NAIROBI, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- Kenya has settled on a young team to compete in the Africa women's volleyball Olympic qualifiers, which will be held in Yaounde, Cameroon from January 5 to 9.
The team is due to jet out on Friday with head coach Paul Bitok promising to end the country's 15-year jinx and reclaim the Africa ticket to the Tokyo Olympic Games.
A total of five teams have confirmed participation: host and African champion Cameroon, Kenya, Egypt, Botswana and Mauritius.
"Training scaled up over the past few weeks, getting more tactical and intensive by the day. Each player displayed great improvement in their respective roles. While improvement is greatly noticed in each player, only a 14-member squad shall be retained," said Bitok on Tuesday in Nairobi.
The coach has since axed Janet Wanja, Pamela Masasai, Caroline Serengo, Linsey Jeruto and Esther Mutinda.
"For the players that won't be selected, I urge them to keep their heads high and to continue working hard as they stand a great chance in future competitions like the Tokyo 2020," added Bitok.
Kenya had failed to win the International Olympic Qualifying tournament in Italy in September and has only the continental route to secure the ticket to Japan. The last time Kenya was at the Olympics was back in 2004 in Athens, Greece.