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Malkia Strikers will embark on the long journey back home this weekend having picked vital lessons in their torrid campaign in the FIVB Women’s World Championship currently ongoing in Japan.
The senior women’s national volleyball team bowed out of the competition on a 1-4 record having won only one match (against Kazakhstan) and losing four (against Serbia, Brazil Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico) to finish second last in Pool D.
Cameroon, who were the other African representatives in the competition, didn’t have it any better, as they won only against Mexico in their opening match before losing all their subsequent matches against Netherlands, Germany, Japan and Argentina.
With that result, Kenya failed in their quest to reach the tournament’s second round, but their 3-0 win over Kazakhstan was historic given that it was Kenya’s first victory in the World Championships.
It was also a memorable experience for the likes of Sharon Chepchumba, Immaculate Chemutai, Lorine Chebet and Christine Siwa who scored match high points for Kenya despite this being their first outing at a global event.
Speaking to Nation Sport, Captain Mercy Moim said they have learned crucial lessons that will help them perform better in future international assignments.
“Even if we lost all matches, we still would have benefitted because there was a lot to learn. We have seen how Puerto Rico and other Caribbean countries have invested in volleyball; from coaching, refereeing, training equipment and also facilities. That is what we are lacking.
“Having played and interacted with the best volleyball teams in the world however, we are at a better position to deal with tough opposition so I believe our performance in the next competitions will improve,” said Moim who was one of the outstanding players in the tournament.
Lanky Brazil attacker Natalia Pereira, who scored 12 points in Kenya’s 3-0 loss to Brazil, noted that Malkia Strikers have grown over the years, and lauded them saying: “Kenyans have made a lot of progress. I admire them.”
Japheth Munala’s charges were returning to the global competition after an eight year hiatus, and they had set qualification to the second round as their minimum target.
Due to limited resources however, they had to deal with poor preparations in their month-long residential training at the Kasarani indoor arena where their training schedule only involved friendly matches with men and women’s teams from the Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF) league.
Jane Wacu, Janet Wanja, Trizah Atuka , Edith Wisa, Lorine Chebet, Christine Siwa, Mercy Moim, Noel Murambi, Sharon Chepchumba, Leonida Kasaya, Violet Makuto , Emmaculate Chemtai, Elizabeth Wanyama, Aggripina Kundu
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