Africa’s most successful volleyball team Kenya, depart for Puerto Rico on Tuesday to play in their last Olympic qualifiers in Puerto Rico after failing in the initial stage early this year in Cameroon.
While in Puerto Rico, the Malkia Strikers will play three matches against the hosts, Colombia and Algeria where the overall winner will book the sole ticket to Rio De Janeiro for the August summer Olympics.
And to make sure they achieve that feat, the Kenyan government and Kenya Volleyball Federation (KFK) have settled all outstanding allowances for the team.
Something head coach David Lung’aho termed as the best ever allowances received by the national women team from the government.
Target is to qualify for the Olympics, and we have to stay focused play every game like it’s the last, the team is in best form, we just want to make sure results go our way
Lung’aho told Kawowo Sports before highlighting that they will also use the platform to pick their rhythm ahead of the Federation of International Volleyball (FIVB) Grand Prix Group Two games that start in June in Argentina, where they plan to give their best.
We want to get better results as first timers and avoid relegation, if we do this well then we can plan for going all the way to the final round in 2017
Kenya won the FIVB Group Three last year to qualify for the second tier of the championship and before they commence that campaign, they will be in Argentina, Buenos Aires for a two week training camp starting May 23.
In Argentina, Kenya has been drawn in Pool A2 alongside Argentina , Bulgaria and Dominican Republic other teams in the pool are, Poland and Puerto Rico, Czech Republic and Canada.
FIVB World Olympic qualifiers Fixtures
21st May
Kenya vs Colombia
22nd May
Kenya vs Algeria
23rd May
Kenya vs Puerto Rico
FIVB Group Three Grand Prix first leg Fixtures
June 4th in Tucuman Argentina
Kenya vs Argentina
Dominican Republic vs Bulgaria
June 5th in Tucuman Argentina
Kenya vs Bulgaria
Dominican Republic vs Argentina
June 5th in Tucuman Argentina
Dominican Republic vs Kenya
Argentina vs Bulgaria
June 10th in Poland
Kenya vs Puerto Rico
Poland vs Argentina
June 11th in Poland
Kenya vs Poland
Argentina vs Puerto Rico
June 12th in Poland
Kenya vs Argentina
Poland vs Puerto Rico
Selected team for the Olympic qualifiers and FIVB Grand Prix: Mercy Moim (Captain), Jane Wacu , Janet Wanja , Evelyne Makuto ,Edith Wisa, Violet Makuto , Brackcides Khadambi, Noel Murambii, Trizah Atuka , Esther Wangeci , Agrippina Kundu, Monica Biama.
Traveling Officials
Martin Kimondo – Team Manager
David Lung’aho – Head Coach
Japheth Munala – Assistant Coach
Charles Maina – Team Doctor
Dennis Machio – Team Journalist
