Malkia Strikers Target World Championships Second Round

NAIROBI, Kenya- National team, Malkia Strikers are keen on making their sixth appearance at the 2018 FIVB Volleyball Women's World Championship a memorable outing by at least qualifying for the second round of the global showpiece that serves off next Saturday (September 29) in Japan.

The nine-time African champions Malkia are aiming to advance from the preliminary stages on their return to the Worlds for the first time since 2010 when they finished down the order in 21st place.

Speaking to SportPesa News head coach, Japheth Munala, outlined his objective of winning at least two games in their Pool D that will be based in Hamamatsu, a city located in Western Japan.

"Our plan is to beat Puerto Rico, Kazakhstan and Dominican Republic then see how to contain Brazil and Serbia who are world powerhouses," Munala said ahead of their departure on Thursday.

"We are not going to underrate any side, every match will be like a final to us," he stressed.

Kenya will play its opening fixture against Kazakhstan on September 29 before meeting Serbia the next day before tackling Puerto Rico, Brazil and Dominican Republic on October 1, 3 and 4 in that order.

Munala is happy with preparations of the final squad he named in Nairobi on Tuesday to be captained by left attacker, Mercy Moim, who plies her trade at Azerrail Baku in Azerbaijan.

"We have played several friendlies against Kenya Prisons, Pipeline and Strathmore men’s teams and the results have been encouraging.

"We are only engaging men’s sides in the build-ups to help us strengthen the playing unit because we have tough opponents in our group," Munala explained.

Those who made the cut include veteran setters, Jane Wacu and Janet Wanja who featured for Malkia at the 2010 event.

Best blocker

Reigning African best blocker, Edith Wisah of Kenya Prisons, will play middle role alongside Trizah Atuka of Kenya Pipeline, Lorine Chebet (Prisons) and Christine Siwa (KCB).

Moim will partner with Noel Murambi (Pipeline), Sharon Chepchumba (Prisons) and Leonida Kasaya (KCB) in left attacking.

Right attackers are Violet Makuto and Emmaculate Chemtai while Elizabeth Wanyama and Agripina Kundu will play libero.

Chepchumba, who was voted Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association’s Most Valuable Player in 2017 and Chebet, all formerly of Kwathanze Girls Secondary School, are the surprise inclusions in the squad that departs for Japan this evening at 7:15pm local time (+3GMT) aboard Ethiopian Airlines.

They are expected to touch down in Tokyo on Friday night (8:25pm). Munala said he has lined up nine friendlies games to keep his  charges busy before the tournament.

Kenya defeated Egypt 3-0 (25-23, 25-22, 25-19) at the African Championships in Yaoundé, Cameroon last October to finish third and qualify for the global event alongside the hosts who thumped Senegal with a similar margin (25-19, 25-20, 27-25) in the final.

Malkia, that has won five of the last seven continental finals, missed the last edition of Worlds held in Italy in 2014 having first qualified for the event for the first time in 1994.

Kenya featured at the 1998, 2002, 2006 and 2010 editions of the global championships at the height of their supremacy over Africa.

This year’s competition to run for 21 days will be held in the cities of Yokohama, Hamamatsu, Kobe, Nagoya, Osaka and Sapporo.

Selected fixtures

Kenya vs Kazakhstan-September 29

Kenya vs Serbia- September 30

Kenya vs Puerto Rico – October 1

Kenya vs Brazil-October 3

Kenya vs Dominican Republic-October 4

Pool A

Japan, Netherlands, Argentina, Germany, Cameroon, Mexico

Pool B

China, Italy, Turkey, Bulgaria, Canada, Cuba

Pool C

USA, Russia, Korea, Thailand, Azerbaijan, Trinidad and Tobago

Pool D

Serbia, Brazil, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Kazakhstan, Kenya