Kwanthanze seek Nyayo access to prepare for Africa School Games

With all the matches set to be staged inside a gymnasium from November 9 to 15, Kigwari wants the six-time East Africa Secondary Schools volleyball champions to be exposed to preparations that match-up the facilities in Agadir.

The team, which asserted their dominance in schools volleyball after clinching their successive fourth regional title in Arusha last month, is currently training at their base in Machakos County three weeks before the annual championship open.

“We’re training on the grass and this will not be good enough for the players who have never played inside a gym. We request Sports Kenya led by their chairman Muteti (Fred) to allow us to train inside Nyayo for this will mirror what we will be expecting in Morocco.

“We only have three weeks to prepare but if we get access to Nyayo even for just one week, the players will be able to familiarise themselves with the gym environment,” Kigwari told Citizen Digital.

The seasoned coach is however optimistic they can replicate their East African dominance at the continental level.

“We’re also requesting for air tickets funding which is about Sh.3 million. We call upon the Ministry of Sports and their counterparts from education to ensure that we don’t miss this chance. It’s a golden chance to participate in this games for the first time

“We will not fail Kenyans and we are ready to conquer Africa and so please I urge those who we expect to facilitate our travel not to fail us too,” he added.

The International School Sport Federation (ISF) has promised to foot the participating teams' local expenses during the five-day championship with the government tasked to fund the air tickets only.

Kwanthanze will fly the East African flag alongside compatriots Cheptil who won the boys’ East Africa volleyball title.

Basketball 3x3 boys champions St. Marys’ Kitende and corresponding girls winners Buddo Secondary School, both from Uganda, will also participate in the school championship.

This is the first time the East African schools will be participating at the continental championship since it was launched in 2018.