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Veteran setter Jane Wacu believes the Malkia Strikers will benefit largely from the inclusion of Pamela Masaisai to the team that will participate in the Inter-continental Olympic qualification tournament in Catania, Italy from August 2-4.
Masaisai, who was not part of the team that finished second in the Africa Nations Championship, linked up with the rest of the team upon their return from Cairo and impressed coach Shaileen Ramdoo who has since named her in his travelling party of 14.
Wacu, who has played with Masaisai at Kenya Prisons, singled out the outside hitter’s good reception as an invaluable quality in an area where the national team has struggled in recent times.
“She is one of the best receivers in the team and this is something she can really help us with because reception has been our major undoing in championships. We hope she can settle in fast because it’s her first time playing in a big tournament,” Wacu told Nation Sport.
The award-winning setter insists that they will be going to Italy to compete despite being underdogs in Group ‘F’ which also has hosts Italy, Belgium and Netherlands. The matches will be played in a round robin format with the winner in each of the six qualifying groups getting a direct ticket to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
“I have played against Italy before and they have a good team. They are the favourites but Belgium and Netherlands are manageable. Coach Ramdoo has been trying to change our style of play from the Japanese system to European system. He has taught us new reception techniques, changed our blocking system and formations,” added Wacu.
“We not only want to apply what we’ve been taught but also show we deserve to be there. If we can get a set or even a win it will be the right motivation for the upcoming African Games in Morocco,” she said.
Kenya start their campaign against Italy on Friday before taking on Netherlands on Saturday. The last match will be against Belgium on Sunday. Should Kenya fail to qualify in Catania, they will battle it out for the single slot reserved for African countries in the continental qualifiers slated for January next year.
Meanwhile, the second batch of five players and five officials is expected to leave late Wednesday night (0030hrs). The five players are Wacu, Sharon Chepchumba, Triza Atuka, Lorine Chebet and Gladys Ekaru. Ekaru was a late inclusion after Edith Wisa failed to secure her visa on time.
Assistant coach Japheth Munala led the first batch of 10 that left on Tuesday night. Skipper Mercy Moim, Aggripina Kundu, Janet Wanja, Noel Murambi, Violet Makuto, Masaisai, Leonida Kasaya, Immaculate Chemtai and Elizabeth Wanyama were in the first batch.
Setters: Janet Wanja, Jane Wacu
Outside hitters: Mercy Moim (C), Noel Murambi, Leonida Kasaya, Pamela Masaisai
Middle blockers: Violet Makuto, Triza Atuka, Lorine Chebet, Gladys Ekaru
Opposites: Immaculate Chemtai, Sharon Chepchumba
Liberos: Aggripina Kundu, Elizabeth Wanyama
Team Manager: Emily Mbotela
Head coach: Shaileen Ramdoo
Assistant coach: Japheth Munala
Fitness coach: Shota Katagiri
Physiotherapist: Sarah Karongo
