NAIROBI, June 28 (Xinhua) -- Kenya will use the volleyball African Nations Cup set for July 5-15 in Cairo, Egypt as part of their training ahead of the World Cup in Japan in September.
The Confederation of Africa Volleyball (CAVB) says over 12 teams will be competing for the continental title. They are led by hosts Egypt, Kenya, Tunisia, Ghana, Libya, Congo DR, Cameroon, Morocco and Nigeria.
The other teams expected are Algeria, Botswana, Rwanda and Chad. Egypt are the defending champions having won the last tournament, which they hosted back in 2017.
Shaileen Ramdoo, Kenya's head coach, says the tournament has come at the right time as it will help him gauge which players are worthy to retain in the team ahead of the World Cup and the Olympic qualifiers.
"I want to give more players opportunity to prove their talent and fight for a starting role in the team. After our training sessions hit the peak we can only hope for the best going forward," said Ramdoo on Friday.
China are the women's volleyball World Cup champions after they beat Serbia and the U.S. The U.S. dominated the men's competition, with Italy taking silver and Poland bronze.
Ramdoo has recalled veteran attacker Praxicedes Agala to the team. Agala, who last played for Kenya during the 2017 World Championship qualifiers in Cameroon, was not part of the team that recently qualified for the All Africa Games in Uganda.
The Kenya Prisons' player said she is embracing the competition and her ultimate goal is to work with the entire team to reclaim the title they lost to the much improved Cameroon in 2017. She faces strong challenge from Triza Atuka and fast-rising Gladys Ekaru and teammate Edith Wisa.
"They are young players who are coming up pretty well and I'm happy for them. However, I'm also putting in extra effort to see to it that we perform well. Hopefully, some of the players will get individual accolades," said Agala.
Kenya will also compete at the Intercontinental Olympic qualifying tournament set for August in Italy where they will face the host team, who finished second at the World Championships, the Netherlands and Belgium from Aug. 2-4. Only the winner will secure a ticket to 2020 Tokyo Games.
Should Kenya fail, they still have another chance through the Africa Olympic qualifiers in April next year to secure their berth in Tokyo. Kenya last competed at the Olympics in Athens in 2004.
