ZCZC
BSP-12
WOMEN VOLLYBALL-KENYA
Kenya ready for Kazakhstan challenge as volley Worlds starts in Japan
NAIROBI, Sept 29, 2018 (BSS/Xinhua) – Kenya women’s volleyball team will seek to improve on their previous dismal shows in the past five editions of the World Championship when they launch their title campaign on Saturday in Hamamatsu, Japan.
Head coach Japheth Munala has warned rival teams to rule out Kenya at their own peril as they eye to carve a niche in the competition in their sixth attempts. Kenya have only missed one edition, in 2014 in Italy, since they broke the duck in 1994.
However, in all the five previous competitions, Kenya went home in disappointment, something coach Munala is keen to turn around.
“We are after victory. Nobody enters a war to lose. It may not be the main title, but we will certainly progress to the next round and target a quarterfinal slot,” Munala said on Friday.
Kenya are in Pool D and will start their title hunt against Kazakhstan. Munala believes the two teams are level on experience and skills and a win will help inspire the team to go the extra mile.
Kenya are in the same pool with Serbia, the reigning European champions and silver medalists from the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.
Serbia will be looking for their second World Championship medal as one of the big favorites in the pool, which also has South American powerhouse Brazil, bronze medalists from the previous World Championship. There are also Dominican Republic, Kazakhstan and Puerto Rico.
“We want to start with a win,” Munala said. “But each team is after a good start, but we have had a good training in Japan for the last one week and we will be ready for the test.”
Kenya’s last win on the global stage was in 2015 when they beat Peru to win the World Grand Prix group 3 title.
“We want to summon that spirit and put all the cards on the table. A good start is critical in the pursuit for the title,” Munala added.
Japan will play host to the world’s best 24 teams. Six different cities will host the tournament running from Saturday to October 20. As many as 103 matches, including the grand finale in Yokohama, will be on show.
BSS/XINHUA/AU/15:50 hrs