Chepchumba, Chebet out to make mark in Japan

Promising national women’s volleyball team debutants Sharon Chepchumba and Loreen Chebet are aiming to make their mark in their maiden  assignment with the Malkia Strikers in the upcoming FIVB World Championship in Japan.

Barely a year after finishing their high school studies from Kwanthanze in Machakos, the duo headlined five new faces who made the final cut in the Japheth Munala squad named on Wednesday ahead of the global fiesta.Their goal, they say is to help Malkia triumph in the championship which serves off from September 29-October 20.

“It is a pleasure to be in this team having just finished high school last year . I am more than ready to do it in Japan. Experienced colleagues like Wanja(Janet) and Wacu(Jane) will help us a lot and I am sure I and Loreen(Chebet) will be of great impact during this championship,” Chepchumba told Citizen Digital.

The pair, who joined Kenya Prisons after writing their final exams, were integral pillars in last year’s East Africa school games in Uganda after helping Kwanthanze reclaim the regional title with Chepchumba bagging the 2017 Most Valuable Player (MVP) prize.

Chebet who plays as a middle blocker added that she is banking on youthful squad named by Munala to shine in Japan.

“I think this is the best squad in recent times and although many are ruling us out we will prove them wrong,” said Chebet.

The other three rookies in the nine-time African champions squad, who are making a return after eight years absence are libero Agrippina Kundu, KCB’s Christine Siwa and Kenya Pipeline’s Leonida Kasaya.

Meanwhile, Munala has eased Kasaya’s shoulder injury ahead of their departure on Thursday revealing that the latter should be fit before the championship starts.

Kasaya sat out of training on Tuesday following the injury, but the seasoned tactician says she will travel with the squad and the situation should not raise any alarm.

“Our doctor has assured us that Kasaya will be okay before the event starts so we will wait and see but I can assure you it is not serious. All  the other players are okay and it is all systems go,” said Munala.

The team is scheduled to fly out on Thursday at 7:15pm aboard Ethiopian Airline and will land in Japan’s capital Tokyo on Friday at 8:25pm (Kenyan time).Kenya will send a contingent of 20; 14 players and five officials to the Far East country.

On their arrival in Japan ,Malkia are penciled to step up preparations in a 7-day training camp facilitated by Japanese coach Sadatoshi Sugawara to help them  acclimatise to the humid Japan weather, and four friendly matches against local club sides have been lined up before the competition starts.

In the 24-team championship, Kenya will launch her title quest against Kazakhstan on September 29 before confronting Serbia a day later, and subsequently face Puerto Rico, Brazil and Dominican Republic in other preliminary matches.

 SQUAD

Setters

1. Jane Wacu
2. Janet Wanja

Middle Blockers

1. Edith Wisah
2. Trizah Atuka
3. Lorine Chebet
4. Christine Siwa

Left Attackers

1. Mercy Moim
2. Noel Murambi
3. Sharon Chepchumba
4. Leonida Kasaya

Right Attackers

1. Violet Makuto
2. Emmaculate Chemtai

Libero

1. Elizabeth Wanyama
2. Agripina Kundu

Officials

Team Manager – David Kilundo

Technical Director- David Lungaho

Head Coach – Japheth Munala

Ass/coach -Joseph Barasa

Team Doc- Josephine Wanza

Physio – Sarah Karonge

Reports by Stanley Mativo and Jeremiah Ngige