“The 2015 was a good year for Kenyan volleyball and this year has plenty in store for the sport,” Kenya Volleyball Federation president Waithaka Kioni noted as he evaluated 2015 in performance.
Last year, KVF entered three teams—(national senior men and women, and under 20 girls’) in the zonal, continental and world competitions. The national senior women’s team, Malkia Strikers lineup posted very good performances and even made headlines globally.
Malkia Strikers served off 2015 with 100 percent feat during the All Africa Games Zone V qualifiers in Kampala, Uganda, winning all their games against Rwanda, Burundi and hosts Uganda in straight sets. In June, the girls yet again registered a clean sheet, winning all their matches at the Africa Cup of Nations, defeating rivals Algeria 3-0 in the final held at the Safaricom Indoor Arena in Nairobi.
Three weeks after retaining the continental title, the nine-time African queens hit headlines worldwide when they won the prestigious FIVB World Grand Prix Group 3 trophy. Staged in Mexico, Algeria and Australia respectively, Malkia Strikers lost their two openers to Peru and Colombia but bounced back with a win over hosts (Mexico) to post a 75 per cent record in their second year at the Grand Prix. The victory promoted the Kenyan side to Group Two of the FIVB Grand Prix, where they are set to meet Bulgaria, Puerto Rico, Czech Republic, Canada, Argentina, Poland and Dominican Republic.
In September’s FIVB World Cup, the African champions recorded 18 per cent win. This was in fact the first time for Kenya, and an African nation for that matter to win two matches in the history of the World Cup. Kenya beat Algeria and Peru, whom they had hammered earlir at the Grand Prix finals in Australia.
With the Malkia Strikers in Japan for World Cup in August 22 to September 6, KVF had to constitute a second team for the 11th All Africa games in and the Africa Games in Congo, Brazzaville. Contrary to the expectations of many, the Kenya ‘B’ national women’s team lineup under coach Paul Gitau and Josp Baraza won gold, beating Cameroon 3-1 in the final. Kenya recaptured the title they last won in 1999 in South Africa under the tutelage of Gitau from Algeria who won in 2007 at home in Blida and in 2011 in Maputo, Mozambique. Nigeria won at their backyard, Abuja in 2003.
With that record performance, at least five Kenyan players landed for professional stints. Former national team captain Brackcedes Agala and sensational setter Jane Wacu extended their stay at French Club Chamalieres, while opposite hitter Esther Wangeci and Africa’s Most Valuable Player outside attacker Evelyn Makuto joined the duo by penning a year’s pact at the club. Mercy Moim moved clubs to Ploki-Orpo from Liiga Ploki where she played in the 2014/2015 during the Finish volleyball season.
“The girls have done Kenya proud. They achieved a milestone at the world level in 2015 and we can only hope for the best in 2016. Kenya will be meeting tougher sides at the FIVB Grand Prix Group Two competitions and KVF is preparing them well for the assignments ahead,” said Kioni.
Malkia Strikers have been in camp in preparation for the Rio Olympics qualification tournament set for Younde, Cameroon next month. The team broke training yesterday for the New Year celebrations and will resume tomorrow.
The men’s national volleyball team, however, presents a totally different narrative. In May, they lost to Rwanda in the Africa Games CAVB Zone V qualification tournament held in Kigali, Rwanda. They went on to crush out in the group stages at the Africa Cup of Nations in Cairo, Egypt.
“The men’s team has not fared well this year but we are looking forward to engage them. We have designed a programme for the youthful team that will spur their performances in the future,” said Kioni.
“We are experiencing a serious challenge with this squad. The team has no sponsors and the government support is not assured yewt we can’t do much without funds,” said the hopeful KVF president.
The Men’s outfit broke camp in December after the government failed to assure the federation of the availability of their air tickets to Brazzaville, Congo for Africa’s Rio Olympics qualification tournament this month.
The under-20 girls team competed in the age continental championships held in Cairo, Egypt in February and finished third after losing all their two matches against Algeria and hosts, Egypt in what turned out to be a tri-nation tourney.