Bitok gives update about Malkia Strikers in Brazil
Malkia Strikers are now in their second week of a planned two-month training camp in Brazil and head coach Paul Bitok has revealed that everything is going as planned with the national women’s volleyball team.
“It is our second week here in Brazil and the players are adapting well,” Bitok said in one of the team’s weekly communique.
"We have been working more on our reception of the ball which has been giving us the most problem. The machines that are at our disposal here are helping us improve in this area and I know we will see a difference by the time we play our first friendly match."
Malkia left the country on June 26 and are camping in the Southeast city of Sao Paulo at the state-of-the-art Osasco Volleyball Club which is home to 2012 FIVB World Club Champions Sollys Nestle Osasco.
World Championships
The camp, organized by world governing body FIVB through its Volleyball Empowerment Programme, is being used to help the team prepare for this year’s World Championships to be hosted by Poland and the Netherlands from September 23 to October 15.
In Brazil, the nine-time African champions will be under the tutelage of four Brazilian coaches assigned to the team by the FIVB who will work closely with Bitok as well as his assistant Japheth Munala.
Osasco club head coach Luizomar de Moura will lead the contingent in what will be his second stint with Malkia Strikers.
He first worked with the team during the run-up to last year’s delayed Olympic games in Brazil in what was also the first involvement between Kenya and the FIVB before a major global showpiece.
Kenya is the only country from the continent that has received this invitation.
Malkia to travel to Serbia
After Brazil, Malkia Strikers will travel to Serbia where they are set to fine-tune for the World Championships with two more friendly matches against defending world champions Serbia and Colombia.
For the 19th World Championships, Kenya has been placed in Pool A alongside hosts Netherlands, European champions Italy, African rivals Cameroon, Belgium and Puerto Rico.
Below is the squad that is in Brazil;
Outside hitters - Noel Murambi, Mercy Moim, Yvonne Wavinya and Veronica Adhiambo, Meldine Sande
Middle blockers - Belinda Barasa, Gladys Ekaru, Edith Wisa, Magdaline Mwende and Lorine Chebet
Opposite attackers - Violet Makuto and Sharon Chepchumba
Setters - Veronica Kilabat and Emmaculate Nekesa
Liberos - Veronica Makokha and Aggripina Kundu
Coach - Paul Bitok, Assistant coach - Japheth Munala
