Kenyan girls look to turn new page at World Cup

The national women's volleyball team players train at the at the Yoyogi National Stadium's gymnasium ahead of the FIVB Women's World Cup opening match against Cuba on August 22, 2015. PHOTO | DAVID KWALIMWA |   NATION MEDIA GROUP

In Summary

• The Kenyan team which is yet to win any of its five games here so far, will face bigwigs the USA, in one of the six matches lined up today - which coincides with the end of a two day break in the competition.

By DAVID KWALIMWA
More by this Author

IN OKOYAMA, JAPAN

Kenya assistant coach Godfrey Okumu on Saturday insisted that there is need for a “fresh start” by the national women volleyball team ahead of the second round of matches at the ongoing FIVB World Cup.

The Kenyan team which is yet to win any of its five games here so far, will face bigwigs the USA, in one of the six matches lined up today - which coincides with the end of a two day break in the competition.

“We have to leave what happened in Tokyo behind us and concentrate on who we play next,” Okumu, a former Kenyan international player who is based in Japan told the team.

Okumu, who holds an MBA in Leadership and Sustainability, and is also involved in coaching at some colleges and teams in Fukuoka, was referring to the five match winless run by the team. Kenya has lost to Cuba, Dominican Republic, Russia, Argentina and hosts Japan. Okumu’s remarks aside, Sunday’s match against the US at the Momotaro Arena is expected to present a fresh challenge to the team. Coach Karch Kiraly’s side have an impressive record of four wins in five matches.

The side which also boasts of more experience on the international platform, also has a host of impressive stars such as right attackers Kelsey Robinson, Tetori Dixon and centre Karsta Lowe.

What’s more, at 185cm, the USA team is on average 5cm taller than the African champions, a stat that is likely to influence the blocking and spiking moves during the match.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Kiraly was however diplomatic of his opinion of the Kenyan team during yesterday evening’s pre-match press conference.

“If you closely scrutinize Kenya’s results here, you start to think maybe they are finally coming off age,” Kiraly said. “We have reports of one or two players that might cause us individual trouble, players we need to put a strategy on.”

He was perhaps referring to the tournament’s top scorer Kenya Prisons attacker Mercy Moim and team captain Brackides Agala - who have been some of the standout players at the event.

The two will require all the support from Monica Biama, Ruth Jepngetich, Janet Wanja, Elizabeth Wanyama and Jane Wacu, to stand a chance of upsetting the much fancied Americans.