NAIROBI, Aug. 23 (Xinhua) -- Kenya's women volleyball team will hold a two-week training camp in Japan prior to the World Championships, which starts from Sept. 29 to Oct. 30.
The team's technical director David Lung'aho says limited funds have forced them to cancel planned international friendly matches against Brazil and USA.
"We have no budget to travel abroad for friendly matches. We have to deal with what we have. However, we will leave early and have a two-week training camp in Japan prior to start of competition," Lung'aho told Xinhua on Thursday in Nairobi.
Kenya is pooled in Group D alongside Brazil, Serbia, Kazakhstan, Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico.
Kenya returns to the tournament after skipping the 2014 edition after they were edged out by Tunisia and Egypt. Kenya will have Cameroon as their continental partners.
A total of 24 teams will be battling out with the top three gaining automatic qualification to the 2020 Japan Olympic Games.
Lung'aho believes the team, which has won nine Africa titles, will hold firm and go beyond the preliminary rounds.
"The team is strong in training and we hope to do well. Many will rule us out but we want to leave a mark on the championships," he added.
Kenya is banking on its young squad to do well in the competition. However, Lung'aho pointed out weak reception in his backline as an area they are yet to polish up.
"Our striking has always been top class. But that need to be supplemented by a good reception and this has always been our waterloo. Hopefully we will get it right this time round," Lung'aho said.
The team beat their Under-20 women's side in a training match on Tuesday.
Kenya will host the Africa Under-20 championships in Nairobi from Aug 26, with eight teams including defending champs Egypt, Rwanda, Nigeria and Cameroon sending their squads.
The Kenya senior women's volleyball team will leave for Japan on Sept. 18 and has several warm up matches against select Japan clubs prior to the tournament.
