Malkia Strikers off to winning start in Afcon tie

Malkia Strikers attackers Mercy Moim and Veronica Adhiambo celebrate a point against Puerto Rico at the World Championships action in Netherlands on October 1, 2022. [Courtesy]

National volleyball team Malkia Strikers got off to a winning start yesterday after seeing off Rwanda in straight sets as the Africa Cup of Nations tournament served off in Cameroon.

It was the second time in as many days that Kenya was meeting their East Africa rivals after having played them in a friendly on Tuesday before the competition proper served off yesterday in Yaounde.

The Africa Cup of Nations tournament is also used as an Olympic qualifier, to pick the team that will fly Africa’s flg at the Olympic Games in Paris next year.

It was therefore important that Malkia Strikers got off to a good start in their opener yesterday as they will be keen to once again play at the Olympic Games after having played at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.

The team might have brushed aside Rwanda 3-0 (25-26, 25-20, 25-17) yesterday, but the coaches still have a lot of work to do before they meet other strong opponents like Morocco in the group and later their main rivals Cameroon, Algeria and Egypt.

Once again ball reception was still a problem for captain Mercy Moim and her charges and they struggled in the second set against Rwanda, something the coaches will work on before their next match.

Kenya are in pool B alongside Rwanda, Morocco, Uganda, Lesotho and Burkina Faso.

Hosts Cameroon who are seen to be Kenya’s main rivals in the tournament have been pooled in Group A together with Nigeria, Burundi, Mali, Algeria and Egypt.