Bitok in persuasion talks to have experienced setter Wacu back at Malkia Strikers

Malkia Strikers head coach Paul Bitok has revealed that he is in persuasion talks with Jane Wacu in the hope that the experienced setter will make a return to the national women’s volleyball team ahead of the upcoming 2022 FIVB Women’s World Championships set to be hosted jointly by Netherlands and Poland starting September 23 to October 15 this year.

Back in September 2021, Wacu, who was part of the travelling volleyball contingent that represented the country in the postponed 2020 Tokyo Olympics, announced that she will be taking a break from national team duties with the Malkia Strikers in order to pursue other ventures.

Experienced setter Jane Wacu takes break from Malkia Strikers

Since then, the player, who has had who has had stints in France and Seychelles, has not featured for the national side with the team struggling at the CAVB Volleyball Women’s African Nations Championships held in Kigali, Rwanda where they finished second behind Cameroon.

“It is my wish to have Wacu back in the team because she is still one of the best players currently. Last time when we went for the qualifiers for the World Championship, she did not participate. I am still negotiating with her because I want her to retire honorably after the upcoming World Championship,” Bitok told Mozzart Sport.

“I believe she can help Kenya a lot especially at this time because even the second setter will not be available due to maternity leave. We have new setters which is more dangerous because they have not played at a high level yet,” he added.

At the upcoming games, Kenya is placed in Pool A alongside arch-rivals Cameroon, hosts the Netherlands, European champions Italy, Belgium, and Puerto Rico where Bitok is confident the team can make history by qualifying to the second round for the first time ever in history.

Bitok confident Malkia Strikers can make history at upcoming World Championship

This will be the seventh time that Malkia strikers will be making an appearance at the Championship, and will be hoping to record their second win at the championship having picked a historic win during the 2018 edition in Japan as they saw off Kazakhstan by straight sets.

DRAW

Pool A: Netherlands, Italy, Belgium, Puerto Rico, Cameroon, Kenya

Pool B: Poland, Turkey, Dominican Republic, Korea, Thailand, Croatia

Pool C: USA, Serbia, Germany, Bulgaria, Canada, Kazakhstan

Pool D: Brazil, China, Japan, Colombia, Argentina, Czech Republic