Malkia Strikers during the Thursday luncheon. [Photo/Amisi Paul]
The Kenya national volleyball team commonly known as the Malkia Strikers was on Thursday afternoon honoured after qualifying for the FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championships to be staged in Japan next year.
The team was appreciated through a luncheon organized by online gaming company Sportpesa at the Sarova Stanley Hotel in Nairobi.
The team qualified after finishing second in the Africa Volley Championships that were held in Cameroon. The hosts finished on top.
During the event, the team recalled challenges faced along the way in preparation for the Cameroon tournament before SportPesa chipped in to offer support.
Head Coach Japhet Munala noted that unlike their main competitors, Malkia strikers were not well funded before SportPesa offered a helping hand.
“Before we jetted out, I said it was going to be tough and indeed it was. Cameroon is well funded; they prepare well and do not lack anything. We have to be at our best in order to march the best.” Said Munala.
Team captain Mercy Moin thanked SportPesa for the support granted to the team. She noted with enough funding, the team has the potential of accomplishing more.
“We would like to thank SportPesa for the support they gave us and we appeal to them to stay longer so that we can achieve more,” said Moin.
During the tournament, Moim won the individual award of the best spiker.
She acknowledged that their opponents had well prepared for the Saturday final
“We have no regrets from the match played on Saturday. Our opponents were superior to us despite giving them a strong push. There will be other chances in the future to win the title,” Moim said
On her part SportPesa Global Chief Marketing Officer, Joyce Kibe, said that the firm will be offering support to teams wherever possible.
Kibe further noted that Malkia Strikers were the perfect model representatives of the recently launched Tujiami initiative.
The campaign’s main aim is to call on Kenyans to honour and support their local sporting heroes.
“The queens are proof that when we believe in ourselves we can reach far notwithstanding the challenges,” she added.
The team has previously qualified for six world championships.