Malkia face Burundi in final group match

Coach Paul Bitok says his charges, Malkia Strikers are looking to maintaining the winning streak when they face Burundi at 3pm (EAT) in their final group B match at the ongoing CAVB Africa Nations Championships in Kigali, Rwanda. 

The team recovered from a sloppy start, losing 3-0 to defending champions Cameroon in the opening match where they looked out of sorts to pick back-to-back wins against Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Tunisia and book their semis berth. 

In a dead rubber for Malkia ad they have already secured a semis berth and can only finish second to Cameroon in the group, Bitok maintains that a win will give them the morale to face hosts Rwanda in the semis. 

Malkia Strikers edge Tunisia to qualify for semis

"The win against Tunisia gave us the ticket to the semis which was our first hurlde. Now we shift our goalpost to making it to the final and booking a ticket to the World Championships. Against Burundi, we want to maintain that winning streak as that will give us a boost heading to the semis," said Bitok. 

The tactician admits that the team was not at their best as the championship began but they have since gained some level of coordination.

"We have improved drastically over the matches. We did not have any form of coordination in the game against Cameroon. The players' chemistry was missing but we are in a better place now. I have to commend the young players for settling well and helping the team execute," he added. 

Kenya Pipeline setter Esther Mutinda who is making her debut for Malkia has proved the game-changer for Malkia and looks well on her way to cementing the position in the absence of first choice setter Jane Wacu and Janet Wanja. Joy Lusenaka had deputised Wacu in the position at the Olympics but Mutinda has been used in Malkia's last two wins. 

"We had a problem in setting in our game against Cameroon but Mutinda has covered that position well and stabilised out game. I must admit the continuity on rhythm is missing because this is a transition squad and the players have not been together long enough. We are, however, working on achieving that," Bitok concluded.