Kenyanstar January 2014 | Page 18

EXPECTATIONS GALORE 2014 VOLLEYBALL Kenya volley ball men team will be hoping to make a debut in next years RUGBY World Cup in Poland. After the first round of qualification in Rwanda in which the Gideon Chenje coached side finished third behind Egypt and the host, the coach believes with proper government support and good preparation, making it to Poland is a real possibility Qualifying for the showpiece would require a sterling performance next January because they’ll have to go past Egypt and Rwanda,teams they lost to during the first round of qualifications and Chenje sees this as a perfect opportunity to make up for their mistakes after losing narrow set margins in their previous encounter. Women volleyball has been an African bedrock for seasons now,sweeping every accolade on their way. Ranked 13th world wide (F.I.V.B latest ranking), the African Champions have been included in the latest F.I.V.B world grand Prix after the body included 28 teams in the forthcoming 2014 edition up from the 20 teams in 2012. Drawn in pool S together with Australia,Bulgaria and Croatia,David Lung’aho charges will be looking for a positive outing when they take on the field on July 25. As K,R.U awaits the verdict of it’s request to host an International Rug- by Board World Series leg next year, the women 7’s team too is fighting for an inclusion in the I.R.B circuit after stellar performances in the invitational Dubai Sevens tournament where one leg of the IRB women Sevens series is played. A tournament in which they were bundled out by South Africa in the main cup semis in the first year and lost our marginally to Green Maples of Canada in the finals in the second year. Attention now shifts to Morocco March 2014 where African Rugby Confedarions (CAR) is to take place. The men team though had a terrible outing in both Dubai and South Africa, head coach Paul Treu has admitted he is still looking for the right mix of players for the next outing in Las Vegas where he’ll face his former side South Africa, Wales and Canada in the group stage