Lynette Matheka @PeopleSport11
Cheptil Girls volleyball team is ready to leave Kwanthanze’s shadow as they represent Rift Valley region in this year’s Kenya Secondary School Sports Association (KSSSA) Term Two Ball games set for Kisumu Boys next week.
Under the tutelage of Stephen Mutai, the side had an easy path qualifying for the national games as they have dominated in the region in recent years.
However, their real test begins on Tuesday when they throw off their title campaign in Pool A that has Bishop Sulumeti who are making their second appearance following their debut last year.
Also in the pool are home girls Sega who are making a return after missing out last year as well as last year’s losing finalists Soweto from Nairobi region.
“We have prepared well for the games knowing the kind of competition to expect. We are in a very tough pool and it will require us to put up a real fight to qualify for the semis from that pool. That will also prepare us for the competition going forward,” said Mutai.
The tactician guided his charges to a third place finish in the last edition, after losing to eventual winners Kwanthanze in the semi-finals. From that squad, he has lost two players but he is confident the replacements are ready to deliver the elusive trophy.
“We have been in the shadows of both former champions Lugulu and Kwanthanze over the years but this year we will fight for our maiden title. We are not looking at our past experience or record against any team but we will take each match with the seriousness it deserves,” added the coach.
The side floored Kwanthanze 3-1 (16-25, 25-23, 26-24, and 25-21) at the Amaco/Paul Bitok International tournament in May but the tactician says, despite the win giving them some level of confidence, they will not rely on that in the event they face the holders.
“That was a tournament and they might not have fielded their best. They have also had time to work on any weaknesses since May. Previously, inadequate preparation has been our undoing but we have since worked on that.
We are yet to find many challengers in Nandi but local tournaments have helped us with preparations,” he said. Pool B will see reigning East Africa and national champions Kwnathanze, placed in a relatively easy pool, take on Pasenga, Coast Region’s St John’s Kaloleni and a North Eastern representative.
In his title defence campaign, coach Justine Kigwari will be without the services of Betty Sifuna, Esther Mutinda, Gladys Ekaru and Metrine Wanjala who have since left school and joined Kenya Pipeline.
