Kenya’s men’s sitting volleyball head coach Richard Kanyi is optimistic about the team’s future following a dominant win over South Africa at the Africa ParaVolley Championship but he says serious progress will only come with long-term vision and structural change.
After guiding his side to a convincing 3-0 (25-11, 25-20, 25-12) victory in their classification match at Nairobi’s Kasarani arena, Kanyi reflected on what the win means for a squad that had struggled in earlier stages of the tournament.
“This was more than just a victory it was a statement of what’s possible,” Kanyi said. “We’ve seen that with the right preparation, we can compete. But if we want to go toe-to-toe with Africa’s elite, we need to build the right systems.”
Kenya had a rough start at the championship, falling in straight sets to Egypt, Rwanda, and Morocco during the group stage. The losses laid bare key weaknesses especially in reception and tempo control but also revealed the team’s fighting spirit and potential.
“Our loss to Morocco was a turning point. The players started showing confidence, better coordination, and sharper transitions,” Kanyi noted. “That’s when we knew we had something to build on.”
Against South Africa, the Kenyans came out with purpose asserting themselves with accurate court positioning, strong serves, and a tactical grip on the match tempo. South Africa attempted a pushback in the second set, but Kenya held their nerve and maintained control through the third.
Coach Kanyi, who led a young, relatively inexperienced squad to the continental competition, believes this performance marks a shift in mindset and hopefully, in investment.
“We need more than a few weeks of training before a tournament. We need a calendar with regular camps, a national league, international friendlies that’s how teams grow,” he explained. “These players are hungry, but we must now match that hunger with opportunity.”
The team’s exposure to elite-level sitting volleyball particularly in their matches against North and Central African sides also provided valuable insight into the pace, tactical depth, and mental sharpness required to succeed internationally.
“The difference wasn’t just skill. It was systems, structure, and confidence built over time. We’ve started conversations with stakeholders about building that foundation here in Kenya,” Kanyi shared.
Looking ahead, the Kenya ParaVolley Federation plans to expand grassroots participation and increase county-level involvement to widen the talent pool ahead of the 2027 African Para Games qualifiers.
“This win gave the boys belief,” Kanyi said with pride. “Now we need to back that belief with proper planning and support. We’re not far we just need consistency, exposure, and faith in the process.”
