This archive report was first published on 2 January 2020.
Kenya's national women volleyball team, Malkia Strikers, is gearing up for the Africa women's volleyball Olympic qualifiers in Yaounde, Cameroon from January 5 to 9, 2020. The team, led by head coach Paul Bitok, aims to end the country's 15-year Olympic drought and secure a spot in the Tokyo Olympic Games.
Bitok has trimmed the team to 14 players, with veteran Mercy Moim as the captain. The coach has axed Pamela Masasai, Caroline Serengo, Linsey Jeruto, and Esther Mutinda from the squad.
Among the new faces in the team is Joy Luseneka, a setter from Kenya Prisons, who made her debut in the national team. Luseneka replaces Janet Wanja, who pulled out citing personal reasons. Jane Wacu, a long-serving player, has also been included in the team.
Bitok has urged the players who were not selected to keep working hard, as they have a great chance in future competitions. Kenya failed to win the International Olympic Qualifying tournament in Italy in September 2019 and has only the continental route to secure the ticket to Japan.
The last time Kenya was at the Olympics was in 2004 in Athens, Greece. The team is set to jet out to Cameroon tomorrow, with high hopes of reclaiming the Africa ticket to the Tokyo Olympic Games.
