Kenya men’s volleyball team Wafalme Stars is now a full house as preparations for the 2026 CAVB African Men’s Nations Championship picks up at Nyayo Gymnasium, Nairobi.
Head coach Gideon Tarus confirmed that only two players, both from Kenya Ports Authority (KPA), were yet to join the non-residential camp.
The duo, Dennis Omollo and Peter Kamara, were travelling from Mombasa on Thursday and on Friday reported to the camp.
“It's only two players who are still expected, but they will be reporting tomorrow. Both of them are KPA players, Omollo and Kamara. They are on the way from Mombasa now. By Friday, we will be full team,” said Tarus.
Hudson Kipchumba, Joshua Kimaru and Barrack joined the camp on Thursday, leaving the team with only the KPA pair to complete the squad.
Wafalme Stars began their non-residential training on Wednesday ahead of the continental championship, scheduled for September 7-21 in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.
The 14-day tournament will serve as a direct qualifier for both the 2027 FIVB World Championship and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games, raising the stakes for the Kenyan side.
Fifteen players reported for the opening session under Tarus and his assistants Elisha Aliwa and Denis Mokua, with five initially missing because of logistical challenges.
Tarus, who recently guided General Service Unit (GSU) to retain the Mozzart Kenya Cup title, noted that the technical bench was concentrating on ball handling this week before shifting attention to blocking and backcourt defence next week.
“Luckily, the players are fresh from playing in the Kenya Cup and National League and really everyone is in shape. Today we were keen on ball handling and we intend to engage the gear in the coming weeks in other departments,” he said.
The coach was also impressed by the enthusiasm of the newcomers in the provisional squad, including Kenya Defence Forces outside hitter Moses Macharia, GSU middle blocker Victor Cheruiyot and middle blocker Rollings Juma.
“The new players are excited to be here and their morale is high. We can't wait to see how they will pan out,” observed Tarus.
