Pamela Adhiambo failed to make the cut after the Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF) named the Malkia Strikers’ final squad for the FIVB Challenger Cup and the African Nations Championship.

The Kenya Pipeline star was among the players who, surprisingly, did not get a slot in the squad that will represent Kenya in the competition set for France from July 27–30.

Experienced Squad

First-choice setters Esther Mutinda, Veronica Kilabat, and Delphine Misokiis are not in the squad either. Kenya Defense Force’s Kilabat is missing even after playing in the World Championship in the Netherlands in 2022.

Mercy Moim, Malkia Strikers‘ long-term captain, Tarsus Belediyespo’s Veronica Adhiambo, KCB’s Juliana Namutira, Kenya Pipeline’s Kasaya, and Jemima Siang’u of DCI, as well as Yvonne Wavinya of Kenya Prisons, are the outside hitters in the squad. 

Immaculate Nekesa and Magoi are the retained setters, while Aris Thessaloniki’s Sharon Chumba and Loise Simiyu of Kenya Pipeline are the opposite setters.

Trizah Atuka of Kenya Pipeline, who is the Africa Club Championships’ second-best shooter, Edith Wisa and Belinda Barasa, both of KCB, will lead the middle blockers.

Magoi and Kasaya are the players who made returns, and their possible involvement is expected to boost the team during the championship. Magoi was last involved for Malkia Strikers in the Africa Games in Brazzaville, Congo, while Atuka missed the World Championship and the Olympic qualifiers.

Malkia Strikers will train in Morocco ahead of the tournament, and 12 players will form the first batch to travel on Tuesday, and the second contingent will jet out on Thursday.

Simiyu, Namutira hopeful

Simiyu and Namutira are in line to make their Kenya debuts after getting places in the 16-member team. 

“I want to go learn and be a better player. This is a golden chance, and I’m eager and ready to make it count. It’s such a humbling experience. I have learned a lot for the past two weeks I have been training here, and really I can only get better when we head to Morocco for the FIVB high-performance training,” Simiyu told a local publication after being named in the ultimate squad.

“I have played at the international level with my club (KCB), and in a way I know how it feels to be at that stage, but the national team assignment is a different ball game. But I’m willing to learn. When given the chance to play, I will give it my all, and together with my teammate, we hope to record good results,” Namutira said.

Both Namutira and Simiyu will hope to remain, as two more are expected to be dropped after the Morocco training.

The Malkia Strikers are set to play France, Colombia, Mexico, Vietnam, Sweden, and Ukraine. Kenya will go to Cameroon for the African Nations Championship set for August 6–18 after their participation in the Challenger Cup. 

Meanwhile, Kenya Volleyball Federation acting chairperson Charles Nyaberi is confident the players will have an impressive campaign in France.

“We have named a brilliant squad that is set to bring glory to Kenya. We have confidence that these ladies will make Kenya proud,” Nyaberi told the media in a previous interview.

Malkia Strikers’ final team

Setters: Immaculate Nekesa, Rose Magoi

Libero: Aggripina Kundu

Outside Hitters: Mercy Moim (captain), Veronica Adhiambo, Juliana Namutira, Leonida Kasaya, Jemimah Siang’u, and Yvonne Wavinya

Opposite: Sharon Chepchumba, Loise Simiyu

Middle Blockers: Triza Atuka (assistant captain), Edith Wisa, Lorine Chebet, Gladys Ekaru, and Belinda Barasa.