Not that every day you have a captain and deputy axed from a team that is enjoying a good run of successes internationally.
That’s what happened in Kenya, Malkia striker captain Bracskside ‘Blackie’ Agala and her deputy Jane Wanja have been dropped from the national Volleyball team ahead of the February 2016 Olympics qualifiers in Cameroon.
Although the Kenya Volleyball Federation is yet to come out with an official statement on the development, the team’s head coach Japheth Munala talked to www.nairobinews.co.ke.
We have opted to select some players who impressed both at the African Games and in the league. A young crop of players means a few others must give way. This is the cycle.
Manula replaced arguably Kenya’s most successful volleyball coach David Lung’aho as national team coach, the latter has since been promoted to technical director of KVF.
The duo together with Agala and Wanja’s leadership skills and experience guided Kenya to the ninth African title early this year.
They also help the side gain promotion from the Federation of International Volleyball (FIVB) Grand Prix Group Three to Group Two as champions.
The Kenyan online publication also claims to have reliably learnt that Wanja and Agala may have been axed for masterminding a revolt in the team in Australia earlier this year, when the team competed at the FIVB Grand Prix.
At the time, the players were discontented with delayed payments of their allowances by KVF.
There were also other reports that the first team players wanted to skip the FIVB event in Japan in preference for the All African Games in Congo, Brazzaville, a position that was overruled by KVF.
Another member of the squad also told Nairobi News that she is disturbed by the omission of the two players.
We now have a sponsor who is bringing in good money to the team, but the federation has axed two senior and very good players from squad. The two players have been fighting for our rights whenever there are delays in payments of allowance. That can be the only logical explanation for their exclusion
Although Agala is yet to react to the news, Wanja took time off to write on her Facebook wall.
I’ve just learnt that my captain Blackie Agala and I have been dropped from the national team reasons best known by the federation and honestly I am not surprised coz I saw it coming. All in all am proud of myself for representing my country in so many championships and raising our flag high both in Africa and beyond. Am taking this opportunity to wish the team that has been selected the best in the upcoming Olympics qualifiers. For my fans thanks for supporting me all through, I’ll still be playing active volleyball but only for my club Kenya Pipeline.
Below is the provision squad to start training ahead of the Olympic qualifiers in Cameroon next year.
Setters: Veronicah Tanui, Joy Lusenka, Jane Wacu, Esther Simiyu
Right Attackers: Gaudencia Makokha, Violet Makuto, Esther Wagechi, Loice Tarus, Lydia Maiyo
Left Attackers: Noel Murambi, Monica Biama, Mercy Moim, Everlyn Makuto, Noami Too
Middle Players: Trizah Atuka, Ruth Chelagat, Leoninda Kasaya, Edith Wisa, Ann Lowem, Shyrine Jepkemboi, Edna Muombe, Joan Chelagat, Valentine Koech
Liberos: Agriphina Kundu, Elizabeth Wanyama, Eva Mbone
