Volleyball: Lionesses to Roar in Nairobi (12.07.2006)
The tournament will prepare African representatives for the World Championships.
The national female volleyball squad leaves the country today for Nairobi, Kenya, to take part in a four-nation tournament at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani in Nairobi. The four-nations event brings together hosts Kenya with the two other African teams which have qualified for the 2006 World Championships in Japan - Egypt and Cameroon, and vice champions of Africa, Nigeria.
The aim of the competition is to give the African representatives an opportunity to prepare for the world championships. The Cameroonian team which is made up of 12 local players is led by Carol Ambatta. The team was named from a provisional squad of 24 players that trained in Yaounde for one month under the strict supervision of Coach Yende Lavoisier. The competition is expected to kick-off tomorrow and will end July 16.
According to the Secretary General of the Cameroon
Volleyball Federation, Tocko Ekambi, professionals based in Europe and America are not part of the team due to lack of money. He however said the Nairobi tournament will be an occasion to asses the level of the local players. "It is from this tournament that we can select players who will join the professionals for the World Championship," he said.
Sources close to the volleyball federation say negotiations are going on with the assistance of the International volleyball Federation (FIVB) for the eminent recruitment of a Russian coach for national ladies team for the World Cup. After playing in Nairobi, Cameroon also hopes to have build-up matches in Russia in August. The last training camp will be in China in October, one month to the World Championship.
The national ladies team has made great strides in the continental scene. They will have to prove their worth in Nairobi in order to reassure Africans of an honourable participation at the World Championship.
