Malkia Strikers back home after tough outing at Grand Prix
By NAIROBI NEWS REPORTERThe national women volleyball team returned home to a low key reception following a month long tough tour of Europe and South America.
During the tour, the Malkia Strikers failed to qualify for the Rio Olympic Games and got relegated from the group 2 FIVB Grand Prix.
The African champions lost to Colombia and hosts Puerto Rico, but recovered to beat Algeria at the World Olympic Qualification Tournament.
The results saw the team miss out on qualification to the Olympics in August.
Puerto Rico scooped the sole qualification berth to Brazil from this pool.
Later, Kenya lost in straight sets to Argentina, Puerto Rico, Poland and Dominican Republic in the Grand Prix played in Argentina and Poland.
The results saw the team being relegated to Group 3 ahead of next year’s competition.
“We have picked up valuable lessons and experience on discipline, preparations and tactics. The ladies put up good fights against some of the seasoned teams in the world of volleyball,” the team’s manager Martin Kimondo said.
Veterans Brackides Agala, Everlyne Makuto, Jane Wacu and Janet Wanja were some of the standout players for team Kenya.