NAIROBI, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- Kenya women's national volleyball team hopes to have two friendly matches against Japan and Brazil ahead of the World Championships in September.
The team will seek out their colleagues for possible international friendly matches to help gauge the Kenyan team's preparation ahead of the World Championships.
David Lung'aho, the new Kenya Volleyball Federation technical director said the team is facing financial constraints. The team recently signed a 420,000 U.S. dollar sponsorship deal with the National Oil Corporation of Kenya but the coach still believes they are in the red and still require a similar amount to be able to successfully travel to the two countries for warm-up matches.
"The team is doing well in training knowing that it is a crucial year for us. We have signed a sponsorship deal, but that is not enough. We need more especially from the government," said Lung'aho.
Lung'aho believes a little boost will help them realize their dream to play Brazil and Japan and any other team prior to the start of the World Championships.
"Before we arrive in Japan for the World Championships, we need to organize and play in at least two international friendly matches against experienced teams like Japan and Brazil. But if we don't have funds, then it will remain a pipe dream," warned Lung'aho.
The coach noted that the level of play among African teams was not good enough and would not help in their assignment. Kenya wound up second, losing to host Cameroon in Yaounde, in the Africa Nations Cup finals in 2017 to book their ticket to the World Championships.
Both Cameroon and Kenya qualified for the World Championships and whereas the Cameroonians will be pitching camp in Marseille, France for training, the Kenyan side is stuck in Nairobi.
Kenya is pooled alongside Serbia, Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico and Kazakhstan at the World Championships.
