Bitok likely to replace Mutinda if Wacu’s arrival delays further

National women’s volleyball team, Malkia Strikers head coach Paul Bitok is likely to make a new call up to the national team as a replacement for Kenya Pipeline setter Esther Mutinda who has pulled out of the provisional squad currently training at Kasarani.

Malkia began residential training on Tuesday, 23 March at the Kasarani in preparation for the Tokyo Olympics set for July 23 to August 8. The team will be making a return to the Games since 2004.

Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF) has organized for two training camps outside the country, in Brazil and Turkey, before the team can join the National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOC-K)-organized camp in Japan. 

A squad of 18 is currently at Kasarani, with setter Jane Wacu who plies her trade in Seychelles for Club Anse Royale, yet to join camp. The team is under coaches Bitok, Japheth Munala and Josp Barasa for the next two weeks. 

Mutinda who was to fight for a place in the Olympics-bound team against KCB’s Emmaculate Nekesa, Prisons Kenya’s Joy Lusenaka and Wacu, says she is staying away to give herself time to recover from a stomach surgery.

“We held our first technical meeting on Wednesday to deliberate on 8issues including having a replacement for Mutinda and the final decision will be made on Thursday. There are several things to consider, top of the list is how soon Wacu will be able to join the squad before we can make a new call up. Our plans are to have three setters in camp at any time and Mutinda’s absence sets us back and will interfere with our programs,” said Bitok.

He further explained, “Wacu received her first Covid-19 vaccination and she cannot fly to Kenya until she receives her second injection. She is to confirm to us before the end of Thursday when that will be done so we can make a decision on whether to make a new call up. Since any new player joining camp will have to undergo Covid-19 testing before linking up with the rest, it is likely Wacu might be here by then.”

Next month, four coaches from Brazil attached to Federation Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB) will be in the country to offer their services to the team ahead of the Olympics. After the training under the four coaches, four players, from the original squad of 20, will be dropped as 16 head to Brazil for a month for high-performance training.

Malkia are set to be in Brazil from May 1 to 30 after which they will be back in the country, albeit for a short while as another two-week training and test matches await in Turkey. As organized by NOC-K, the final squad of 12 players is then scheduled to train in Kurobe City, Japan so as to acclimatize ahead of the Summer Games.

Squad:

Setter-Joy Lusenaka, Jane Wacu and Emmaculate Nekesa.

Right attackers -Emmaculate Chemtai, Violet Makuto, Sharon Chepchumba.

Middle Blockers-Edith Wisa, Joan Jelagat, Gladys Ekaru, Carolyne Sirengo and Lorrine Chebet.

Left attackers- Mercy Moim(captain), Noel Murambi, Leonida Kasaya, Jemmima Siangu, and Pamela Masaisai.

Liberos- Elizabeth Wanyama, Agripina Kundu and Josephine Wafula