AfricaPress-Kenya: You are inside Kasarani Stadium Indoor Gymnasium and a volleyball match pitting Kenya’s Malkia Strikers and Indomitable Lionesses of Cameroon is underway. And volleyball enthusiasts are left dazed when Kenyan setter Jane Wacu gets to set the ball.
She does not disappoint. Wacu always leaves her challengers pondering on which direction she would toss the ball.
Her witty setting skills, swiftness and firm fingers make her stand out. For the last decade, Wacu has left spectacular memories on the volleyball courts.
Malkia Strikers are set to start training for the Summer Olympic in less than two weeks. The Olympic Games runs in Tokyo from July 23 to August 8 yet Wacu is still stuck in Seychelles.
That might dampen Wacu’s dream to guide the national team at the quadrennial games, which they last featured in 2004, when she was a Form Four Student at Tetu Girls.
She has been a dominant figure in the national team and making it to the Olympic Games is a dream that she has been longing for. “This is the only championship missing in my volleyball collections,” she said.
The Government of Seychelles banned all sports but Wacu, who plies her trade with Anse Royale now keeps herself fit with individual training.
“I can’t travel home at the moment because all the airports are still closed, but I hope to link up with the team as soon as the country opens up,” said Wacu.
With no volleyball action taking place in Seychelles, Wacu weighed in on the fitness level of the team.
“I think fitness level will be a matter of concern for most teams because we didn’t see much of volleyball activities since the Covid-19 pandemic broke out. So we are not far off.
“I keep fit by following the national team exercise programme as directed by head coach Paul Bitok. I am ready to play anytime,” she said.
Wacu has participated at five FIVB World Cups, three FIVB World Championships, and the FIVB World Grand Prix. She has won five of the last seven Africa Championships and one All Africa Games gold.
She anchored the team when Kenya won the FIVB World Grand Prix Group III in 2015, the only international medal for Kenya outside Africa.
Kenya, the record Africa champions, have never won an Olympics match but Wacu believes coach Bitok will make a great impact.
“He picks his squad based on form. No favouritism and he doesn’t care about big names. If your form has dipped, then he will drop you. With that mentality, I think the players know that they have to work hard for that position so I believe only the best players will be in Japan,” Wacu, who works at Kenyan Prisons, said.
“We missed this chance last time and that was disheartening. Then Covid-19 pandemic came in and stopped it last year, but I believe that we will have an impact. Maybe this is the right time for Kenya to win at least a match. I believe we can.”
She is another true definition of a volleyball legend if her record of achievements is anything to go by.
Although age is not on Wacu’s side, she remains an integral figure for both the national team and her Seychelles club.
Just like her Kenya Pipeline rival Janet Wanja, the decorated setter has represented Kenya in almost all major competitions (World Cup, World Championship, World Club championship, Africa Nations Cup, All African Games and World Grand Prix) apart from the Olympic Games.
Since making her debut with both Kenya Pipeline and national team in 2006, Wacu has claimed six national league titles with Kenya Prisons between 2007 and 2017, five Continental club championship titles, four African Nations Cup titles.
