Kwanthanze dominate junior Malkia Strikers squad

The national under-20 women’s volleyball team head coach Paul Gitau has named a provisional squad of 20 players ahead of the Africa Nations Youth Championship set for August 26 to September 4 in Kasarani.

Gitau who was in scouting mission in Eldoret during the just concluded National School Games picked the squad from across various with champions Kwanthanze headlining the announced squad.

Among the 20 players, five are from the Machakos-based team which is earning a reputation as the country’s volleyball talent factory.

Gitau who doubles up as the Nakuru men’s volleyball team head coach that features in the National League said he selected 20 instead of 16 to fill up positions just in case some of them fail to turn up.

“Initially I was to select 16 but there are some schools which might opt not to release their players to join national team and with 20 I have enough at my disposal, they can easily fill up the positions,” Gitau told Citizen Digital.

The seasoned tactician added that he will trim the squad to 12 players a week before the tourney. According to the coach the players will report to the camp immediately after East Africa School games set for Rwanda from August 12-19.

“I will announce my final squad a week before the championship serve off and I believe I selected the best players” he averred.

The training facility remains the biggest challenge for the under-20 team because the only facility which Kenya boasts (Kasarani) is currently being used by Malkia Strikers ahead of the next month’s World Championship in Japan.

Squad: Esther Mutinda, Betty Sifuna, Gladys Ekaru, Miriam Chelimo, Lydia Iswan, Immaculate Nekesa and Sharon Sandui (Kwanthanze); Esther Mwaka, Linet Awino (St John’s); Mildred Cherop, Maureen Chepkosgei, Juliana Namutira and Diana Okonja (Soweto); Caroline Jeruto, Benedine Jepngetich and Sheilah Jepchirchir (Cheptil);Abigael Wanjala (Bishop Sulumeti); Pamela Adhiambo, Metrine Nasambu, Esther Mbusiro (Nyakach).