B**w to Malkia Strikers as i*****es rule out Chumba, Kasaya

Dependable Kenya national women’s volleyball team duo of Sharon Chepchumba and Leonida Kasaya have been ruled out of Malkia Strikers’ All African Games qualification campaign due to injury and personal issues.

Kenya Volleyball Federation is working round the clock to get the services of star attacker Veronica Adhiambo who plays professional volleyball in Turkey for Tarsus Belediyespor.

Chumba, 25, who is paid ranks for Greek side PAOK Thessaloniki is recovering from a knee injury having undergone a surgery recently while Kenya Pipeline libero Kasaya is reportedly opted out of the team due to unknown reasons.

Returning Malkia Strikers head coach Japheth Munala has expressed his disappointments following the huge blow of missing the vital players as they intensify training for the All Africa Games Qualifiers set for Cairo, Egypt later this month.

“We expected Sharon to be here with us but unfortunately we received the bad news regarding her knee injury and that she has already undergone a surgery as part of the healing process. It is therefore sad that we will be with Sharon for this campaign.

"We are also expecting Veronica Adhiambo, we are waiting to see if she will be released by her club in Turkey. Our Federation is working on that. For Kasaya, we really don’t know what has happened to her,we have not heard from her and we have been forced to proceed without her since time is not on our side,” Munala told People Sport.

African champions Malkia Strikers reported to camp on Monday and the team is expected to enter a residential camp next week depending on the availability of resources according to KVF president Charles Nyaberi.

The federation has done minimal amendments on the technical bench for the women’s team and men’s team Wafalme.

For Malkia Strikers, experienced coach Munala retakes the mantle following the election of Paul Bitok to the position of KVF Deputy president. Munala will be assisted by Kenya Prisons manager Josp Barasa while legendary Janet Wanja returns to Malkia Strikers fold as the team trainer.

Gideon Tarus is in charge of the men’s team,serving together with Elisha Aliwa and Dennis Mokua. Former Malkia Strikers star Brackcides Khadambi has been appointed as the Team Manager for Wafalme.

The qualifiers for the Zone 5 region serves off from January 22 and only two teams for both men and women will secure tickets for the Accra, Ghana extravaganza in March this year.