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L. MathekaThird beach volleyball leg gets underway in Mombasa
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Reading Time: 2min | Sat. 26.02.22. | 10:07
A record turnout has been witnessed as more volleyballers create interest in the sport.
The third leg of the FIVB homologated Kenya beach volleyball circuit gets underway this morning at the New Big Tree beach resort in Mombasa County.
The two-day event brings together 21 pairs in the men's category and 12 in the women's side all fighting for FIVB ranking points and bragging rights.
"This is a record-breaking turn-up. We have never seen this kind of interest in the sport before and it is encouraging as we try to popularise beach volleyball and get it to where the conventional side of the sport is in the country.
This is also a good opportunity for the national team selectors to see the players in action close to hitting camp. We will be on the lookout for new talent, players that are in shape and that prove their worth in making the provisional squad and consequently the national team as well as fitness so the initial provisional squad is subject to change," said men's national team coach Patrick Owino.
The women's teams have been divided into four groups with Olympians Gaudencia Makokha and Brackcides Agala headlining group A while top seeds Phosca Kasisi and Yvonne Wavinya top group B.
Makueni leg champions Naomi Too and Veronica Adhiambo are the favourites in pool C while group D has the duo of Likhayo and Jane as favourites.
In the men's category, teams have been divided into six pools. Top seeds Ibrahim Odour and James Mwaniki who headline pool A have been given a bye in the preliminary round.
Kenya 🇰🇪 beach volleyball provisional squad for Commonwealth Games qualifiers ⛱️🏐
— CAVB (@CAVBPress) February 19, 2022
Men
Players: Ibrahim Odour, James Mwaniki, Donald Mchete, Wilfred Kimutai, Elphas Makuto and Jairus Kipkosgei
Coach: Patrick Owino
Tanzanian duo of Juliard Mbappe and David Neeke, second on the supremacy log as well as Bernard Musumba and Mathias Kemboi have been exempted from the first round too.
The fourth leg of the circuit will be hosted in Nairobi with Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF) embarking on a mission to have four other legs approved to make it an eight-leg season.
Dates for the fourth leg are yet to be announced as the national teams are set to hit camp immediately after the Mombasa leg in preparation for the Commonwealth Games qualifiers set for next month.
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