Malkia Strikers petition government for support ahead of World Championships

Coach Paul Bitok, while giving a progress report after Malkia Strikers' two-month training program in Brazil, has called on the government through the ministry of Sport to pay the team's pending allowances. 

The FIVB-sponsored camp was preparing the national team for the World Championships set for from 23 September in Netherlands and Poland. 

"We have managed to train for the last two months here in OSASCO- Sao Paulo city in Brazil under the sponsorship of FIVB with other partner sponsors from Federation , NOC-K and Mozzart Bet. 

Bitok backs youngsters to shine after Brazil camp

However we are still struggling with other issues. The government is yet to sponsor the team. We therefore request the ministry of sports to pay the pending allowances and other remaining bills to enable the team to focus on training so as to get the best performance in the forthcoming world championships," Bitok appealed in a statement.

The tactician say has been going on well under the high performance coaches with the good facilities helping the team to improve immensely. 

"We have managed to play ten friendlies and out of ten we managed to win three and lost seven which on the international standard we fairly did well. We still have two more friendly matches here in Brazil before the programme concludes," Bitok explained. 

Due to delays with the Netherland's Visa, the team could not return to Kenya as earlier planned. They will head to Serbia for a series of friendly matches before leaving for Netherlands. 

"We were scheduled to be in Kenya before 5 September. Though the players really wanted to come home and see their families since they have been away for long, we had to readjust.

We departure from Sao Paulo to Belgrade, Serbia on 14 September then head to Netherlands on 20. The team is expected back in Nairobi on 2 October or later after the first round.  

We have lined up two friendly matches in Belgrade, Serbia on 16 and 19 September before jetting out for world championship in Netherlands," offered Bitok. 

Kenya will be playing the opening ceremony match against host Netherlands, after which the team faces Italy, Cameroon, Puerto Rico and Belgium.