Adhiambo banking on Malkia debut to scale new heights

Kenya Pipeline’s outside hitter Pamela Adhiambo finally broke the senior national team, Malkia Strikers squad jinx, making the team that leaves the country today for CAVB Zone Five Africa Games qualifiers in Egypt.

Adhiambo, who has previously featured for the junior national team, was named in the Tokyo Olympics provisional squad only to be dropped and went on to miss all the subsequent teams that represented the country at the world and continental competitions.

Under coach Japheth Munala, the former league Most Valuable Player (MVP) who guided Kenya Pipeline to the 2022 championship after several years of Prisons Kenya’s dominance, will finally get her senior debut in the North African country.

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Adhiambo, known for her hard-hitting style of play will vie for a starting berth against experienced Mercy Moim who captains the side in the competition as well as Juliana Namutira and Jemimah Siangu who were part of the championship-winning squad that reclaimed the African title from Cameroon in last year’s Nations championship held in Yaounde.

"I have not been lucky to make the team before so I am happy and humbled that finally I am included in the team. I hope that my presence will open up more chances for me," said Adhiambo after the team naming on Monday evening.

The team goes to battle already assured of a place in Ghana for the Africa Games (only needing participation in the qualifiers) but coach Munala has assembled the best possible team albeit fielding Kenyan-based players only.

The squad has seen the return of experienced libero Elizabeth Wanyama who last featured for the national team in 2016 during the FIVB World Grand Prix.

Also, making a return to the team is setter Esther Mutinda who last featured for the African champions in 2021 during the Nations Championship held in Rwanda. She missed both the World Championships held in 2022 and the Nations Championship held in Cameroon last year. 

SETTERS

Esther Mutinda

Emmaculate Nekesa

LIBERO

Agrippina Kundu

Elizabeth Wanyama

OPPOSITE PLAYERS

Mercy Iminza

Loice Simiyu

MIDDLE BLOCKERS

Edith Mukuvilani

Trizah Atuka

Belinda Barasa

Lorine Chebet

OUTSIDE HITTERS

Mercy Moim – Captain

Pamela Adhiambo

Juliana Namutira 

Jemimah Siangu