TOKYO 2020: Malkia Strikers out to create history

Malkia Strikers are making a return to the Olympics after 17 years and coach Paul Bitok is eager to lead his charges against top ranked teams as he looks to change Kenya's volleyball story on the international stage. 

Kenya is yet to pick a set let alone win a match at the Olympics and the story is similar for Malkia Strikers on other global platforms like the World Cup. 

For the first time, however, the team has had proper preparations for a competition as big as the Olympics and the tactician is convinced the kind of training the team has undergone with the help of Brazilian coaches seconded to Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF) by the International governing body FIVB is just the beginning if a success story at the international level.  

“It is the first time we have trained for four months and even having 15 days of training outside Kenya. We are ready and we hope what we have been doing with the team will give us results. I think the players are motivated to be here at the Olympics," said Bitok. 

Kenya is in pool A that has hosts Japan, third ranked Serbia, Brazil who are ranked fourth globally, South Korea and Dominican Republic. Poll B has China, United States, Russia, Itally Argentina and Turkey.

“We are excited to play the first match against Japan. We want to win matches. We want to be in the second round. The girls are in good spirit especially now that everything has been offered by the government. We were given good accommodation, good facilities, good uniforms and also allowances were paid in time. We didn’t have problems," he continued. 

The Brazilian technical bench led by coach Luizomar de Moura introduced the use of technology in training. The team for the first time, trained using a catapult, a GPS device where each player is wearing a specific sports bra that measures performance during training.  The frequency of training and intensity was also increased as the Summer Games neared. 

“Technically, we are ok. We have worked on various departments. Before, we used to lift weights and had two trainings per week. But once the Brazilians came in, we have been working daily, working on strength conditioning, which we were not used to," 

“One of the strategies we have been working on is to target teams that are not ranked high. We study their games and some of the matches we have played against them as well.as watch video of their matches especially when they played in Italy two months ago. We have analysed their statistics and videos of these three teams,"

"We are also closely analysing how Japan plays and the positions they are getting more points from us to come up with ways to block them," offered the tactician.

On our side, we are working on our weaknesses. We always have a problem with reception, but I think we have covered these areas.

"With the help of these Brazilian coaches, we are using statistics even during matches. We have someone, who advises us on what to do and, which areas of weakness we can exploit on the other side of the opponent."

Unlike other disciplines that have to bear the brunt of the unforgiving humidity and heat in Tokyo, indoor volleyball will have it easy.

“For volleyball, I think the heat does not affect us very much because we play inside the arena. The conditions are different from what is outside because of the air conditioning. We are safe for we are not like say rugby or any other outdoor sport," Bitok concludes.