Veteran beach volleyball player Gaudencia Makokha has pointed to the brief training period as the main reason for Kenya’s lackluster showing at the Africa games in Ghana, where both the men’s and women’s teams were eliminated in the quarterfinals.
The Kenyan men’s duo, Elphas Makuto and Jairus Kipkosgei, faced defeat against South Africa’s team at Boma Beach, marking their departure from their first appearance in the games. Shortly after, the women’s team, featuring Makokha and Yvonne Wavinya, also succumbed to Egypt’s formidable pair.
Makokha reflected on the challenges faced by the teams, “Our preparation time was too short. Our stint in Mombasa and the brief training at Strathmore University in Nairobi weren’t enough. We need to establish a more robust training structure like the ones our opponents have back home, where regular beach volleyball leagues contribute to their strength.”
She called for the Kenyan sports ministry and the Kenya Volleyball Federation to promote beach volleyball by ensuring that every team in the league also fields a beach volleyball squad. “To compete effectively on the international stage, we need to train with the best teams in Africa and beyond,” she added.
Having represented Kenya thrice at the games, with her previous outings in 2015 and 2019 resulting in a silver medal, Makokha is a seasoned campaigner at the event.
Team manager Moses Mbuthia commended the teams for their efforts, especially the men’s team for their debut performance.
He emphasized the need for a strategic approach to overcome North African teams, noting, “We’ve seen significant progress, but it’s time to develop a solid strategy to outplay teams like Egypt, which requires support from our federation, the government, and rigorous training.”
The call to action is clear: more intensive preparation and strategic planning are essential for Kenya’s beach volleyball teams to excel in future competitions.
