L. MathekaCautious Bitok reveals Malkia Strikers game plan with two matches left
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Reading Time: 3min | Wed. 28.09.22. | 18:00
The tactician has dedicated the team's victory to newly-appointed Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba, petitioning him to see to it that the team is compensated for the period they were away on national duty without allowances.
As national women’s volleyball team Malkia Strikers look to make history this weekend by reaching the second round of the FIVB Women’s World Championship for the first time, assistant coach Paul Bitok says they will be careful not to ruin their chances by going hard at Italy.
The nine-time African champions picked their second victory ever in seven appearances at the championship on Tuesday night when they beat bitter rivals and reigning continental champions Cameroon.
Malkia striker's honoured by Mayor of Epe, Vaassen, Oene and Emst Mr Tom Horn in Netherlands by flying Kenya flag in front of the city office.
— Paul Bitok (@pbitok2002) September 28, 2022
##Nethalandsembassy#mayorepe #WC2022 pic.twitter.com/a5kotFissN
Bitok, however, maintains that their job is not over until they play Puerto Rico on Saturday where a win quarantees the Luizomar de Moura-coached side of a last 16 place.
"We are happy for the Cameroon win as it is one of the targets we had since beginning our two-month training in Brazil. I congratulate the players for working for this victory.
Focus now shifts to the Puerto Rico match. We have planned for a win in this match. We went for the two teams because they are ranked lower than the other teams that were in our pool and our realistic chances of a second round would depend on how we perform against the two sides," offered Bitok.
Mabingwa wa Africa Malkia Strikers waliwapiga Cameroon 3-0 na kuandikisha ushindi kwenye mashindano ya 2022 FIVB World Championships yanaendelea nchini Netherlands.
— Mozzart Bet Kenya (@mozzartbetkenya) September 28, 2022
✅Seti ya kwanza 1: 25-20
✅Seti ya pili 2: 27-25
✅Seti ya 3: 25 -19
👏🏿👏🏿 Hongera sana Malkia Strikers 🇰🇪. pic.twitter.com/XdeNENFJ2P
Before Saturday's match that could enter the current Malkia Strikers squad in history books, Moura's charges face former world champions and 2018 silver medalists at the global event Italy on Thursday.
The Italians are the favourites as they hope to play for a return to the top of the podium for the first time in 20 years and give Italy their second world title.
In 2002, a team featuring the likes of setter Eleonora Lo Bianco, opposite Elisa Togut, outside hitter Francesca Piccininni, middle blocker Manuela Leggeri and libero Paola Cardullo triumphed in Germany.
Italy came close to bagging a second title four years ago, when they made it to the gold medal match but were stopped by Serbia. They took silver, only the nation’s second medal in the tournament.
The Volleyball Nations League champions have won all their three group stage matches in pool A that also has Belgium and Netherlands butbhave struggled against teams like Puerto Rico that showed alot of resilience. They came from a set down to beat Belgium 3-1.
"We know that the Italians are a power house but we will want to challenge them. However, it is not our strategy to try and win such a game so we will reserve our energy for the Saturday match and strategise well for a clash where we have a chance at winning," Bitok explained.
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