Under the tutelage of Japeth Munala, Malkia Strikers, the defending champions of the Africa Games will look to qualify and make a return to the continental extravaganza
National men’s and women's volleyball teams Wafalme Stars and Malkia Strikers started training on Monday 7 January at Nyayo Stadium ahead of the Africa Games qualifiers set for later in the month.
The two sides are set to head out to Egypt on 21st January where the qualifiers for this year's Africa Games slated for March 2024 will be held.
Under the tutelage of Japeth Munala, Malkia Strikers, the defending champions of the Africa Games will look to qualify and make a return to the continental extravaganza for a title defense.
The African champions have defeated Cameroon in the last two editions, held in 2015 and 2019 for the title and qualifying gives Munala's charges the opportunity to make it three in a row and extend their dominance to six titles since 1978 when the competition was first held.
Meanwhile, the men's team has missed the last two editions of the Games in 2015 and 2019, the last participation coming in 2011 in Maputo where the East African country won bronze, defeating Rwanda 3-0 in the third-place match.
Back in 2011 Kenya won 3-1 against Nigeria and 3-0 against South Africa in the group stage to finish in second place for a semis slot. The side, however, lost to eventual winners Cameroon 3-2 in the semis to miss out on the Championship match. The Central African country beat Algeria 3-2 in the final.
Kenya had finished fourth in the 2007 Games held Algiers, losing 3-1 to Tunisia in the semis and 3-2 to the hosts in the bronze medal clash.
The two sides camp at Nyayo for two weeks, Horning their skills before leaving for Egypt. Tarus has named a 22-man team for the assignment, making a few changes to the squad that did duty during the Africa Nations Championship in September 2023, finishing ninth.