NAIROBI, Dec. 11 (Xinhua) -- Injury hurdles may draw the winds out of Kenya sails as they prepare for the women's volleyball Africa Olympic qualifier tournament set for January 2020 in Yaounde, Cameroon.
Utility setter Trizah Atuka and top striker Praxicedes Agala missed the show when head coach Paul Bitok launched his training camp in Nairobi on Wednesday.
Atuka has a ruptured Anterior Cruciate Ligament on her left knee while Agala has ditched indoor volleyball in favor of beach volleyball. "They were crucial members of the team and it is sad we are going to miss them in Cameroon," said Bitok in Nairobi.
However, Bitok remained optimistic that his side will weather the storm and deliver the Olympic Games ticket to see Kenya return to the apex of sports excellence in Tokyo, Japan in 2020 to break the 15-year jinx.
Kenya, who have won the Africa women's volleyball title a record nine times, will face off against hosts Cameroon, Algeria, Morocco, Egypt, Botswana, Rwanda and Mauritius for the one slot reserved for Africa.
Bitok, however, expressed relief when Atuka's replacement Jane Wacu, who plies her trade with Seychelles champions Anse Royale (ARSU), arrived in Nairobi to link up with the rest of the team.
"We now have a full house. Everyone is in camp ready for the hard training because we must keep the focus on the serious assignment ahead in January. Missing three-setters, of course, was a big blow because it is difficult to train with only one," said Bitok.
Wacu exuded confidence Kenya will restore her glory on the continental scene and earn herself a ticket to Tokyo Games. "I am here in camp after clearing some personal issues. My fitness is not in doubt and I am ready to hit the ground running because we must return to Olympics," Wacu said.
Kenya last featured at the Olympics back in 2004 in Athens, Greece with the majority of the playing unit yet to cut their teeth in the sport. Kenya, then, finished 11th out of the 12 teams.
