By PETER NJENGA

The national women's volleyball team members were yesterday in a relaxed mood ahead of their World Championships Africa zone qualifying tournament's opening game against Namibia on Friday at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani.

Captain Roselinda Obunaka said she felt good with the way training had shaped up after training with the team on Monday at the competition venue which is also the Kenyan side's residential camp.

Yesterday, she could reflect on the challenges ahead of them in the six-nation tournament which concludes on Saturday.

As Africa champions and Sydney Olympics participants, Obunaka said Kenya were the team to beat and Cameroon would give them a strong challenge.

In order to overcome the hurdle ahead, Obunaka said she will rally her attackers for quick scores especially Egypt-based Violet Baraza and Telkom's Dorcas Ndasaba.

Baraza, who is the only professional player in the Kenyan team, said her experience with Al Ahly Club of Egypt will play a crucial role in team.

Having qualified for the World Championships for the first time in 1995, Baraza said Kenya has good experience in Africa but there was too much expectations from Kenyans and they are in a "no-lose" situation.

She, however, found it hard to compare Kenya and Egypt.

She said: "Standards there (in Egypt) are a bit high and they have facilities like gymnasiums and for weight training which are offered for free unlike in Kenya where you have to pay for it."

Baraza will play in defence, away from her usual position of attack which she has perfected in Egypt, just to confuse the Tunisians who she has met before in several Arab championships.

After a morning work-out yesterday, the players settled for lunch then whiled their time away playing scrabble.

"It is good to sharpen your thinking," said Baraza when she engaged her colleagues for a match of words construction.

Coach Gilbert Ohanya had retired earlier for an afternoon siesta after a furious morning work-out.

The World Championships qualifier pits the undisputed queens of Africa, Kenya, against South Africa, Cameroun, Tunisia and Namibia.

The captain said that the new players in the squad – Lucy Chege, Emily Chemtai and Margaret Omukoya – were catching up fast and will combine well with the regulars.

They include Jacquiline Makokha, Nancy Lusanji and Gladys Nasikanda.

Cameroon arrive in Nairobi today together with neutral referee Solomon Bekele of Ethiopia.

His colleague Mohammed Habib Ali Abdulahi of Kuwait is also due in today.

Tunisia are on familiar grounds having been to Kenya in the past at national as well as club level.

Although the team is composed of some young players, coach Kamel Rkaya is confident of good results in the Nairobi tournament.