Coach Louizomar de Moura has named his final squad of 14, dropping the duo of Gladys Ekaru and Yvonne Wavinya ahead of the team's trip to Laval, France on Tuesday.
National women's volleyball team, Malkia Strikers, final squad of 14 that will represent Kenya in the FIVB Challenger Cup in France and the African Cup of Nations in Cameroon has been named.
Coach Louizomar de Moura has named his final squad of 14, dropping the duo of Gladys Ekaru and Yvonne Wavinya ahead of the team's trip to Laval, France on Tuesday.
The two were part of the last Malkia squad that did duty in last year’s World Championship, having spent two months in Brazil for high-performance training and a week in Serbia before the global championship.
“The team is now ready to fly Kenya's flag in France and later in Cameroon. Our target is to come back with the qualification ticket to the Paris 2024 Olympics and the African title in Cameroon," assistant coach Paul Bitok said after naming the final team.
The team has been in training camp for the last three weeks in Morocco and has played two friendly matches against the Moroccan national team that is also preparing for the Africa Nations Cup.
Malkia Strikers are scheduled to play their first match in the Challenger Cup against Colombia on 27 July 2023 in the quarter finals.
"We will play our last friendly match against Mexico one day before our quarters match and another friendly match will be played after the championship as part of our preparation for the continental assignment.
The team is in a very high spirit and ready for both competitions. We thank our sponsors who have been very supportive for us to achieve the result at hand," Bitok added, mentioning title sponsors Mozzart Bet, National Olympics Committee of Kenya (NOC-K) and the Ministry of Sports
Final Squad
SETTERS: Emmaculate Nekesa, Rose Magoi
OPPOSITE PLAYERS: Sharon Chumba, Loice Simiyu, Juliana Namutira
OUTSIDE HITTERS (Left attackers): Moim Mercy, Veronica Adhiambo, Leornida Kasaya, Jemimah Siango
LIBEROS: Agripina Kundu
MIDDLE BLOCKERS: Edith Wisah, Belinda Barasa, Lorine Chebet, Trizah Atuka