TOKYO 2020: Nekesa, Adhiambo dropped from Malkia Strikers squad

Kenya Pipeline's sensational attacker Pamela Adhiambo and KCB's setter Emmaculate Nekesa will not be part of the women's volleyball team, Malkia Strikers' squad that enters a final training phase in the country ahead of their travel to Japan for Tokyo Olympics. 

The technical team named 14 players that will be in training for two weeks before the final 12 are named for the trip to Kurume City in Japan. 

The Kurume City trip had previously been called off owing to an increase in Covid-19 cases in the region and Japan generally but the plan seems to be back on track. The team is set to train for two weeks in Kurume before proceeding to Tokyo Olympics village for the competition. 

"I would like to congratulate the players who made it to the 14 member team for their dedication and hard work. I also take this opportunity to thank the two talented young players who were dropped for the subsequent phases. The effort and commitment you put in showed that you have great potential and a promising future in your volleyball career. At the age of 18 and 19 if you maintain these standards you will be among the best in the near future," coach Paul Bitok said as he released the list of players remaining in camp. 

With two more players expected to be dropped from the travelling squad, coach Bitok has called on the remaining players be relentless in fighting for their position in the team and focus on improving the standards of Malkia strikers.

"Status report from all coaches indicate that all players have equal chances in the current team to make the 12 member team," added Bitok. 

The team has been in residential camp since match in preparation for the Olympics with a 20-member squad having been included in the provisional squad before being whittled down to 16. 

Additionally, Malkia Strikers, is one of the teams that has been selected to participate in a Volleyball Empowerment high performance coaching pilot project, by the global governing body FIVB, in the lead up to the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020.

The FIVB’s revolutionary programme, which was revealed during the 37th FIVB World Congress, aims to improve the performance of national teams around the world and provide support which is open to all 222 National Federations, categories one through to five. Part of the programme targets high-level national team performance and empowers these teams with the human and technical resources needed to unlock their full potential. Resources include coaches, trainers, managers, physiotherapists and data analysts.

The pilot project has seen Malkia Strikers train under elite Brazilian coaches, including Head Coach Luizomar de Moura, Assistant Coach Jefferson Arosti, Strength and Conditioning Trainer Marcelo Vitorino de Souza and Team Manager Roberto Opice Neto.

"I thank my fellow coaches led by Luizomar for their great training sessions and the new skills they have impacted to our team. Their use of statistics and daily monitoring by use of the new system of measuring work load of each individual has greatly improved performance and individual player assessment," added Bitok. 

Players in camp

1. Noel Murambi 

2. Mercy Moim

3. Leonida Kasaya 

4. Pamela Jepkurui 

5. Sharon chepchumba

6. Emmaculate Chemutai 

7. Violet Makuto 

8. Joy Lusenaka 

9. Jane Wacu 

10. Agripina Kundu

11. Elizabeth Wanyama 

12. Edith Wisa

13. Gladies Ekaru 

14. Lorine Chebet

Out 

1. Emmaculate Nekesa 

2. Pamela Adhiambo