‘Podium finish!’ Gideon Tarus dares to dream with Wafalme Stars

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You have to go back 16 years to locate Kenya’s men’s team best ever ranking at the CAVB African Nations Championship, that is 2007 when the tournament was held in South Africa.

Kenya finished a respectable fifth behind champions Egypt, Tunisia, Cameroon and hosts South Africa. Over a decade later, one Gideon Tarus is keen on improving this record as Kenya go in search of an elusive podium finish at the CAVB African Nations Championship that serves off on Sunday here in Cairo.

The Wafalme Stars head coach did not mince his words when asked what his targets for this competition are, setting an ambitious goal of reaching the semi-final for the first time in history.

And Tarus has hit the ground running, swiftly organising a build-up match against Morocco on Saturday morning ahead of the drawing of lots at night which will determine Kenya’s group.

Memories of the previous edition held in 2021 in Rwanda where his team registered a historic 3-2 win over Egypt in the group before winding up ninth in the final rankings are still fresh. Tarus reckons that it’s important his boys take a game at a time in this year’s edition.

Wafalme stars

“I have talked to my boys and told them we need to stay focused and avoid getting carried away. We don’t want to repeat the mistake of the last edition where we struggled to beat Egypt then lost a crucial match against Morocco which denied us a place in the quarter-finals.

“If we get to the quarter-finals (this year) then we will definitely reach the semis and from there it’s anyone’s game. We can go all the way to the final and win this cup,” said a buoyant Tarus.

 

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