Munala in no rush to name Malkia Strikers WC squad

Kenya’s women volleyball team- Malkia Strikers head coach Japheth Munala says he is not rushing to announce his final 14-squad ahead of the World Championship set for Japan next month because he is eyeing to have the best team.

Munala who doubles up as the Kenya Pipeline women team tactician says he will name his final team by the end of this month adding that ‘reception’ still remains the biggest challenge for his side.

The head coach spoke to the Citizen Digital on Wednesday after the team broke camp to allow the players to report to club duty in preparation for the sixth leg of the volleyball national league set for Kitui in August 10-12.

The team has been in an intense training since start of the June at the Kasarani Indoor Arena gymnasium in preparation for championship which serves off from September 29 to October 30 in Japan’s capital Tokyo.

“Reception has been hurting us for a long time and we are working on that bit day in day out.  I am not rushing to announce my final squad because I want to get the best from the squad but by end of August we will know who will be in the plane for Japan,” Munala said, adding ‘’The team’s technical bench has already dropped six players from camp leaving only 22 and my final team will be of 14.”

The Malkia strikers are also set to have a representation from a team of four that has just graduated from High School last year. The quartet includes Caroline Sirengo, Jemima Siangu (Kenya Pipeline) Lorine Chebet (Kenya Prisons) and Sharon Chepchumba.

Coach Munala expressed confidence in the four, tipping them to make the final 14 if they continue to show the quality they have shown in training.

“If they have we need and what we are lacking then definitely they will make it to the final squad,” he averred.

Meanwhile, Munala refuted claims which went rounds in social media platforms early this week that Kenya will not send the women’s national volleyball team to Japan due to the multiple pregnancies which had engulfed the squad.

“We will be in Japan next month that’s for sure and the six players which were dropped were not pregnant but it was just normal trimming of the squad,” he said.

Malkia are pooled in group D alongside Brazil, Serbia, Kazakhstan and Puerto Rico.

PROVISIONAL SQUAD

Mercy Moim (C), Noel Murambi, Caroline Sirengo, Violet Makuto, Everlyne Makuto, Agripina Kundu,Celestine Nafula, Christine Siwa,Janet Wanja,Triza Atuka,  Jemima Siangu , Edith Mukuvilani, Sharon Chepchumba, Emmaculate Chemtai, Lorine Chebet, Leonida Kasaya, Yvonne Wavinya,Joy Lusenaka, Elizabeth Wanyama, Pamela Masaisai, Milgrene Lituvula, Veronica Tanui and Jane Wacu.