Kenya’s volleyball teams fired up for Olympic qualifiers in Morocco

The Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF) named two men and two women to jet out of the country for the FIVB Beach Volleyball Continental Cup in an attempt to qualify for the Paris 2024 Summer Olympics on Sunday.

The four include Brian Melly and Edward Kibet for the men’s team and  Gaudencia Makokha partnering with Naomi Too in the women’s team.

Kenya will compete with 25 other countries at Martil Beach in Tanger-Tetouan, Al-Hoceima in Morocco from today through June 24.

It’s a do-or-die for Kenya as only the victorious teams will qualify for the Paris Olympic Games.

Speaking on Monday in Nairobi as the contingent was heading to Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA), men’s national team head coach Ibrahim Oduor was in a jubilant mood, saying that it’s going to be sweat and toil for his men as they seek a maiden Olympic qualification, while their women’s counterparts will be attempting a second qualification after doing so back in 2020 during the Tokyo Olympic Games.

“I have selected the best that we have at the moment, a team full of energetic young guys.”

I have great confidence in them, having seen them play on numerous occasions, trained them, and even played with them. Given the conditions that we have at the moment, there is no other way but to qualify for the Paris games,” said Oduor, who, together with national women’s coach Sally Wanjala, has been taking their charges through the paces at Flamingo Pride Inn Hotel in Mombasa County.

Similarly, Wanjala was quick to express confidence in her girls, saying that she will bank on the experienced Gaudencia Makokha, who will be attempting to make a second appearance at the Summer Olympic Games after making her Olympics debut during the 2020 Tokyo Games, where she partnered with the now-injured Brackcides Agala. Kenya’s other duo was the dropped Yvonne Wavinya and Phosca Kasisi, who is also on the injury list.

Neddy Kilimo and referee Nzinga Kyalo will head the delegation, which also includes team manager Wachira Gatuiria and physiotherapist Antonette Litiema, who will all push the women’s beach volleyball team for top honours to emulate their indoor counterparts, Malkia Strikers, just as they both did when they qualified during the Tokyo Games. The men’s team will be attempting their first-ever qualification but will be wary of African beach volleyball powerhouses Gambia and South Africa.