All set for Makueni beach event

The second edition of the Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF) beach circuit set for 11 and 12 December in Makueni County has so far attracted 13 men and six women’s with more expected before the closure of entries later Friday 10 December evening.

Coach Sammy Mulinge, the women's national beach volleyball head coach who also serves in the beach volleyball commission says it is all systems go as more competition is expected in the two-day FIVB homologated event. 

Organisers preping for huge turnout in Makueni beach volleyball leg

For the first time, KVF is running an FIVB homologated national tour. The global governing body has already sanctioned four events scheduled for the first half of the 2021/22 season set to run until April next year. 

“The venue is ready and organisers are equipped to receive teams for this edition. We are looking at closing the entries later in the day so that the entries in the FIVB Information System can be done on time and draws conducted so that action throws off early on Saturday. The branch, who are running the event have assured us of a good event,” said Mulinge. 

In Homabay, the season-opening event, General Service Unit (GSU) duo of Brian Melly and Naftali Chumba won the men's category beating the pair of Kenya Defence Forces' (KDF) Sila Makiso and Edward Kibet 2-0 (21-8, 21-16). Meanwhile, Gladys Wangui and Phosca Kasisi emerged victorious in the women's category played in a round-robin format. The second position went to Maureen Wekesa and Mercy Imenza. 

A new champion is set to be crowned in the men’s category as the defending duo of Melly and Chumba have opted out of the competition. The women’s event sets for interesting pairings as Olympians Brackcides Agala and Gaudencia Makokha who skipped the Homabay event will be in action as a pair. 

Phosca Kasisi who partnered with Wangui for the win in Homabay reunites with Yvonne Wavinya. The two were part of the Kenya team that did duty at the African beach qualifiers for the Summer Olympics but could not make it to Tokyo as only one pair was set to compete. 

Naomi Too, Makokha’s longtime partner in beach volleyball makes a comeback. The All Africa Games (2019) beach volleyball silver medalist picked a nasty knee injury on 22 November 2019, during the national league play-offs at Kasarani. The injury forced her out of Olympics qualifiers and the Games, her place taken by Agala who was making her debut in the sport.