Motivated Malkia Strikers ready to upset Poland
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Reading Time: 2min | Mon. 25.08.25. | 10:05
Poland, the highest-ranked team to qualify for the World Championship through the World Ranking, have made 11 previous appearances at the global event
Head coach Geoffrey Omondi is upbeat ahead of Malkia Strikers’ second match in Pool G, against Poland, in the FIVB World Championship in Phuket, Thailand, on Monday, 25 August, at 4:30 pm (EAT).
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The African champions opened their campaign on Saturday with a straight-sets loss to Germany in sets of 22-25, 08-25, and 20-25, a match that the tactician admits was lost on small technicalities, ones they have since worked on, and are ready for the next challenge.
Speaking after their training session on Sunday, Omondi says the team will pick up from where they left off on Saturday as they look to cause what would probably be the biggest upset of the tournament so far against the third-ranked country in the FIVB World Rankings.
“The players did a fantastic job when they played Germany, and we hope that they will have the same gusto when they play Poland. We have trained well and tried to make amends in the areas where we were not good in game one. I believe we can cause an upset against Poland,” the tactician offered, adding that the players were in good spirits after receiving their allowances. “Now the concentration is on the remaining matches. If we can bag a set or two or even win the match altogether, then it will be something.”
Poland, the highest-ranked team to qualify for the World Championship through the World Ranking, have made 11 previous appearances at the global event, and the silver they earned at the inaugural edition back in 1952 was their best achievement in the history of the competition.
Poland also picked up bronze in 1956 and in 1962. They are the bronze medalists of the last three editions of the Volleyball Nations League. Last year, they finished sixth at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Coach Stefano Lavarini, despite his side going in as favourites, is cautious ahead of Monday’s match, saying he would not underrate Kenya. Lavarini said that Kenya was a physical side that could cause an upset when you least expect it.
“Just like Vietnam, they pushed us to the wall and, in fact, bagged the first set, and that shows how volleyball is evolving. It’s on that note that we are keen to take every match seriously so that we can qualify for the second round. We played Kenya at the Olympics, and although we beat them 3-0, they played really well,” said Lavarini.
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