KNF summons 34 for Africa Nations Cup provisional squad

Kenya Netball Federation ( KNF) has announced a list of 18 women and 16 men to a provisional squad of the Kenya Netball national teams that have both begun a non residential training camp at the Ulinzi Sports indoor arena in Nairobi to prepare for the upcoming Africa Nations Cup scheduled for 9th-14th December 2024 in the municipality of Swakopmund, Namibia.

Speaking on Tuesday at the team’s training base, federation Secretary General ( SG) Millicent Busolo said that Kenya’s main objective is to gather as many points as possible and better their rankings for the sole purpose of qualifying for the 2026 Commonwealth games.

” We just missed the first five series because our rankings are a bit lower, but again our ladies team won the Mirxes Nations Cup in Singapore on debut, a momentum that we want to continue with as we head to Namibia,” an optimistic Busolo said.

With almost a month and a half to go, Ugandan import Mugisha Ali has been tasked with the responsibility of leading the charges and will be assisted by Prisons Kenya coach Evelyn Jerono and seasoned tactician Peninah Nyakundi while Samuel Angasa, Ann Bett and Emily Mola will manage the teams.

Mugisha, Nyakundi and Jerono will finally settle for a final 12 of both genders that will make it to the Coastal City of Namibia, west of the capital Windhoek where according to the host country’s sports commission, the country is expecting atleast ten African countries to participate in both genders during the continental showdown event.

The women’s provisional squad has Ulinzi Swords and Prisons Kenya having the bulk of players with eight apiece with the soldiers being led by Elsa Anyango, Jackline Adhiambo Auro, Caroline Makokha, Vidah Adhiambo, Dorine Anyango, Abigael Seme, Winfred Oyugi and Cynthia Milanya.

Long serving national team captain Parin Simiyu leads the charges from Prisons Kenya together with Lucy Atieno, Teresa Othuon, Mary Atieno, Irene Anyango, Miriam Wamani, Delilah Akinyi and Yvonne Nyaino.

Hellen Sinoya who decamped from Ulinzi to the newly formed Kenyatta National Hospital ( KNH) and Clarinda Awuor of National Youth Service ( NYS ) are the other two completing the roster.

The men’s charges are also dominated by Prisons Kenya who have nine called up led by veteran Chester Kioko while others are Isaac Langat, Julius Karanja, Stanley Musubi, Oscar Lyambila, Edward Mutie, Francis Wachira, Victor Mbithi and John Ochuka.

The duo of University of Eldoret led by Christovin Wanjala and Abel Lemiyan have also earned their maiden call ups the same as NYS’s Samuel Kimeu and Felix Nthage.

Mathare GANEC have also produced two with Hezron Mbaabu and Eric Ng’ang’a representing the Nairobi slum based side as Johnstone Odiwor from Homabay completes the men’s roster and will now have to travel over 350 kilometers to Kenya’s capital city in pursuit of a dream to represent Kenya internationally.