The National Olympic Committee of Kenya has funded the Kenya National Women’s Volleyball Team – Malkia Strikers with support in excess of Kshs 6 million. NOCK has funded the Travel Tickets of the strong 18 pax headed to the World Championships as well as the allowances for the team while in Serbia and Netherlands.
As part of the funding, the team is currently participating in a warm up tournament in Serbia to measure their level of preparedness after a 2-month intense training camp in Brazil. NOCK had provided allowances to the team while in Brazil while Mozzart bet had paid for their air tickets.
NOC-K Secretary General Mr. Francis Mutuku while confirming this support noted that the model used for preparing Malkia Strikers is the optimal sports transformation model where teams participate and get exposure to major world events before participating in World Championships, Olympic Games or qualifiers and continental sports events.
Mutuku noted that, “in deed sports federations should adopt and emulate this model where Kenyan teams don’t just participate in world and continental games, but get exposure in preparation tournaments and warm up competitions before any major games.”
“We also should emulate the funding partnerships the Malkia strikers have gotten where the International Federation, FIVB catered for their accommodation and training Expenses in Brazil, Mozartbet paid for the Travel tickets to Brazil and accommodation costs in Serbia and NOCK supported the Tickets from Brazil to Serbia, Netherlands and Back to Kenya and also catered for allowances for the team.” Mr Mutuku noted.
The Secretary General further noted that NOCK has put the Malkia Strikers in an accelerated training program under the Olympic Solidarity to prepare and qualify for the Paris 2024. The Malkia strikers have been drafted into the Team Support Grant Program under Olympic Solidarity.
“We are happy to support all teams currently preparing for Paris 2024. International exposure will build our teams to the level we aim to be. We are way past the mark where teams are getting to global stages without exposure.” He said.
“The most important element in any sport is preparation, if we get that right then we are a step ahead. The three months in Brazil have clearly changed the team and upped their performance, this will be evident come next week at the championships.”
In Brazil, the nine-time African champions were handled by four Brazilian top coaches led by Luizomar de Moura, who have been seconded to Kenya by the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) as part of the Volleyball Empowerment Programme.
The 2019 Africa Games Gold medalists landed in Belgrade from Brazil for their final leg of preparations ahead of the Women’s World Championships set for 23 September to 15 October in Netherlands and is top of their game having won yesterday winning straight-sets (25-18,25-20,25-11) victory over Serbian national team B.
Kenya travel to Netherlands for the World Championships on Tuesday and begin their Pool A campaign against the hosts on Friday.
Head Coach Paul Bitok who’s closely working with the Brazilian technical bench named a mix of young and senior players in the team, including five debutants.
Veronica Adhiambo, Veronica Kilabat, Emmaculate Nekesa, Magdalene Sande and Belinda Barasa.
“The team’s minimum target will be to get to the second round, and this will mean they have to win at least two matches to stand a realistic chance.” Says Coach Bitok.
Fiery Puncher Sharon Chepchumba who recently signed a professional deal with Greek side Aris Thessalonik and Captain Mercy Moim are also in the team
Within the last one month, NOC-K has also supported three different teams in the Paris 2024 Olympic qualification Pathway; The Netball women to the Africa Cup 2022 Cape town, (World Cup 2023 Qualifiers) , 3×3 U23 FIBA Nations League in Romania and Boxing National team to the Africa Boxing Championship 2022, who jet into the country this evening with 3 silver medals worth Ksh. 1.5 million and a bronze medal with a Ksh. 250,000