Volleyball titans Kwanthanze out to conquer East Africa again

Kwanthanze shocked many when they beat all odds to emerge the 2015 East Africa Secondary School champions in volleyball catapulting their name to the lights at home and across region.

It was a departure from their established reputation as a breeding ground of athletics talent but since then, the institution has slipped under the radar but they are determined to reclaim their place at the top of the East African pile this year.

In a bid to get into top shape, they will host the Kwanthanze National Open Tournament on March 25 and 26 which will bring together teams from different parts of the nation with most drawn from their home Machakos County.

“We want to give our juniors the chance to create the chemistry with the elder players and also prepare for this year’s volleyball games,” Justin Kigwari, the Kwanthanze volleyball Head Coach told Citizen Digital.

The coach however, lamented sponsors and the County Government of Machakos have not turned up to help them despite the glory they have brought to the region and nation since 2010 when the team came to limelight.

The 2015 regional and Metropolitan Region school champions received a boost after fresh talent was transferred to Kwanthanze by their parents to nurture their gift in the sport.

“This year we have received eight new students who are good in volleyball and we will train them well and we hope they will help us,” Kigwari underscored.

Despite their slump, the school located in Machakos has continued to produce potent talent with Left Attacker, Pamela Masaisai who left the school last year being one of the five new players recruited by local giants Kenya Pipeline in their bid to retain the national women’s crown.

Under former Principal and Athletics Kenya Vice-president, Paul Mutwii, Kwanthanze shaped world class running talent including the Bydgoszcz 2008 IAAF World Junior 3000m steeplechase champions, Jonathan Ndiku and Christine Kambua Muyanga.

Elizabeth Mueni who won women 3000m steeplechase silver at the same championship also hailed from the same school that made history by having five of its student make the national team for the top junior event.

-Report by Stanley Mativo