Chris Musumba
7 September 2008
Nairobi — South Africa and Mauritius have pulled out of the Africa junior women's volleyball championship, which starts on Monday at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani.
That leaves five countries parading their best talent to battle for the exclusive ticket to represent Africa in the world under-18 junior championship in Mexico City next July
The withdrawal of the two teams means that the tournament will be played on a round robin format with Kenya having to test their skills against all the four opponents. The winner will them clinch the ticket to Central America.
Visitors visas
The others countries in the championship are Egypt, Tunisia, Seychelles and Senegal.
The West Africa country was the last team to arrive on Sunday, but had to endure several hours at the airport as the local organising committee officials struggled to secure them the visitors visas.
Kenya's national head coach Paul Bitok said that his side is ready for the challenge and said he has got the best skills and talent from the local players.
Kenya is keen to mould a new generation of volleyballers to take over from the senior team with the 2012 Olympics being the target.
The KVF chairman, Waithaka Kioni has expressed his ambitions to develop a young team and the Africa junior championship, provides a best platform to test the youngster's ability and rank themselves among the continent's best.
Bitok noted that unlike the other teams, the Kenyan players were the least exposed but they juniors were determined to win infront of their home fans.
"Most of our opponents players have played at this stage before. Egypt hosted the youth championship last year and most of its players took part in it. Tunisia and Seychelles were also there," he said.
Senegal, however, will be relying on almost entirely on the young squad that represented them at the All Africa Games last year in Algeria.
Play our part
"We have no complains at the moment, the federation has played its part in kitting the team, we have our uniforms and now it is just down to us to play our part," said Bitok.
Bitok, who is being assisted by Kenya Prisons coach David Lung'aho and Catherine Mabwi, is facing his first assignment as head coach, after having served under Lung'aho and Japanese tactician Sadatoshi Sugawara during the World championships in Japan.
The Confederation of African Volleyball Federation (CAVB) awarded Nairobi and Tripoli the hosting rights of this year's junior tournaments with the North Africans taking the boys' event.
Kenya won the 2002 edition and qualified the World Youth Championship in Croatia.
The team that did duty in Croatia comprised the likes of national team setter Janet Wanja, who have moved on to the senior national team.
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