No time to rest for Wafalme Stars as focus shifts to Africa Games

A podium target for national men’s volleyball team, Wafalme Stars at the just concluded CAVB African Nations Championship was not achieved but that has not dampened the team’s spirits.

In addition to maintaining their ninth-place finish, after facing three of the final four teams including winners Egypt in the pre-quarters and bronze medalist Libya in the group stage, Kenya left the competition as the most improved side in the world ranking.

Having moved from 72nd to 64th in the world ranking at the conclusion of the championship hosted in Cairo, Egypt, coach Gideon Tarus says the team will look to build on that positive as they prepare for the next assignment.

“We have picked invaluable lessons from this outing and the team is stronger now. That said it was clear that preparation was key to our performance as the team got into rhythm after playing several competitive matches together.

As we prepare for the Africa Games qualifiers our desire is to make sure that the team continues with a training program that will make sure the chemistry is achieved way before competitions. This will also ensure that we have a system that all players understand ahead of any assignments,” Tarus told Mozzart Sport.

The tactician’s sentiments were echoed by team captain Enock Mogeni who believes that while the dream to be on the podium was not achieved, the players have embraced the lessons from this experience.

“We're determined to get better and closer to our goal. To compete with the best in Africa and the world, we recognize the need for thorough preparation. Starting training just three weeks before the championship pales in comparison to other teams' months of rigorous preparation.

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A well-organized, consistent training regimen and ample build-up matches are crucial for improvement. More Kenyan players turning professional is on the horizon, and we're excited about it. Gaining experience in top leagues and with elite players will elevate our game,” Mogeni told the team’s media adding that at a personal level, he has learned the value of patience, consistency and teamwork after leading the national team in two championship.

The podium finishers in this year's championship have qualified for the 2025 FIVB World Championships.