Mutero tips Wafalme Stars to dominate CAVB Zone 5 tourney

In the absence of long-serving Wafalme Stars libero Sam Juma who failed to make the CAVB Zone Five Africa Games qualifiers squad due to injury, the responsibility is on 33-year-old James Mutero and 20-year-old Hudson Kipchumba.

Mutero made his debut for Wafalme Stars, the national men’s volleyball team, last year during the Nations Championship held in Egypt where Kenya finished ninth while the General Service Unit (GSU) youngster, Kipchumba is out to gain his first cap for the nation.

Despite being just his second outing with the team, Mutero is confident the squad coach Gideon Tarus and his technical bench have stuck with for the qualifiers that seek to return the Kenyan side to the Africa Games slated for March in Ghana, will get the job done.

“I am happy for this opportunity and the morale in camp is high as we go for qualification. We have the manpower to qualify as the best team in the zone,” Mutero told Mozzart Sport ahead of their departure to Egypt.

He continued, “Sam has been the first choice libero for some time now and his absence, however unfortunate, gives both of us the opportunity to fit in his shoes. All of us offer different qualities to the team and whoever gets fielded will give their best to deliver for Wafalme and cement the place.”

Mutero admits that heading to this competition with only Kenyan-based players is a blessing for most of those who made the team to prove that they can perform at the same level as the professionals, a lesson he admits he learned from his debut last year.

“I think we over-relied on the professional players in our last outing and while they gave their best we would have done better. This is our chance as Kenyan-based players to show that we deserve to be in the team and can achieve great results. We have to complement, support, encourage each other, and carry a lot of confidence in ourselves. We have a good squad capable of giving our opponents a run for their money,” he continued.

The men's team has missed the last two editions of the Africa Games in 2015 and 2019, the last participation coming in 2011 in Maputo where the East African country won bronze, defeating Rwanda 3-0 in the third-place match.

“Missing out on this competition for over a decade means we missed a step at some point as a country but we now have another chance to be back. We have two slots as a zone but the target is to qualify as the best-placed team as it sends a message that we are not a team that any opponent can run over,” Juma opined.

CAVB Zone Five qualifiers

January 26, 2024

Egypt vs Kenya (Women)- 1600hrs

Egypt vs Bururndi (Men)- 1800hrs

January 27, 2024

Kenya vs Egypt (Women) 1600hrs

Kenya vs Burundi (Men) 1800hrs

January 28, 2024

Egypt vs Kenya (Women's decider match) 1600hrs

Egypt vs Kenya (Men) 1800hrs