Kenya women’s national volleyball team ‘Malaika’ qualified the 2018 FIVB World Championship in Japan against insurmountable odds. Looking back at their campaign so far it is hard not to marvel at the incredible solidarity and professionalism Malkia have shown amid the backdrop of setbacks.
Malaika kick started their qualification campaign with a lot of hiccups including inadequate training. The team was locked out of their training facility in Kasarani following wrangles with Sports Kenya – the state corporation that maintains Kasarani Indoor Arena.
The impasse was finally resolved after SportPesa intervened. SportPesa, which has been on the forefront sponsoring all sporting activities in Kenya, believed in Malkia’s ability to shine in the continental showpiece in Cameroon when everyone turned a blind eye to their plight.
The gaming giant came through and made sure Malkia trained for the few remaining days before they flew to Cameroon for the African Women Volleyball Championship.
The national women volleyball team put up an impressive performance in Cameroon. They qualified for world championship after beating continental giants Egypt in pulsating semifinal.
Impressive performance from Malkia’s strikers Jane Wacu, Mercy Moim and Edith Wisa ensured Kenya booked a place in the 2018 FIVB World Championship in Japan. They hammered Egypt winning 25-23, 25-22 and 25-19.
Malkia however failed to win the 2017 African Women Volleyball Championship even though they reached the finals. But they previously won the same competition for a record 9 times. If SportPesa hadn’t intervened to facilitate the training camp perhaps Malkia’s performance would have been worse.
SportPesa alone without the support of Kenyans can’t do much. If only Kenyans could believe in Malkia like the way SportPesa did, then no obstacle is too great to overcome. If we believe in ourselves there is nothing we can’t achieve.
It’s only through our support that we can ensure absurd thing like Malkia being locked out of their training facility never happens again. The national women volleyball team can actually win the 2018 FIVB World Championship in Japan. But first we Kenyans have a role to play, we have to start by believing in our team. Tujiamini.