Kenya’s men’s netball team believes it has what it takes to win gold when the Netball Africa Cup qualifiers are staged in Nairobi from September 19-26.
Captain Julius Karanja and head coach Peter Oloo say the team has grown stronger since players from various clubs were brought together for an intensive training camp ahead of the continental championship.
Karanja, who can play wing defence, goal defence and goalkeeper for Kenya Prisons, noted that preparations have been encouraging, particularly because the team has been training at the venue that will host the tournament.
“The style of play has changed. We have trained from last month until now, and the squad is well prepared,” explained Karanja.
The team currently has 17 players in camp, but that number will be reduced to either 15 or 12 before the competition, depending on the coach’s final selection.
Karanja said the focus at this stage is on fine-tuning the squad and eliminating any weaknesses before the opening match.
For Oloo, the main challenge has been creating understanding among players who previously represented different clubs. He said considerable effort has gone into developing a common playing system.
“We are working so hard to ensure that there is that cohesion in the play pattern,” observed Oloo.
The coach added that the team has devoted considerable time to both attacking and defensive exercises and is now concentrating on translating the training into effective execution during matches.
Oloo expects South Africa to pose the greatest threat to Kenya’s gold-medal ambitions. The Proteas previously defeated Kenya by two goals, but the coach believes his charges have developed enough to produce a different outcome this time.
“We are not under any pressure. We just want to make sure that we get the gold,” he said.
Karanja admitted that hosting the championship brings its own pressure, particularly with Kenyan supporters expecting a strong performance. However, he believes home advantage will give the team an important boost through familiar weather, food, surroundings and fan support.
“When we go outside, we usually don't have fans. Right now, it's home. We have everything here,” he said.
Like the ladies team, the men’s team has been conducting some of its sessions outdoors because Kasarani Indoor Arena is being occupied by the ongoing African volleyball championship. Oloo explained that the netball side will shift indoors after the volleyball tournament to become accustomed to the court ahead of the qualifiers.
Karanja has also called on Kenyans to fill the stands and rally behind both national teams.
“Come all, come everyone, come with your kids. Support the men's team as well as our ladies. We will make you proud,” he said.
Both Kenya’s men and women have stepped up preparations at Kasarani Annex. Oloo is in charge of the men’s side, while Evelyn Cherono coaches the women. Zimbabwean tactician Tapiwa Chirenda has also joined the Kenyan set-up on a short-term contract that runs through the qualifiers. Chirenda has previously coached both Zimbabwe’s men’s and women’s national sides.
The women’s tournament features 10 nations, with established World Cup participants South Africa, Uganda, Malawi, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Namibia among the contenders. Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania and Eswatini make up the rest of the field, with the latter three yet to make a World Cup appearance.
Kenya’s women will begin their campaign against newcomers Nigeria on September 19 at 7pm in Pool A. They will also face South Africa, Malawi and Namibia. Pool B consists of Uganda, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Botswana and Tanzania.
South Africa and Uganda have already qualified for the 2027 Netball World Cup in Sydney, Australia, through their world rankings. They are currently ranked fifth and sixth respectively.
The Nairobi qualifiers will offer two more World Cup slots, with the teams finishing first and second earning tickets to the global tournament, which will be held in Sydney in August and September 2027.
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