MALKIA STRIKERS BRACED FOR RIO QUALIFIERS: Coach Munala says booking Olympic ticket will be tough

VOLLEYBALL Kenya's Malkia Strikers during the 2015 FIVB world Grand Prix final match against Peru at Canberra, Australia, yesterday. [PHOTO:FIVB]

National women’s volleyball team is bracing itself for a tough Rio Olympics Qualifiers tournament.

The  players, fondly referred to as Malkia Strikers had a remarkable 2015 season in which they won the World Grand Prix (Group 3), their first ever global title, retained the Africa Nations Cup and reclaimed the All Africa Games title.

They also performed fairly well at the World Cup, but they will be wary of the threat posed by the defending champions Algeria, as well as Cameroon, Tunisia, Egypt and Botswana.

The qualifiers serve off on February 12 in Yaoundé, Cameroon.

Malkia Strikers last featured in the Summer Games twelve years ago in Athens, Greece as they fell to Algeria in both Beijing (2008) and London (2012) Olympics qualifiers.

But going by the latest meetings against their continental rivals, the Japheth Munala-trained side go into the tournament as the favourites.

Kenya beat Algeria twice to claim a ninth African Nations Cup title in Nairobi before the Malkia Strikers B bounced back from their Group B 3-2 defeat against Cameroon to beat the West Africans 3-1 and reclaim the All Africa Games title in Congo Brazzaville.

Although the Kenya Pipeline coach is anticipating a very competitive outing in Yaoundé, he is confident of securing the ticket to Brazil.

“This is going to be one of the toughest tournaments in recent times because all the teams are eyeing the single Olympic slot. All the teams are threat to us,” Munala said.

“But remember we missed the last two Olympics, so this is will be the moment to prove a point.

“We beat Cameroon in Congo and as the hosts, they will be pushed by the home fans. Algeria are the defending champions while Egypt and Tunisia have equally good players, so it will not be easy for any team.

He added that most of  Malkia’s  opponents are out for revenge, but “I am happy with the mentality of my players. They are fully aware of what we expect there and we are not going to underrate any team. But I am confident we will qualify for  Rio.”

Assistant captain Noel Murambi and middle blocker Trizah Atuka are eager to qualify for the Olympics.

“We are not going to Cameroon for a holiday, but to reclaim our lost glory. Yes, all the teams are strong but with the morale in the camp nothing will stop us from achieving our target.

“We have been training for over six weeks now and everybody is eager to make Kenya proud,” said Murambi.

Atuka knows what the team members want. “It is twelve years since we last played at the Olympics, but we have had many good players and everybody wants to have a feel of that greatest competition,” she said. “We must be ready for a tough tournament as all teams are planning on how to beat us.”

The team reports to residential camp today.