Bitok calls for friendly build-up for Malkia Strikers before Olympic qualifiers

Malkia Strikers head coach Paul Bitok has urged Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF) in conjunction with the Ministry of Sports and National Olympics Committee of Kenya (NOC-K) to facilitate international friendly matches before the team’s 2020 Olympics qualifiers set for January 2 to 10 in Cameroon.

Bitok, who is back after conducting a coaching course in Nigeria last week, says it will be unwise to head to the all-important qualifiers without testing their team formation in a competition setting against a better side.

He said their arch-rivals Cameroon and Egypt have pitched camp in Poland and Brazil, respectively ahead of the competition. The eight-team qualifiers will see only one team clinch the sole slot to 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

“Preparations are going on well and the players are at their peak physically since they are coming off the playoffs. We are working on reception and blocks as the former has been our biggest misgiving in previous tournaments.

“I am in talks with officials in Bulgaria and Turkey and it is my wish that we have several friendly matches there before January.

This will give us a true picture of how the team is and the fielding options we have in the absence of injured Triza Atuka, Pamela Masaisai and Lorine Chebet who has not been released from the Prisons training school,” said Bitok who is looking at fielding left-handed Violet Makuto as a middle blocker in a bid to fill the gap left by Atuka.