Volleyball…Beijing 2008

Full article from FIVB

Kenya given training opportunity IF they qualify for Beijing. From The Standard.

Kenya has been offered a three-week training deal in the Dominican Republic if they qualify for the Beijing Olympic Games in China next year.

Federation of International Volleyball (FIVB) vice-president, Hoffiz Marte who is Dominican, said their local federation was ready to host Kenya if they won the January Africa Olympic qualifying round in Algeria.

Marte added that Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF) would only need to cater for air tickets and their Dominican counterparts would take care of the rest.

An article from The Standard. I agree with the end of the article, that more needs to be done in countries who struggle, that Kenya need to put in more work for a better program, to bring juniors through and to have training opportunities for the women. Money needs to be invested in a sprt before a team can be successful, that is proven. However, to say they have been made a mockery of is wrong. This experience WILL help them become a betetr team, there is only one way to learn how to play good volleyball, and that is to be exposed to it. They are competing against Nations with a very strong history in this sport, who have full-time programs in place and who covet volleyball as a major spectator sport in their country. If Kenya expected to do anything other than possibly win some sets for the tournament, then their expectations were much to high. The tournament isn’t over yet, I hope they can.

Read full article from The Standard.

Kenya lost its fifth straight Federation of International Volleyball World Cup match 0-3 (12-25, 10-25, 15-25) to Poland at Sendai City Gymnasium in Japan.

The first set was equally contested in the opening minutes with only two points separating the teams at the first technical time out in favour of Poland.

Inspirational attacker Dorcas Ndasaba, who proved the biblical corner stone, played her heart out with characteristic lightening attacks but the Polish

attackers Maria Liktoras, Agata Sawicka, Mariola Zenik used well their height to check her.

The players have been issued with a warning, deliver, or you are out. More dramas to add to the pile for the womens Kenyan Volleyball Team. All of which I am sure is not doing great things for the participation of the sport back at home.

The technical bench of the national team to the International Volleyball Federation World Cup has asked players to deliver or face the axe.

The officials expressed disappointment over the team’s suspect performance against Peru which they lost 0-3 (16-25, 9-25, 19-25) at Hamamatsu in Japan on Sunday.

For full article visit The Standard.

Former champions Brazil danced to the samba rhythm to outclass Kenya 3-0 (25-16, 25-7, 25-14) in a thrilling Federation of International Volleyball (FIVB) World Cup match at Hamamatsu Arena.

Kenyans had vowed to contain the mighty Brazilians when they left their hotel and almost lived up to that promise by scaring their opponents with powerful attacks.

Dorcas Ndasaba, who collected nine points in the match, led the attack with hard hitters Edna Rotich, Diana Khisa and Doris Nafula Palang’a supporting.

Full article from The Standard

Kenya lost 3-0 (25-11, 25-18, 25-20) to Cuba in their opening match of the Federation of International Volleyball World Cup at Hamamatsu Arena.

Kenya looked shaky in the opening set and the hard-hitting Cubans capitalised on the situation to gain quick points.

Cuba attackers Carcases Kenia, Fernandez Barros and Ramirez Daimi, were unstoppable as they easily penetrated Kenyan blocks by Doris Palang’a, Praxides Khadambi and captain Catherine Wanjiru.

The winners led 8-4 and 16-6 at technical timeout before claiming the set 25-11.

Kenya had a uniform scare the day before the start of the World Cup with their uniforms being deemed sub-standard and not accepted by the FIVB. Luckily they got some new ones in a played their first match. Read more The Standard.

Panic gripped the Kenyan camp when the national volleyball team’s kit failed to pass the quality test during a preliminary enquiry at Hotel Concorde in Hamamatsu, Japan.

The East Africans were given 24 hours to present three new sets of 12 piece uniform each failure to which they lose their place at the Federation of International Volleyball (FIVB) World Cup starting Friday.

The Kenyan team has arrived in Japan and is leaving the last few days dramas behind them. Read more from The Standard.

Kenya national women’s team arrived safely in Japan and declared that their focus was now on the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) World Cup starting on Friday.

The East Africans were the first team to arrive in Hamamatsu after a long journey that started in Nairobi on Monday and ended on Tuesday night.

After arriving at Sansai Airport in Osaka where they were received by officials from Kenya Embassy, the team proceeded to Hamamatsu where they will play their first phase matches in a road journey that lasted hours.

It’s a few days later but I’ve found some interesting information regarding the Kenyans women Volleyball Team. Previously there was an article posted regarding the fact that the Kenyan Federation would not interfere with selections. Two days ago the dropped their former Captain, Dorcus Ndasaba, who is widely renowned to be the best attacker to come out of Kenya, and apparently too old. The federation did this, and the coaches had no knowledge. That in itself showing that the Kenyan Volleyball team is run by politics. As you could expect there was a lot of uproar from the team and officials. Today she has flown to Japan with the team after being reinstated. Ndasaba was also the player who stood up to the Federation recently demanding the players see their share of the 1 million  dollars given to the from the President for their African Championship winning performance and constantly fights for their welfare. Its seems teh KVF was uneasy having her as captain and around the team. The reason stated was the desire to bring youth into the team. Ndasaba was also the MVP of the recent African Championships.