Makuto leveraging on Wafalme Stars run to open pro career doors

National men’s volleyball team, Wafalme Stars’, opposite hitter Elphas Makuto says his return to the team is a blessing as he targets a professional deal before the year ends.

The Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF) men’s league Most Valuable Player (MVP) made a return to the national indoor team having missed the 2023 squad that finished ninth in the Nations Championship. He featured for the national beach team last year instead.

Tarus: Experience, consistency key as Wafalme Stars make Africa Games return

Makuto was instrumental in Kenya’s win over Burundi in the just-concluded CAVB Zone Five Africa Games qualifiers hosted in Egypt, a result that qualified the country for the continental games set for March in Ghana, despite losing to the hosts.

As Wafalme Stars make a return to the Africa Games for the first time since 2011, Makuto, who made his debut for the team in 2021 featuring for the Gideon Tarus-coached side in the Nations Championship where they finished ninth and picked the infamous 3-2 win over rivals Egypt, hopes to be part another historic run for the team.

“The last time Kenya made it to these Games our coaches were still active and that is a huge gap that we want to bridge with a historic run of our own. The squad then managed third place and I am confident we will have a good run of our own in Ghana,” Makuto told Mozzart Sport.

What’s more, the attacker who is not short of role models as four of his older siblings, including Malkia Strikers' trio of Asha, Evelyne, and Violet have walked this path, hopes that the Africa Games will serve as a stepping stone to his professional career.

“It is an opportunity for me to land a professional deal. I feel that this is my time. I have had a few offers previously but none that fit. I, however, feel ready to make such a move, first with a team that would help me establish myself in the continent and serve as a stepping stone to bigger and better,” Makuto opened up.

What’s more the Prisons Kenya player who made his debut for the warders in 2017 and has since established himself as key for the side believes he has more to offer any team as he also has experience playing beach volleyball to the national team level.

“Beach volleyball mostly involves playing with the opponent's psychology and transferring that to indoor matches gives me an edge in studying the opponent’s movement, defense system, and maintaining good form in backcourt defense. It also has more physical advantages as it keeps me on my toes, improving my speed, agility, and jump,” he concluded.