The national beach volleyball team have intensified training at the Pride Inn hotel in Mombasa even as coach Ibrahim Oduor decries limited preparation time.
The team of eight (four men and four women) is preparing for the 2024 CAVB Continental Cup and Paris Olympic Games Qualifiers, scheduled for June 18-23 in Martil, Morocco.
"We have limited time to train, about six days before departure, but we are making the most of it," coach Ibrahim Oduor said.
"We are working hard to ensure we achieve our goal of qualifying for the Olympics."
He said few players specialise in beach volleyball and those in the team were involved with their clubs during the just concluded Kenya Volleyball Federation national league.
"Most of our top players were involved in the recently concluded indoor volleyball playoffs at Kasarani. Only Gaudencia (Makokha) was not participating at the club level," Oduor explained.
"Financial constraints also posed a challenge but with sponsorship from homologated volleyball, we managed to get our preparations going on."
Olympian Gaudencia Makokha leads the women's team alongside Sharleen Sembei (KCB), Yvonne Wavinya (Kenya Prisons) and Naomi Too (Kenya Pipeline).
KVF league's best opposite-hitter, Elphas Makuto teams up with Kenya Prisons teammate Jairus Kipkosgei, Edward Kibet from Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) and Brian Kelly from the General Service Unit (GSU) in the men's category.
Makuto and Kipkosgei were instrumental as Kenya Prisons their national title at Kasarani on Saturday.
In Mombasa, the team is polishing their technical skills as they seek improvement in their performance at the African Games in Accra, Ghana, where they crashed out in the quarterfinals.
Debutants Makuto and Kipkosgei lost 2-0 (21-12, 21-16) to South Africa’s Leo Williams and Danilo Von Ludwiger at Boma Beach. Makokha and Wavinya, who arrived in Accra as silver medallists succumbed 2-0 (21-12, 21-16) to Egypt’s Marwa Magdi and Doha Tawfik.
"We are glad to report that the players' fitness levels are fine. However, mental preparedness is crucial," Oduor emphasised.
"We have urged the players to stay focused. We are focusing on our services and defence."
The pressure is real with Oduor wary of Egypt, Morocco, Mozambique and Nigeria.
"We qualified for the 2020 Olympics, which adds to the pressure. Knowing our competitors is part of the strategy and we are focused on our strong points," Oduor added.
Other officials accompanying the teams include coach Sally Wanja, team manager Wachira Gatuiria, head of delegation Neddy Kilimoh, physiotherapist Antonette Litiema and referee Nzinga Kyalo.
They leave for Morocco on June 18 in time for the June 20 serve-off.
"It's not an easy competition but everyone is focused. We believe they will qualify again," Oduor concluded.
