Kenya national women’s volleyball team hope to give good account of themselves when they launch their campaign at the World Grand Prix Group Two competitions set for Sunday in Tucuman, Argentina.
The celebrated African champions are making their debut in Group Two of the most prestigious women’s global volleyball extravaganza after two years of featuring in the lower tier. The girls are drawn alongside Dominican Republic, Bulgaria and Argentina.
Malkia Strikers will premiere in Group Two against Rio Olympics-bound Argentina on Sunday, then play Bulgaria on Monday and Dominican Republic on Tuesday. The second leg of the tournament will be staged in Wloclawek, Poland, where Kenya will face Czech Republic, Argentina and hosts Poland.
Team captain Mercy Moim said her side is ready to represent their motherland with all they have, and in the best way possible.
“We are all fired up for the match. We will go out there with the best attitude and represent our country well with all that we have got. It has been a long painful journey of preparation and finally the time to fight out for a better finish in this level is here,”
“We are mentally and physically strong for this challenge. We appreciate that this is a stronger group with tougher and well respected teams compared to Group Three but we are all fired up to give a good account of ourselves,” said the Moim, Africa’s 2013 Most Valuable Player ahead of the match.
The national Oil Corporation-sponsored outfit have had preparations for close to two weeks in Argentina during which they lost two build up matches against the host nation. Moim also intimated that players have adapted well to the Argentine weather and food, and are more comfortable as compared to their stay in Puerto Rico during their poor stint at the World Olympics qualifiers.
Head coach David Lung’aho said the team has had enough time to prepare for the tournament and they will put up a gallant fight in these competitions.
“This is a bigger and tougher group but we are rightfully here after the promotion from the lower tier last year. We will fight bravely as we seek to scale the ranks to the top and most coveted Group One,” intimated Lung’aho.