Weekly Buzz: Malkia yet to find their footing at the World Championships, Pogba's juju tales continue & more
Reading Time: 3min | Mon. 26.09.22. | 14:32
Here are the ups and downs from the past seven days - according to the Mozzart Sport Kenya team
Reality check Malkia Strikers
The national women's volleyball team, Malkia Strikers, under the tutelage of Luizomar de Moura and assistants Paul Bitok and Japheth Munala finally got their campaign at the FIVB Women's World Championships going.
In their seventh appearance at this level, Moura's charges look to enters the history books as the first squad to go past the group stage in this championship that brings 24 of the best teams globally, competing for one title currently held by Serbia.
Malkia Strikers have their work cut out in their quest to make to the top four in a pool that has hosts Netherlands, Belgium, Italy, Puerto Rico and African champions and bitter rivals Cameroon.
The side has already gone down by straight-sets to the Dutch and Yellow Tigers of Belgium. Malkia play Cameroon on Tuesday at 9pm (EAT) as they look to revenge their loss at the African Championships last year and bag a second victory in seven editions at the championship.
High-profile witchcraft
In 2022, there isn't a piece of news that can be considered shocking. Wars, viruses, riots, inflation - you name it. So when you read that a French international footballer has called a mrogi to get another French international to perform poorly, you react like it's just another story in the papers. Mathias Pogba publicly accused his brother Paul of hiring a witch to harm Kylian Mbappe ahead of the Manchester United v PSG match. In the wake of the report, we've seen many people connected to African football tell similar anecdotes. Just a few days ago, Kwara United players were sprayed with (presumably) chicken blood as they were stepping out of their team bus in Niger ahead of the CAF Confederations Cup match at AC Douanes. Will this ever go away? No.
Terrible England
Gareth Southgate is under fire from English media after the Three Lions got relegated from their UEFA Nations League division. The 1-0 defeat to Italy means that ambitious England ended this season in the young competition without a win in six games. It's hardly giving the nation much optimism ahead of the World Cup in Qatar. Southgate is still putting on a brave face, though, trying to persuade fans, reporters and his bosses that he's still the right man for the job - even though results suggest otherwise.
💬 "I know I'll be judged on what happens at the World Cup. Contracts are irrelevant in football."
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) September 26, 2022
Gareth Southgate speaks openly about his future as England manager pic.twitter.com/EsysxnUuID
Youngsters impress in week one of Elite Cup
A number of upcoming players grabbed the chance and impressed in week one of the ongoing Elite Cup at Kasarani Annex.
The tournament, organized to assess players before the start of the season has seen a scores of young players who are looking forward to their maiden season in the top-flight punch above their weights.
Nairobi City Stars and Kariobangi Sharks have been parading their young players who have done incredibly well despite their limited experienced coming up against seasoned players.
This tournament will not only help the young ones understand the demands of top-flight football but also see them adapt and thus, will not be affected by stage fright once the league gets underway.
