Malkia Strikers ready for Sesi Sorocaba test
Volleyball and Handball
By
Ernest Ndunda
| Jul 20, 2022
Malkia Strikers will today test their level of progress when they play a Brazilian Super League B side Sesi Sorocoba as part of their preparations for the World Championships.
Today’s 1am match will be the second build up match for the Paul Bitok-led team since their arrival in Brazil three weeks ago to prepare for the global showpiece to be jointly hosted by Netherlands and Poland from September 23 to October 15.
After today’s match, Malkia will tomorrow travel by road covering eight hours to Saquarema town near Rio for two consecutive build up matches on Friday and Saturday against the Brazilian national under 21 team, which is also preparing for the continental under 21 competition scheduled for next month.
Saquarema town is the center of excellent for Brazilian Volleyball Federation, where they groom talents.
Bitok believes the three matches will be important to his charges as they prepare to play Osasco in their return match next Friday.
The two teams met last Friday where the Brazilian club beat the Kenyan girls 3-0 in their first friendly in Brazil.
Meanwhile, with eight days to the start of the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, UK, national women beach volleyball team has been in a bubble camp for the safety of the players.
Head coach Salome Wanjala said the team is in a pre-departure bubble camp and the players have not been allowed to be out of the camp since their return from issuance of visas in Nairobi a fortnight ago.
“The girls are training in a strict bubble to keep them safe from Covid-19 infections,” said the coach.
Wanjala said training is going on well at their base at the Pride Inn Flamingo Beach Hotel in Mombasa.
“We have been having two training sessions a day and the girls are up to the task ahead,” she said.
She added that the focus has been on the defence and blocks.