.jpg)
L. MathekaWacu expected in camp before Friday
Reading Time: 2min | Mon. 12.04.21. | 20:50
Malkia Strikers began residential training on March 23 in an elaborate plan to have the team get the best preparation for the Games, as they make a return after 17 years
Since hitting camp last month, national women's volleyball team, Malkia Strikers, have made do with two setters in Joy Lusenaka and Immaculate Nekesa, but setter Jane Wacu is set to link up with the side before Friday, 16 April.
Kenya National Women's setter Jane Wacu arrives in Nairobi next week, to join the preparations for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics
— CAVB (@CAVBPress) April 9, 2021
The Malakia Strikers are currently in a training camp at Kasarani, the first phase of preparing for the Olympics, before jetting to Brazil next month pic.twitter.com/hw24FalgM4
Her availability is a timely boost to the Tokyo-bound side as they begin a ten-day high performance training under a Brazilian quartet of Federation Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB) coaches who will help the team prepare before they can depart for Brazil for more training in a fortnight.
Wacu, currently plying her trade with Anse Royale club in Seychelles, has been an integral part of Malkia Strikers' campaign to making a return to the Olympics after a 17-year hiatus, since joining the team in 2006.
To celebrate her 36th birthday ????????
— CAVB (@CAVBPress) March 24, 2021
???? Enjoy some of Kenya's Jane Wacu magic over the years ????????????
She was selected in the #ROSTER100 for the world's best players over the past decade ????????
Kenya Volleyball Pagehttps://t.co/VUZgkc5qZP
The 36-year old was part of a provisional squad of 20 that had initially been called to residential camp last month but her arrival had to be pushed forward as she had to undergo Covid-19 vaccination in Seychelles before she could travel. Another setter, fast-rising Esther Mutinda turned down the call up citing health issues.
"We had intended to have three setters in camp from the first day but we have made do with Nekesa and Lusenaka. Replacing Mutinda was a long process so we settled for waiting for Wacu. She received her first jab few days after we hit camp and she had to wait for the second jab before joining camp. We are expecting her before Friday," explained Malkia Strikers' head coach Paul Bitok.
#RoadtoTokyo
— National Olympic Committee of Kenya (@OlympicsKe) April 11, 2021
NAME: JANE WAIRIMU WACU
POSITION: SETTER
CURRENT CLUB: CLUB ARSU (SEYCHELLES)
WHAT DOES OLYMPIC QUALIFICATION MEAN TO YOU?
“We all have dreams. But in order to make dreams come into reality, it takes an awful lot of determination,
dedication and self-discipline .” pic.twitter.com/qVFARuPgrE
Malkia are set to be in Brazil from May 1 to 30 after which they will be back in the country, albeit for a short while as another two-week training and test matches await in Turkey. As organized by NOC-K, the final squad of 12 players is then scheduled to train in Kurobe City, Japan so as to acclimatize ahead of the Summer Games set for July 23 to August 8.
