Malkia Strikers reveal how they plan to navigate ‘Group of Death’ at Paris Olympics

Malkia Strikers believe they will need to come up with a good strategy to get a win at the Paris Olympics after landing in a tough group.

Kenya are in Pool B alongside the world’s top team Brazil, fourth-ranked Poland and Japan, who sit in seventh place on the FIVB rankings, which presents an uphill task at the Olympics.

Malkia Strikers finished last at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and with the draw, it looks like they will struggle to even win a set, but the technical bench and players are putting full trust in their abilities.

Malkia Strikers have their work cut out at the Paris Olympics after being pooled with world volleyball powerhouses in their group.

“It is not an easy pool, Japan and Brazil are superpowers and Poland have the height so we are going to sweat to get a win in the Olympics. So far, we are hopeful that we will have a good squad that can play well in Manila and Paris Olympics,” said head coach Japheth Munala, whose team has been in camp for the last two weeks.

Captain Trizah Atuka is counting on the team’s previous experience at the Olympics and World Championships to push them through since some of the teams they will face have been opponents before.

“It is a tough pool but no team has gone to the Olympics for a walkover or to joke. Everyone has qualified in their continent and it means they are the best,” said Atuka.

Kenya Volleyball Federation Vice President Paul Bitok has yielded to pressure and withdrawn from his role as assistant coach of the Malkia Strikers to the Paris 2024 Olympics.

“It is an uphill task for us, we need to train smart and put in hard work if we want to register a good performance and go to the next stage.

“But we are hopeful that we will do well because those are some of the teams we have met in pervious Olympics and World Championships so we will just pick up from where we left and improve on that performance.”

Malkia Strikers lost all their group games at the last Olympics with Brazil and Japan, among the teams they faced then.

Fans have been angered by the Kenya Volleyball Federation technical team selected to guide Malkia Strikers at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

Team Kenya will be hoping that lightning does not strike twice with a much-improved performance in the French capital.

Munala’s charges are currently tuning up for the Challenger Cup slated for July 4-7 in Manila, Philippines, after which they will travel to Miramas, France for their pre-Olympics camp.

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