Bitok singles out Cameroon as biggest threat to Malkia’s Olympic qualification

As national women’s volleyball team, Malkia Strikers head to the Cameroon on 5 August for the CAVB Africa Nations Championship, coach Paul Bitok has his eyes on ending the hosts reign in the competition.

In addition to reclaiming a title Malkia last won in 2015 when the competition was hosted in Nairobi, the tactician knows full well that this is the country’s chance for back-to-back Olympics qualifications.

“We fly to Cameroon tomorrow where we will continue training for this crucial competition well aware of what is at stake,” Bitok offered in his final and consistent update to the media and the volleyball fraternity before the trip.

“Despite Kenya beating Cameroon five times in the World Cup, World Championship and Olympics qualifiers Malkia Strikers have failed three times in this very competition, including the last edition held in Rwanda in 2021,” Bitok continues.

The tactician, however, believes the East African side is stronger than their opponents are this time round and his charges are ready to face all for the elusive title.

Other countries fighting for the title will Tunisia, Egypt, Nigeria, Morocco Senegal and neighbours Rwanda and Uganda.

“Now that the Olympics qualification for Paris 2024 will be based on ranking, our chance for a repeat continental ticket depends on this competition. We are going to this year’s championship just two points ahead of Cameroon. We want to come back home with the trophy and the Olympics ticket,” Bitok declared.

He believes the training in Morocco ahead of the FIVB Challenger Cup and in France during and after the global event was enough to prepare the team for the task ahead.

Having a mix of youth and experience gives the coach confidence of a successful outing in Yaounde.

From the squad that brought the last championship title under coach David Lughaho, only two in skipper Mercy Moim and her assistant Triza Atuka are part of the 2023 squad.

In 2015, four Kenyan players won personal accolades including the Most Valuable Player (MVP) recognition for the lethal Evelyne Makuto, Jane Wacu as the best setter, Elizabeth Wanyama as the best libero and Ruth Jepngetich as the best blocker.

In Yaounde in 2017, Kenya went down by straight sets in the final, fell 3-2 to the same side in Cairo, Egypt in 2019 and the script repeated itself in Rwanda in 2021 when the two sides played out to a 3-1 outcome with Kenya on the losing side.