Busolo confident that Kenya will triumph in World Youth Cup qualifiers

Kenya Netball Federation Secretary-General (SG) Millicent Busolo has expressed confidence in the Kenya U-21 girls' netball side that will represent Kenya in the upcoming Africa region World Youth Cup qualifiers.

Kenya has been invited to the Africa region World Youth Cup qualifiers to be held in Pretoria, South Africa, from March 14 to 24.

Confirming the team's invitation, Busolo was pleased that the youngsters would showcase their skills on the global stage. She noted that most of the players would be fresh from secondary school.

The secretary-general also pointed out that the event would be crucial as the team gears up for the 2025 Youth World Championships slated for Gibraltar.

“I am happy that we have landed this invitation; it was a long time coming, and I think with the young girls that we have recruited from secondary schools and colleges, with some of them making their national team debuts at the senior level, I am positive that we are going to do well,” she offered.

Among the notable faces that made their debut with the senior national team in 2023 was Ulinzi Sword's 18-year-old Doreen Akinyi. Akinyi, who recently concluded her secondary school education, will be in charge of the pack. She will be assisted by Miriam Nekesa Wamani, who plays for Kenya Prisons. Wamani is only 19 years old.

Other names include Captain Parin Simiyu of Kenya Prisons, Ulinzi’s Bridgit Nanzala, Pauline Ramadhan of Kenya Prisons, as well as the 2022 African Championships Woman of the Tournament, Beatrice Kabucho, also from Kenya Prisons.

The team will be looking to build on their performance in the Pacific Aus Sports Netball Series held in February last year. For the first time, African nations Kenya, Malawi, and Zambia competed in Australia against returning teams Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Singapore, and Tonga.

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