Kenya final squad for African Volleyball Nations Cup named

Kenya Army's Kelvin Wanyama (left) attacking Joseph Mwiti (centre) and Kevin Mulinya dou of Western Prison playing Kenya Volleyball federation, National League 2020/2021 match at Nyayo national stadium on Friday, July 23, 2021. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

The national men’s volleyball team head coach Gideon Tarus has named his final 14-member team ahead of next week's African Nations Championship in Kigali, Rwanda.

The team which is set to depart today (Sunday) for host nation ahead of the event slated for September 5 to 15 will be without experienced Kenya Prisons attacker Michael Chemos, Kenya Defence Forces duo of Bernard Wechuli and Aggrey Kibungei as well Prisons Meshack Wambua

The team will be captained by Enock Mogeni of Kenya Ports Authority with GSU setter Brian Melly his assistant. 

The rest of the team comprises of Simon Kipkorir, Cornelius Kiplagat, Naftali Chumba, Noah Bett, Nelson Bitok, Rodgers Kipkirui, Lewis Ochieng, Peter Kamara, Elphas Makuto, Dennis Omollo, Daniel Kiptoo and Sam Juma.

Atleast 17 teams have confirmed participation for the African championship event with Kenja joining fellow East Africans Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Burundi, South Sudan and hosts Rwanda.

Others are Nigeria, Democratic Republic of Congo, Guinea, Morocco, Cameroon, Egypt, Tunisia, Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali.

At the conclusion of the 10-day event, the top two teams will qualify for the next year's World Championships.

Kenya last participated in the biennial tourney in 2017 where they finished ninth in the event that had attracted 14 nations in Cairo Egypt.

Kenya National Volleyball Squad

Simon Kipkorir, Cornelius Kiplagat, Naftali Chumba, Brian Melly, Noah Bett, Nelson Bitok, Rodgers Kipkirui, Lewis Ochieng, Peter Kamara, Elphas Makuto, Enock Mogeni, Dennis Omollo, Daniel Kiptoo and Sam Juma.

Officials

Head coach - Gideon Tarus

First assistant coach - David Lung'aho

Second assist coach - Sammy Mulinge