Kenya U17 coach bullish ahead of home Junior Roll Ball World Cup
Reading Time: 2min | Thu. 05.06.25. | 15:07
Kenya is hosting a World Cup event for the second time, more than a decade since the second edition of the senior tourney was held in Nairobi, in 2013
Preparations continue in earnest at the Kasarani Indoor Arena as national U17 girls and boys teams warm up for the inaugural Junior Roll Ball World Cup set to be held from Sunday, 22 to Sunday, 29 June at the same facility.
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The tourney is expected to bring together players aged 17 and below for a week-long battle where Kenya will host more than 20 teams.
Over 60 players, assembled after this year’s March trials, have been in non-residential training at the outdoor Kasarani Gate 4 track, whittled down to 16 before moving to the indoor facility this week.
“From March, we focused on endurance and after getting that right, started building on speed, accuracy, balance, ball work, and team formations, which are the core principles of the game.
After moving to the indoor arena, we are touching more on ball work and getting a smooth flow playing indoors, as this needs some getting used to, given most of these players are used to the outdoor surfaces,” boys’ head coach Joseph Alukhala told Mozzart Sport.
Alukhala, a World Cup winner with the men’s senior team, is confident the junior teams have what it takes to walk in the footsteps of the senior teams.
The senior Women`s Roll Ball Team are three-time champions, having won in 2015, 2019, and 2023, while the men’s side lifted their maiden title in 2023, completing a Kenyan double.
“We have a better junior team,” the tactician opened up. “Most of our players are very young, but their level of talent is incredible.
I am expecting one of the best performances from the youngsters. There is little material to scout the opponents, but we are preparing the team to be better than the opponent.”
The biggest challenge facing the two teams now is access to the indoor facilities to train better. “We are still in non-residential training and are expected to be in a proper camp from Sunday, 14 June.
We would have wanted to get more time to train indoors, and are calling on the Ministry of Sports and other stakeholders to come in and support the team.
In addition to this access, provision of the right gear well ahead of time, as some players are missing that, would come in handy to ensure proper preparations.”
