Volleyball Federation to lead the team in the World Championships. He will be aided by the Egyptian assistant coach, Mamdouh Ismail.
The Egyptian team will leave for Nairobi on July 11 to participate in the competition, which will involve the four teams playing a round-robin format. Three teams in this tournament have qualified for the World Championships in Japan -- Egypt, Kenya and Cameroon -- while Nigeria was the runner-up at the last African Nations Championship in their home country.
The Cuban coach chose 12 players for this competition, but he will be without the outstanding Sarah Talaat, the best libero in Africa, who has had knee surgery. The team will also miss five essential players of the under-20 team because they were involved in year-end exams.
Egypt's team list for the Four Nations comprises Yosra Abdelkarim, Miral Raouf (setters), Ingy Elshamy, Mona Adly, Mena Allah Mohamed (middle blockers), Sherihan Sameh, Nagwa Elmasry, Dina Mahmoud, Nouran Elmaghawry (wing spikers), Tahani Tosson, Sammar Mohsen (opposites) and Nahla Sameh (libero).
Egypt began their preparations on May 18, and moved into camp at the Olympic Centre on June 17 after most of the players ended their school exams. Then they played three matches against local clubs.
Egypt has been drawn in Pool D at the World Championships with defending women's world champions Italy, plus Peru, Turkey, Cuba and Serbia and Montenegro. Their aim is to finish in the top four to qualify for the second round.
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