African Games: Aliwa keen to lead Wafalme to podium in Ghana
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Reading Time: 2min | Wed. 06.03.24. | 07:14
The team is scheduled to travel on Wednesday, 6 ahead of the Games
The last time he was on the African Games (previously All Africa Games ) stage, Elisha Aliwa was the main setter for the Kenyan national team, Wafalme Stars.
As the side makes a return to the Games that begin on 8 March in Accra, Ghana, Aliwa is wearing a different cap, that of the side's head coach. What's more, he is the lobe official travelling with a squad of 12 players.
From the frying pan to the fire has never made so much sense! On his first assignment as head coach, Aliwa has been forced to bare the burden of the team on his own as the government only approved a squad as big.
He was preferred for the task as Gideon Tarus who has led the team in the last few assignments is unavailable.
"We went to camp with exactly 12 players and while we have been training well the challenges we are facing are distracting. One player, Simion 'Kosirai' Kipkorir is unavailable while skipper Enock Mogeni's availability hangs in the balance.
I am, however, happy that a majority of the players were in action in Egypt during the qualifiers and thus have that chemistry going. As for Kosirai, we are lucky to have an equally good replacement in Joshua Kimaru, who, fortunately, has been training with the squad of 12," Aliwa, who served as Tarus' assistant since last year offered.
As he makes a return to the continental stage as head coach, Aliwa maintains his squad has what it takes to reach the podium and do better than the 2011 squad that won bronze.
"We have a mix of youth and experience and having been on that platform as a player, I know what it takes to reach the knock-out stages and even vie for a place on the podium," the tactician added.
The team is tentatively scheduled to travel to Ghana today, 6 March.
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