Regional volleyball qualifier throws off

By Swalley Kenyi

Africa World Championship qualifiers

Feb. 16: Kenya v Uganda
Feb. 17: Uganda v Mozambique
Feb. 18: Senegal v Uganda
Feb. 19: Uganda v Seychelles
Feb. 20: Tunisia v Uganda
Feb. 22: Uganda v C. Verde

MEN'S national volleyball team coach Anthony Ndawula is known as a very critical tactician, who rarely appreciates players but rather keep urging them to push harder.

But the coach could not suppress his delight with the national women’s volleyball team which is due to compete at the 2014 FIVB World Championship Qualifiers at the Safaricom Indoor Arena (former Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani), Nairobi Kenya this weekend.

The team that left for Nairobi by road yesterday will open their campaign with a game against Kenya on Sunday.

After watching them come from a set down to overcome a select side of experienced players 21-25, 25-21, 21-16, 25-14 in their last build up match at the MTN Arena, Lugogo on Wednesday, Ndawula could only encourage his counterpart Tonny Lakony to psyche up the team for the challenge.

“I believe the women are good to go. They only need to be put in the mood to be consistent. The setting department in particular needs to be addressed because it empowers the attackers,” Ndaula said after watching the match.

Indeed the women showed some improvement but lead setter Eunice Nuwabigaba looked unsettled in the game making a number of glaring mistakes as the fans cheered the select side. The second setter, Milly Laker, was not much different.

Uganda will be battling Kenya, Mozambique, Tunisia, Senegal, Seychelles and Cape Verde in the round robin competition to win the single slot in Group U.

The winner will join the victor in Group T to represent Africa at the 2014 FIVB World Championship in Italy later in September.