The team will depart for Morocco, where they are set to hold their training camp, in two batches on Tuesday and Thursday after getting the greenlight after a lengthy delay.
Coaches Paul Bitok and Japheth Munala have unveiled Malkia Strikers’ traveling party for the upcoming FIVB Challenger Cup in France and the African Nations Championship.
The team’s unveiling was done in the presence of Kenya Volleyball Federation acting President Charles Nyaberi and Vice President-Gender Mududa Waweru.
After an eight-year hiatus, setter Rose Magoi returns to the national team fold with outside hitter Leonida Kasaya and blocker Triza Atuka also back.
Mercy Moim is set to captain the team and will be deputized by Atuka.
The team will depart for Morocco, where they are set to hold their training camp, in two batches on Tuesday and Thursday after getting the greenlight after a lengthy delay.
Malkia Strikers were supposed to have jetted out mid-last month but could not hit the runaway due to visa hitches.
Reigning KVF Most Valuable Player (MVP) Pamela Adhiambo was shock exclusion in the squad, with first-choice setter Ester Mutinda also conspicuously out of the team although Nation reports her exclusion being due to personal commitment.
Apart from the two, the others not included in the final squad are Veronicah Kilabat and Delphine Musyoki.
Nyaberi wished the team fruitful training in Morocco and urged them to focus on qualifying for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
“Put your best foot forward as you fly the Kenyan flag. Come back with the qualification for Paris 2024 Olympics,” he said.
Meanwhile, leading gaming firm Mozzart Bet is expected to extend a helping financial hand to the team before its departure to Morocco.
This will not be the first time the firm is coming to the rescue of the team as ten million shillings was advanced to the team last year ahead of their training camp in Brazil.
MALKIA STRIKERS SQUAD
SETTERS
1. Emmaculate Nekesa – KCB
2. Rose Magoi – Pipeline
OPPOSITE PLAYERS
1. Sharon Chumba – Aris Thessaloniki, Greece
2. Loice Simiyu – Pipeline
OUTSIDE HITTERS (Left attackers).
1. Moim Mercy – KCB
2. Veronica Adhiambo – Tarsus Belediyespor, Turkey
3. Juliana Namutira – KCB
4. Jemimah Siango – DCI
5. Leonida Kasaya – Pipeline
6. Yvonne Wavinya – Prisons
LIBERO
1. Agripina Kundu – Pipeline
MIDDLE BLOCKERS
1. Edith Wisah – KCB
2. Belinda Barasa – KCB
3. Lorine Chebet – Prisons
4. Gladys Ekaru – Pipeline
5. Trizah Atuka – Pipeline
