• VOLLEYBALL

• Frank Rotich 1 month ago

Wafalme Stars eyeing podium place at African Volleyball Championships

Kenya’s men’s volleyball team, Wafalme Stars, are setting their sights on a podium finish at the 2026 CAVB Men’s African Nations Volleyball Championship, scheduled for September 13-26 in Tunis, Tunisia.

The Kenyan side knows a top-three finish would be significant, as it would earn them qualification for next year’s FIVB Men’s World Championship, which will be staged in Poland across five cities — Gdańsk, Katowice, Łódź, Olsztyn and Kraków.

Speaking after Sunday evening’s training session at the Kasarani Indoor Arena in Nairobi, Wafalme Stars assistant coach Elisha Aliwa said the team is determined to make the most of its preparations and deliver a strong performance in Tunis.

Aliwa, who also coaches the Kenya Defence Forces men’s team, said the players are in high spirits as they intensify their preparations.

“If we can finish in the top three, that would be something. The players are in high spirit and we are taking advantage of that,” said Aliwa.

He added that the technical team is balancing ball-handling drills in the morning with match-simulation sessions in the afternoon to sharpen the players ahead of the continental competition.

“Basically, our training in the morning sessions will be all about ball handling before we engage in game-like situations in the afternoon. It’s a full house and that’s really impressive,” he added.

Wafalme Stars will be hoping to challenge the continent’s leading volleyball nations when the championship gets underway, with Egypt heading into the tournament as the reigning champions.

For Kenya, a place on the podium would not only mark a major achievement on the continental stage but also secure a coveted ticket to the 2027 World Championship in Poland.