L. MathekaFour primed for first caps at the FIVB World Championships
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Reading Time: 2min | Tue. 20.09.22. | 20:01
The Kenyans are pitted against African champions Cameroon, hosts Netherlands, European champions Italy, Puerto Rico and Belgium in the pool stage.
Coach Luizomar de Moura will have four newbies in his team where he hopes to guide the national women's volleyball team, Malkia Strikers, to the second round of the FIVB Women’s World Championships.
Kenya Prisons left attacker Yvonne Wavinya is going for her first senior cap, having played for the Under-23 team in the past.
KCB duo of middle blocker Belinda Barasa and setter Emmaculate Nekesa are also set to feature for the national team for the first time and on one of volleyball biggest stage.
The fourth debutant, Veronica Kilabat features for Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) locally and will play alongside Nekesa in the setting position, the two youngsters taking over the reigns from the experienced Jane Wacu and Joy Lusenaka.
The two setter were further thrown into the deep end with the absence of Esther Mutinda who had comfortably settled into Wacu and Lusenaka's2 shoes in Malkia Strikers' last outing at the African Championships in Rwanda.
Emmaculate Nekesa The former Kesogon Secondary middle blocker, Barasa, who joined the bankers while still in school at the age of 16 attributes her being included to the national team to early exposure to club volleyball.
"I started playing in form one and after a few tournaments I got the chance to join KCB which was an amazing experience in itself.
Being named in Malkia Strikers' senior team and making it to the World Championship final squad has given me a chance to build my game at a very young age and I do not take it for granted.
In the national team, competition is very stiff, everyone gives their all and I have learned to follow in the footsteps of the senior players. I want to use this chance to get better as a player," offered Barasa.
Coach Moura says there is a need to get the right investment for the youngsters as the country looks to become a force to reckon with in volleyball circles outside Africa.
"We have a young team with some players who will be getting their first cap at the World Championship. We need to build on their experience at this level as we strive to build a new legacy for Kenyan volleyball," he offered.
