Malkia setter Nekesa ready for World stage

Malkia Strikers' setter Immaculate Nekesa has the weight of fitting in the shoes of the experienced players who have previously held the position before as the team prepares for the World Championships. 

The KCB player will be making her debut in the national team, having failed to make cut for the Tokyo Olympics and the African Championships last year. 

Four dropped as Malkia Strikers travelling squad is named

In the absence of the experienced Jane Wacu who has since called time on her national team career, Esther Mutinda and Joy Lusenaka were the go-to players in the position but the two are unavailable due to personal reasons.  

Nekesa finds herself thrown into the deep end, a position she handling with grace. As the team leaves the country for Brazil where they will hold a two-month training camp and a friendly matches in Serbia, Nekesa is committed to getting better in the position. 

"I am excited to be in the team. I expected to make the Olympics team but when it did not happen, I was okay with it as I knew the other setters were more experienced. It was just a call to for me to go back and train more to be ready for the next assignment. 

I have to believe in myself and put in the work to make sure there is no gap as Wacu exits the stage. I still have work to do to get to her level and this camp comes at a perfect time for that," said the soft-spoken Kwanthanze alumnus. 

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Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF) is using a Ksh 10 million Mozzart Bet sponsorship to facilitate the teams travel to Brazil for the FIVB-sponsored training. 

The 19-year old Nekesa got her first taste of international competition when she represented KCB at the CAVB Africa Women's Club Championships, helping the bankers to win the championship. 

"Going into the club championship I did not think I had what it takes to face the competition expected. I, however, had to adjust quickly and find the courage the play," offered Nekesa. 

She continued, "The next two months I will have to work on my speed work, accuracy and ball handling. I have received alot of advice from Wacu and Mutinda who I have played with in high school and I have also picked alot of lessons from them, top of the list being the fighting spirit."