World Volleyball Championship: Malkia Strikers’ weakness in loss to Germany revealed
By Luke Oluoch, August 24, 2025Malkia Strikers captain Meldina Sande has opened up on the improvement the team needs to make heading into the decisive group ties in the ongoing FIVB Women’s World Volleyball Championship in Thailand.
Speaking on Sunday, August 24, 2025, after their opening loss to Germany, Sande hailed the team for a battling performance that, however, saw them come just short of a win.
She has, however, noted that the team should do more in terms of dealing with opponents switching tactics midway through the sets.
World-class opposition
Sande opined that such a tactical switch will help them against the world-class opposition on the global stage.
“We got to the game ready and relaxed. We managed to control the math well, and I am proud of the team,” she stated.
“I am happy I can say that we just need to know when to seize the moments to push our opponents. Against Germany, we lost it at around 21, 22 sets when they adopted a more tactical approach, and we couldn’t cope.
“Our coaches are working on this, and I am confident they will help us address it and come up with a plan,” she added.
Against Germany, Kenya fought pound for pound in the tie but narrowly lost the first set on a slim margin.
The second set was a disaster as the Germans dominated before wrapping up the tie in the final set.
Speaking after the clash, coach Geoffrey Omondi reiterated Sande’s concerns about adopting a more clinical edge when the game heats up.
We lost it on technical grounds.
“The Germans were more experienced in the clash. We led by two sets, and at such a level, you need to see off the games. We are back in training, and in the next game, we will be back on it. It is now upon us to see how we can address the finishing. The girls gave everything and did all we asked of them. They did their bit,” he told KVF.
Following the loss, the strikers will be back on the court on Monday, August 25, at 4:03 pm EAT with their second Group G clash against Poland on the cards.
The 10-time African champions will be up against an experienced team ranked as the third best in the world.