Players with physical disabilities are gearing up for the inaugural KKK Sitting Volleyball Tournament slated for November 28 this year at the Kiprugut Chumo Stadium in Kericho County.
This inclusive KKK tournament sponsored by Senator and Majority leader Aaron Cheruiyot will feature both men’s and women’s teams going head-to-head in a thrilling county showdown.
Speaking to KNA, head coach Paul Byegon overseeing the training of 60 players at the Kericho Vocational Rehabilitation Centre (KVRC) grounds said the teams were showing consistency and discipline in their trainings and was confident they will deliver outstanding performances.
“This will be a debut performance and I am happy that Senator Aaron Cheruiyot who is also the leader of the majority in the senate gave us an opportunity to play and compete in this tournament, “said Byegon.
Coach Byegon who is physically challenged remained optimistic stating that his focus was to ensure the County not only hosts a memorable event but also shines to qualify for national recognition.
“We train two times in a week and I am delighted to see many physically challenged people from various sub-counties in Kericho coming to horn their skills in readiness of the game. I have 60 players with one players coming from Nairobi County and two from Uasin Gishu County. The three are assisting the players build up as we prepare for the big day. However, in line with the Para Volleyball regulations the squad will be trimmed to 14 players per team ahead of the tournament. There are five games in a set so a match is set in a best-of-five format. The first to reach 25 points wins the set, ” said Coach Bygeon.
He revealed that the teams will compete in male and female events, adding that a team comprises of 14 players with each having a reserver and at all times a portion of a player’s torso must be in contact with the ground, to allow service blocks and attacks.
With just ten days to go, the spotlight is now firmly on the teams preparations.
Sitting Volleyball is perhaps the most widely known form of Para Volley ball after it was included in the Paralympics’ games in 1980.
The game is considerably faster that standing volleyball and the objective is to hit the ball over the net so the opponent cannot return it legally thus scoring points by grounding the ball in the opponent’s court.
The rules of the game are based on the Federation Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB) the global governing body for volleyball and beach volleyball. It requires a smaller court measuring 10metres by 6meters and a lower net for men’s game measures 1.15metres and 1.05metres for women.
by Sarah Njagi
