Malkia Strikers trip to Brazil cancelled due to Covid risk
The government has cancelled Malkia Strikers’ high-performance training camp that was set for Sao Paulo, Brazil.
The Ministry of Health has issued the directive, citing the alarming coronavirus situation in Brazil.
The team was scheduled to leave travel last weekend for a 45-day training camp.
Brazil has registered 14.6 million cases of coronavirus, 12 million have recovered with 401,000 deaths.
Acting Director General for Health Patrick Amoth, through a letter addressed to Kenya Volleyball Federation Secretary General Benjamin Juma, advised the federation to defer the trip until the situation had normalised.
“The Ministry notes that Brazil is currently experiencing widespread community transmission of Covid-19 with a surge in cases and death in the past few weeks.
A review of epidemiologic situations in Brazil indicates that the current surge in cases may persist for several weeks,” the letter said.
“In view of the above and in securing the health of the national team in preparation for the Olympics, the Ministry of Health urges the federation to defer the intended travel and training in Brazil until the situation stabilises.
The Ministry of Sports was advised therefore to seek a mechanism of facilitating such training in the country, utilising equivalently qualified coaches sourced locally or abroad.
Meanwhile, it is not if Malkia will still travel to Turkey as was earlier planned is facing actual doubts. After the Brazil trip, an invitation to Turkey was next as part of the preparations for the Summer Games.
Coach Paul Bitok still has faith his team can get proper and adequate preparation. “I still think we can have a closed camp in a bubble just like it is done elsewhere.”
