Bitok urges Malkia Strikers to maintain focus ahead of do or die Puerto Rico tie

With Malkia Strikers on the verge of making history, assistant coach Paul Bitok is calling on the team to remain firmly focused on the task ahead and garner three points when they take on Puerto Rico on Saturday.

Malkia will take on Puerto Rico in the final FIVB women’s World Championships pool A match on Saturday. A victory will see the Mozzart Bet-sponsored side advance to the second round for the first time in history.

Ahead of the must-win tie, Bitok has urged the Kenyan girls to replicate the fighting spirit depicted in the third group stage match against Italy on Thursday and punch a ticket to the next round.

Even though Malkia lost 3-0 (25-15,25-23 and 25-16) to the European champions, the team punched above its weight by staging a brave fight something Bitok wants to see on court on Saturday.

“I hope we will play the same way we did against Italy. We gave a good fight and the scores were encouraging. We were not expecting to post such results at all for we did not want to push the players much. I encourage the players to keep focus and concentrate for we are dying to make history on Saturday,” he said.

Bitok in the meantime revealed that the technical bench elected to rest skipper Mercy Moim and middle blocker Edith Wisa against Italy in a bid to preserve them for the final group stage clash. The two players were replaced by Belinda Barasa and Noel Murambi respectively.

The bench also handed the duo of Yvonne Wavinya and Meldine Sande their World Championships debuts against Italy as the two came in the closing stages of the final set.

“We decided to hand the two a rest for we want them to come in full force against Puerto Rico. We hope to play well and join the top four in the group in the next group,” he added.

Red Star tip Malkia Strikers to impress at world championships