Malkia Strikers hit training ahead of global tour

National women’s volleyball team, Malkia Strikers, are finally in camp ahead of their FIVB Challenger Cup and Africa Cup of Nations set for July and August respectively. 

Initially slated to travel to Morocco on 10 June for a six-week training programme sponsored by FIVB, the team has had to adjust their schedule and will now travel, tentatively, next week.

The local training of the provisional squad of 20 is funded by the National Olympics Committee of Kenya (NOC-K) while the trip international trips will be partly funded by the FIVB.

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The team will be in the North African country for a month ahead of the FIVB Challenger Cup now confirmed for 27 to 30 July in France. The Cup qualifies teams for the Volleyball Nations League (VNL). 

After the Cup competition, the team will remain in France for further training ahead of the Nations Cup tournament set for August in Cameroon. 

“Our home training is at Nyayo this week as we wait for our approvals ahead of the trip to Morocco. We have to have all the Visas required for the round trip and that is being worked on. 

The team will be in Morocco until 25 June before leaving for France. The trip to Morocco is fully sponsored by the global governing body," offered acting KVF president Charles Nyaberi. 

On 4 August, the team is scheduled to leave for Cameroon where they will continue their quest for back-to-back Olympics appearance. 

“In Cameroon, we will be chasing qualification for World championships as well as points that go towards our qualification for the Paris Olympics. In the two outings, the team will be raking in points that go towards qualification for the Summer Games. The top-ranked team in the continent (per point ranking) qualifies,” Nyaberi added.