Malkia Strikers coach Bitok in full of praise for training conditions at Team Kenya’s pre-Olympics training camp

Malkia Strikers coach Paul Bitok. [PHOTO COURTESY]

The Kenya national women's volleyball team head coach Paul Bitok on Tuesday praised the training conditions at Team Kenya’s pre-Olympics training camp in Kurume City.

Kurume City in Japan was identified as the training camp for Kenya's track and field athletes ahead of the 2020 Olympics scheduled to take place between 23 July and 8 August.

The First group of Team Kenya, comprising the national women's volleyball team and Kenya's Shujaa Rugby, started their pre-Olympics training on Monday.

Malkia Strikers in Kurume City, Japan, on July 13, 2021. [Edward Alusa/Team Kenya]

Praising the standards and quality of training facilities at Team Kenya’s pre-Olympics training camp, Bitok described the conditions as favorable for athletes in the build-up to the Games.

Malkia Strikers in Kurume City, Japan, on July 13, 2021. [Edward Alusa/Team Kenya]

He was also grateful to the organizers after they received a warm reception from Team Kenya host in Kurume City.

“We have been received very well in Japan, especially in Kurume City. They are very caring and have given us all we want. As you can see, the gym is fantastic, we are really enjoying it, we have even received new balls from them. I think it is our time now to train for the next ten days and we hope to have the best training camp here in Kurume City,” said Bitok.

Malkia Strikers in Kurume City, Japan, on July 13, 2021. [Edward Alusa/Team Kenya]

Bitok was also pleased with the training conditions saying that Kurume City was a perfect place for Team Kenya to train and acclimatize before Tokyo games.

 “We just finished our first training and the condition here is very good. We thank the Kurume City mayor for allowing us to use these facilities. The players are responding very well because we wanted to go slowly, we just started with defence and services. I hope by the next training we will start the full technical part especially on the attack. We are awaiting the other players who will arrive later so that we can have a full squad,” he added.

Malkia Strikers in Kurume City, Japan, on July 13, 2021. [Edward Alusa/Team Kenya]

He welcomed the decision for early preparations saying that they are still negotiating to have one friendly match to get acclimatized ahead of the 2020 Olympics.

“Our main objective in this training is to get acclimatized in Japan and if possible, we are still negotiating to have one friendly match so that we can test the players after training for the last three months,” he added.

Kurume City officials have continuously been working to ensure that all the necessary arrangements are in order to receive the Kenyan athletes.

Kenya are in a tough group that includes former Olympic champions Brazil, hosts Japan, South Korea and the Dominican Republic. Group B is composed of China, United States, Russia, Italy, Argentina and Turkey.