Tarus explains criteria for naming final Wafalme Stars team

Coach Gideon Tarus is keen to put the best all-round talents Kenya has as Wafalme Stars participate in the upcoming men's CAVB African Nations Championship set for September. 

With that, coach Tarus says all the technical bench decisions while trimming the team of 20 that has been in training for about three weeks now are solely based on that. 

"We have very good players in camp and coming up with a final squad has been tough. The margins that separate the players are small so one has to offer extra and not be a liability in whatever formation. Every player is very efficient on attack so we have emphasised on being equally good on defense, both blocking and back court which have been troublesome for Kenyan teams," Tarus explained. 

The tactician dropped four players top of the list being General Service Unit's (GSU) Naftali Chumba, with Trailblazers Eugene Okello KDF's Nick Kimutai and Timothy Rotich. 

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"The four are good players but the competition for places in camp has been taken a notch higher; it really is interesting to see. This gives us the confidence that the team's performance will be better than before when we head to Egypt," Tarus added.

Two more players will be dropped, likely at the end of this week, ahead of the team's departure for Egypt for the competition; and coach Tarus maintains that the same criteria will be used. 

Kenya is hoping to play at least one friendly match in Egypt before action gets underway. The competition runs from 1 to 14 September. 

Left

1- Omollo Denis

2-Kibungei Aggrey

3-Cornelius Kiplagat

4-Joshua Kimaru

5- Denis Esogon

Opposite 

1-Chirchir Abiud

2-Mogeni Enock

3-Peter Kamara

Libero

1-Sam Juma

2-Mutero James

Centre

1-Kamonde Brian

2- Kipkorir Simon

3-Shadrack Misiko

4-Bernard Wechuli

Setter

1-Brian Melly

2-Kipkosgei Kelvin