Malkia Strikers ready to fight for Africa at Paris 2024 Olympic Games

Citizen Digital

Malkia Strikers ready to fight for Africa at Paris 2024 Olympic Games

Abigael Wafula 19:55 - 01.07.2024

Malkia Strikers vice captain Edith Wisa has exuded confidence that the team is ready to represent Africa at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.

The national women’s volleyball team, popularly known as Malkia Strikers will be Africa’s sole representatives at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and they are ready to conquer and place the continent on top of the world map.

The team has been placed in Group B alongside Olympics silver medallists Brazil, European powerhouse Poland and Asian giants Japan. Team Kenya will be gearing up to face off against two teams that handed them big losses at the 2020 Olympics, Brazil and Japan.

Malkia Strikers ended up finishing 12th at the event but they are confident that this time around, something great will come out of the players.

However, Malkia Strikers Vice captain Edith Wisa believes that the team has all it takes to conquer and the fact that they will be representing Africa gives them more confidence heading into the games.

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Wisa insisted that the mood in the camp is promising and the players have put in the work in the bid to impress coaches so they can be selected for the team.

“Going by the mood in the camp, each and every player is psyched up and ready for the assignment ahead and every player is willing and ready to do anything to perform well and impress the coaches so that she can be selected in the team that’s going to travel,” Wisa told CGTN Sports Scene.

“It’s an honour, not only for Kenya but also for Africa. As a player it gives you much respect that you are somewhere on the map of Africa…that you are best in Africa and as you go and represent Africa, we are going to do our best knowing that we have the whole of Africa on our backs.”

Malkia Strikers head coach Japheth Munala also noted that their main goal will be to improve on their performance.

He explained that they have been pooled alongside very talented players but they will be keen on impressing on the global stage.

“We are in a tough pool, a very tough pool but we are preparing well to showcase our talent in Africa. We intend to improve…the position might not change but we intend to improve from what we got…if we can win a match there, that will be a plus for us,” he said.

At the moment, Malkia Strikers are gearing up for the FIVB Women's Volleyball Challenger Cup in Asia, with the Chinese city Linyi and the Philippine capital Manila hosting the men's and women's events where they will play a few friendly matches before heading to the Olympic Games. The event is set to begin on Thursday, July 4 to Sunday, July 7.