Malkia Strikers will have to wait until later this week to know the fate of another tour they had planned for Turkey next month as they intensify their preparations for the Tokyo Olympics.
On Saturday, the government called off a pre-tournament camp in Brazil leaving the Turkey tour in limbo.
Olympic Kenya secretary general, Francis Mutuku, revealed they will be putting heads together with Kenya Volleyball Federation officials to make a final call.
“We are awaiting further discussions with KVF as we are back to the drawing board. Towards the end of week, we will be in better position to respond on Turkey,” said Mutuku.
In canceling the month-long Brazil tour, the Ministry of Health Director General, Patrick Amoth, cited the widespread increase in the community spread of Covid-19 in South America’s biggest economy as a reason why the planned tour was called off.
“Brazil is currently experiencing widespread community transmission of Covid-19 with a surge in cases and deaths in the past few weeks. A review of the situation in Brazil indicates that the current surge may persist for several weeks.
“The surge has been thought to be driven by more transmissible variant circulating in the country,” noted a statement by Amoth.
“In view of the above and in securing the health of the national team in preparation for the Olympics, the Ministry of Health urges the federation to defer the intended travel and training in Brazil until the situation stabilizes,” added the statement.
Malkia coach Paul Bitok sought to play down the government’s decision to rescind the planned pre-Olympics camp in Brazil.
Bitok, reacting to the cancellation, said the only thing they will miss from the trip were the high calibre friendlies.
“We are in camp and we shall continue with our preparations since we have been training. We shall only miss the international friendly matches which we had lined up in Brazil,” he reacted. Only twelve players will make the Malkia trip to Japan .
