Juma's injury scare leaves Wafalme in limbo

Wafalme Stars first choice libero Sam Juma missed several sessions of training last week after picking an a slight injury.

The national men's volleyball team, Wafalme Stars, alongside their female counterparts Malkia Strikers are readying for the CAVB Zone Five Qualifiers set to serve off on 26 January in Egypt. 

With the two teams expected to hit out on 24 January ahead of the competition, coach Gideon Tarus is hopeful Juma will recover in time for the trip, being one of the key players for the squad looking to qualify for the Africa Games for the first time since 2011. 

"He picked an injury on two of his fingers but he is under close observation by the medical team. Juma is an experienced libero and his absence would be a blow," Tarus admitted.

However, in a quick rejoinder, the tactician believes the duo of Trailblazers' James Mutero and General Service Unit's (GSU) youngster Hudson Kipchumba, who would be making his national team debut should he make the final squad, are just as good and can get the job done.

"Mutero is an experienced libero who has played in the position at club level for several seasons now. He also got his first cap last year during the Nations Championship in Egypt and that experience will go a long way in helping the team win should Juma be unavailable. 

As for Kipchumba, this is his first call up and making the team would be a huge motivation to such a talent. He is a good player and all that will remain is to help him settle in his role at the international stage," Tarus offered.

The two teams have been in camp for close to two weeks with both tacticians Japeth Munala for Malkia and Tarus having to use Kenyan based players for the zonal competition.

The men's team has missed the last two editions of the Africa Games in 2015 and 2019, the last participation coming in 2011 in Maputo where the East African country won bronze, defeating Rwanda 3-0 in the third-place match.

On their part, Malkia, who only need to show up in Egypt to get their ticket to the continental games, are looking to defend the title they won in the last edition of the Games in 2019. The competition then was used as an Olympic qualifying tourney, the Kenyan side beating rivals Cameroon in the final to make it to the Tokyo Games.