Tarus: Experience, consistency key as Wafalme Stars make Africa Games return

As the national men’s volleyball team, Wafalme Stars, prepare for a return to the Africa Games, a continental competition they have not featured in for 13 years, coach Gideon Tarus has his plan well laid out.

The tactician, who led Wafalme to victory against Burundi to secure one of the two available slots from the CAVB Zone Five qualifiers held late last month admits that the team has their work cut out but is confident of a good outing.

Despite falling 3-0 to hosts Egypt, a team that coach Tarus had masterminded a 3-2 victory against in 2021 during the Nations Championship, he believes with a little tinkering of the current squad anything is possible.

“We had a good outing and the two matches we played in the qualifiers served to pinpoint areas of concern ahead of the Africa Games. The team needs some experience and consistency in some positions so any new additions as we prepare will be to address the two areas.

I have a good squad of Kenyan-based players who have created a chemistry that would be almost impossible to achieve if they were not all available for training when camp gets underway. We are looking to make two new additions and the team should be home and dry,” Tarus opened up in an interview with Mozzart Sport.

The men's team has missed the last two editions of the Games in 2015 and 2019, the last participation coming in 2011 in Maputo, where the East African country won bronze, defeating Rwanda 3-0 in the third-place match.

Tarus is looking to replicate that performance, having qualified for the Africa Games despite going to battle without his foreign legion, something he admits was a blessing as he got to field some newbies for the much-needed international exposure.

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