These scholarships are intended to aid their preparations ahead of the qualifying events for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France.
The National Olympic Committee –Kenya (NOCK) has today presented a scholarship cheque worth Ksh 9 million to the women’s volleyball national team, Malkia Strikers, and the women’s 3x3 basketball national team.
These scholarships are intended to aid their preparations ahead of the qualifying events for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, France.
Speaking at the presentation ceremony in Nairobi on Monday at Kasarani, NOCK Secretary General Francis Mutuku said, “We have settled on these two teams because we have been impressed by their recent performance, the Malkia Strikers in the just concluded World Championship and the Basketball during the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.”
Mutuku further intimated that talks were at an advanced stage with France and Cuba with a view towards entering into a technical support partnership that would see the two federations benefit.
He further stated that NOCK has changed their approach on team preparation for the Olympics. “Previously we have been coming in at the tail end of the Olympic qualification process but now we want to assist this teams prepare well from the onset in order to qualify for the Olympic as our first task.”
KBF Secretary General Ambrose Kisoi thanked NOCK for choosing to invest in the federation and expressed of the 3x3 basketball team’s qualification for the Olympics. His sentiments were echoed by the team’s manager Nelly Odera who said, “It’s a good opportunity for us and this the first time we are getting serious funding towards achieving our qualification to Paris.”
KVF Vice Chairman Charles Nyaberi committed to use the funds prudently, saying, “We thank NOCK for this continued partnership not just now but even during our preparations for the World Championships. We have a national team with running calendar of events so this will be an added boost for us.”
Malkia Strikers Head Coach Paul Bitok echoed his Vice Chairman’s sentiments, saying, “This is a very good gesture. We now hope many more partners will come on board including the Ministry of Sports.”
Malkia Strikers captain, Mercy Moim, concluded by saying, “Our job is to produce results on the court, we are grateful to NOCK as this will make our preparation better.”