Which way, Malkia Strikers?

National women’s volleyball team, Malkia Strikers' trip to the World Championships set for 23 September to 15 October hangs in the balance as the federation says the government has remained mum on facilitation. 

The team was set to leave the country early Saturday, 18 June, morning for a two-month training organized by the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) as part of an empowerment program preparing the team for the championship. 

KVF cries for support from government to send Malkia Strikers to Brazil

After the two months, the team is expected to move to Serbia where they play high-level friendly matches before heading out to Netherlands for championship proper. 

"This is a circuit trip and the three are intertwined. When they leave the country this week, the team was expected to be away until the end of the Championship and the entire trip, including participation at the World Championships, is threatened by the government remaining non-committal," offered Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF) deputy president Charles Nyaberi. 

The federation, in April, forwarded to the government a Ksh 46 million budget that was to cater for the preparation and the championship and until Wednesday, 15 June, when they addressed the media, no response had been received. 

Of the budget, Ksh 23.2 is meant to cater for the air tickets and allowances for the team jn Brazil as the rest is covered by FIVB Ksh 6.5 for their stay in Serbian while the rest of the budget is allocated to the championship which will be co-hosted by Netherlands and Poland. 

"The hopes of these players are being dashed. The team is in good spirits and we are still hoping that the government will make it happen for us. The team is lucky to have this chance and we are hoping we will not betray FIVB's trust in Kenya. 

Malkia has a good track record of high achievements and this training with top ranked teams will add to that as we look to make history in the championship," Nyaberi further offered in his appeal. 

With the Brazil trip covered partly by FIVB, the team's stay in Serbia is jointly sponsored by Mozzart Bet. 

His sentiments were echoed by coach Paul Bitok who argued that the squad of 20 currently in camp needs the exposure in Brazil before he can come up with a final squad for the assignment ahead.

"We have been preparing for this but now we are not sure if it will happen. We set up this programme after qualifying for the World Championships and it was a good plan.

We need more clarification from the ministry whether they are rejecting the Brazil trip or the entire budget. We have had a good three-year working relationship with the ministry since I took over as the coach and I am grateful and hopeful the relationship continues," offered Bitok.

The tactician says tickets and allowances make up the bulk of their budget and has pleaded with President Uhuru Kenyatta to keep a promise he made to Malkia Strikers when they qualified for the Olympics of supporting the team by intervening and making their trip happen.