Wafalme Stars promise better results in Egypt

National men's volleyball team, Wafalme Stars, jetted out of the country early Friday morning to Egypt where they will take part in this year’s CAVB African Nations Championship slated for 1 to 14 September.

The team has been in non-residential training for close to three weeks, only managing three days of residential preparations ahead of their trip to the North African country.

While acknowledging that their preparations have not been the best, head coach Gideon Tarus is confident that the team will post better results than they did in their last outing for the same competition in Rwanda 2021. 

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"Our preparation this time round was better than we had in 2021, despite getting just few days for residential camp. We have given it our best and as we head to competition, the technical bench is confident that this is the best squad we could assemble and they are ready to deliver," the tactician offered. 

The squad is a mix of professional and Kenyan-based players with six making their debut for the national team. 

In the left attacking position, Tarus will have two debutants in General Service Unit's Joshua Kimaru and Kenya Defence Forces' (KDF) Aggrey Kibungei. 

The two are joined by Kenya Ports Authority's Denis Omollo who was part of the squad in 2021 after which he landed a professional deal in Oman before returning to help the dockers clinch the 2023 Paul Bitok Foundation- organised tournament.

GSU's Cornelius 'Nder' Kiplagat completes the outside hitters' department for Wafalme. 

Team captain Enock Mogeni will have France-based Abiud Chirchir for company in the right. The two opposite hitters lead the foreign-based legion for coach Tarus, with Mogeni plying his trade in Japan for Oita Miyoshi. 

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The liberos position has Trailblazers' captain James Mutero who, incidentally is the oldest player in the squad, but is making his debut after three failed attempts. He will have regular Sam Juma from KPA for company.

The middle blockers are led by Africa's best blocker Simon 'Kosirai' Kipkorir whose experience alongside former GSU teammate Shadrack Misiko will be depended on. 

KPA's Brian Kamonde and KDF's Bernard Wechuli will also compete for a starting berth in the position as they make their debut alongside Misiko.

The setting position has the experienced duo of Brian Melly who has been playing in Morocco and Prisons Kenya’s Kelvin Kipkosgei.

“We have been out of action for long but we have had time to gel and we have a more experienced squad. We know that competition will be tough, everyone is coming for the title and we will have to be at our best in each match. We will take it one match at a time and work our way to the knock-out stages.

In the previous assignment, most of the players were inexperienced and our defense was our main undoing. I, however, believe we have addressed that and we are just as good as our competitors,” Tarus added while steering away from the World Championship qualification conversation.

SQUAD

Left

1.Omollo Denis

2.Kibungei Aggrey

3.Cornelius Kiplagat

4.Joshua Kimaru

Opposite 

1-Chirchir Abiud

2-Mogeni Enock

Libero

1-Sam Juma

2-Mutero James

Centre

1-Kamonde Brian

2- Kipkorir Simon

3-Shadrack Misiko

4-Bernard Wechuli

Setter

1-Brian Melly

2-Kipkosgei Kelvin