Malkia Strikers set to start training

Malkia Strikers setter Emmaculate Nekesa in action at the 2022 World Championships in Netherlands. [File,Standard]

The national women and men volleyball teams start an intensive two-week training camp today ahead of the Zone V qualifiers.

The Nyayo National Stadium will be the venue for the two-week vigorous training.

The teams have two competitive competitions this month where they will participate in the CAVB Zone V qualifiers from January 21-28 in Egypt where the winners will represent the zone at the Africa Games slated for Accra, Kumasi and Cape Coast region in Ghana in March.

Also in line is the East Africa Community games set for early in February in Kigali, Rwanda.

The women team, better known as Malkia Strikers is under coach Japheth Munala supported by coach Josp Barasa and Janet Wanja.

The men team fondly known as Wafalme will be steered by General Service Unit (GSU) coach Gideon Tarus with Denis Mokua and Elisha Aliwa as his assistants.

Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF) Deputy President Paul Bitok said the focus is the Africa Games and the Olympic Games qualifiers.

“The national teams will embark on vigorous training as we set sight on Africa Games and the Olympic qualifiers. Our basket is full of activities this year,” said the immediate former Malkia Strikers coach.

Meanwhile, the third leg of the national league that was to kick off the 2024 volleyball activities from Thursday has been rescheduled to next month.

KVF Organising Secretary John Oronje said the matches that were to run from January 11-12 has been pushed to February 15-16.

“The notice is hereby given that due to unavoidable circumstances, the third leg of the national league and Arthur Odera tournament scheduled for January 11-14 have been pushed to February 15-18,” said Oronje.