Kenya Prisons ace eyes Malkia Strikers call-up after return

Kenya Prisons women's volleyball team assistant coach Azenga Mavisi has tipped promising left attacker Meldine Sande to fill the shoes left by Evelyne Makuto who has been out of action for over a year.

Makuto, an influential attacker both at Prisons and Malkia Strikers, is recovering from a right knee injury she picked during the last year's Women’s Africa Club Championship in Cairo, Egypt.

Prisons were unceremoniously ousted from the competition reportedly for not having been cleared to participate in the annual event by the Ministry of Interior and Coordination.

Mavisi noted Sande has all the qualities to prosper.

"Sande is ripe. We missed her services during last year's play-offs as she was away on maternity leave but now that she is back, she can only pick from where she left. She has the power, jump, blocks and the only thing that we are tightening is her backcourt defence," Mavisi told after guiding the players through an individual morning work out session at the Nairobi West Prisons training grounds.

"She will be a pivotal player in our bid to defend the league title we won last year," he added.

Sande, a Mukumu Girls High School alumnus, is keen to impress the national team selectors ahead of the postponed 2020 Tokyo Olympics in 2021.

"I have received call ups to the age group competitions before, including the 2017 FIVB World Championships that was held in Slovenia, but it was unfortunate I didn't honor the call up as I was undergoing training at the College. But going forward, I'm ready to compete for a spot in the national team. I know it will not be easy but I'm ready for the competition," said the 24-year-old.

"I'm going the extra mile in the training fully guided by what I want to achieve in future. I know my capabilities and I'm working towards achieving my goals."

Tough competition

But first, Sande will jostle for slots in the club alongside experienced former national team captain Brackcides Agala who can play as a left attacker and middle blocker, Pamela Masaisai, and Loice Jepkosgei.

Clubs captain Agala said Sande is the next big thing in the local volleyball circles.

Agala the reigning Kenya Volleyball  Federation Most Valuable Player,  observed that Sande will ruffle feathers once she makes it to the national team.

"I have been around volleyball for quite some time now and I know a good player when I see one. Sande is willing to learn, she is focused and more so,determined to make it. With such a player, we don't have a choice but to support her," said Agala.