Volleyball: Malkia Strikers ready for world tourney

Malkia Strikers' Jane Wanja during their match of the 2017 CAVB Zone V World Championship Qualifiers against Rwanda at Kasarani Gymnasiun on Friday, July 28, 2017. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

Kenya is going all out for a positive start in the World Volleyball Championships in Japan despite having a troubled training session.

Kenya Volleyball Federation President Waithaka Kioni said despite their limited exposure owing to lack of advanced sporting infrastructure, they are equal to the task of pulling surprises in their matches.

“Our standards are below our opponents’ in the global championships. Foreign countries have invested heavily in sporting facilities,” Kioni told Standard Sports.

“We pay to use the indoor gymnasium at Kasarani for just a few weeks. Our opponents have heavily invested in indoor facilities, which enables them get tremendous exposure,” he added.

Kenya are in Pool D with Serbia, Dominican Republic, Brazil, Kazakhstan and Puerto Rico.

Pool A has hosts Japan, Argentina, Netherlands, Germany, Cameroon and Mexico, while Pool B is comprised of China, Italy, Turkey, Bulgaria, Canada and Cuba.

United States of America, Russia, South Korea, Thailand, Azerbaijan and Trinidad and Tobago are in Pool C.

Kenya was expected to play their first friendly match against Japanese club Rivale Hitachi in a series of friendlies lined up for the Malkia Strikers by former national head coach Sadatoshi Sugawara ahead of the official program that serves-off on Saturday.

Kenya play their first match against Kazakhstan on Saturday (7:20pm) before facing Serbia on Sunday at the same time.

Kenya’s third tie will be against Puerto Rico on Monday at 4:10pm, Brazil on October 3 at 4:10pm, then play their final match against Dominican Republic on October 4.