Kenya's U18 boys’ volleyball team head coach Sila Makiso wants the side exposed to more international friendlies if they are to return good results.
Under his watch, the Kenya team lost to Tunisia 3-0 (25-18, 25-15, 25-16) in the ongoing African U-18 Championships in Tunisia. Kenya also lost to Egypt 0-3 ( 15-25, 13-25, 16-25 ) and were set to face Morocco last evening.
Coach Makiso, however, praised the organisation of the tournament, highlighting the importance of such events for youth development.
“CAVB's move to introduce the youth events is a noble idea,” Makiso said. He said the event has provided a platform for young players to showcase their talents at a high level.
The tactician acknowledged the high skill level displayed by teams like Tunisia, Egypt, Rwanda, Algeria and Morocco, noting that the future is bright for African volleyball.
“We have seen very young players perform at different levels and they will no doubt elevate their teams when they graduate to the senior stage,” he added.
The coach said despite the dismal show, the team had gained valuable experience and he is optimistic about Kenya's volleyball future.
“We appreciate seeing young players explore their talent,” he said, adding, hopefully, that exposure from the tournament will contribute to the growth of volleyball in the region.
The coach said with the limited time they had in training, the results are worth the effort.
“Given we had just four days of training and this was the team's first indoor experience, these results are a learning curve,” he added.
One standout player for Kenya, according to the tactician, was 17-year-old Newton Ochieng’ from Nyabondo High School, whose impressive height was instrumental for the team.
