Malkia Strikers' head coach Paul Bitok is worried the team may fail to participate in the Challenger Cup scheduled for July 25-30 in Espace Mayenne Laval, France due to visa challenges.
The points from the Challenger Cup will count toward teams qualifying for the 2024 Paris Olympics. Bitok said failure to participate in the tournament will hinder the team's chances of making it to the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
"The team has only the visas to Morocco for training under the FIVB programme. We are now waiting for the visas from Morocco to France. We have to get them before heading to the North African country because it will get harder to acquire them while in Morocco," said Bitok.
"I am worried we may fail to travel to Morocco thus we may miss even Challenger Cup since we have not yet been assured of our tickets and airfare. Accommodation will be provided for by the FIVB," he added.
The ladies were expected to travel to Morocco for a residential training camp in preparation for the Challenger Cup and the Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon between August 18-30.
However, due to visa delays, the team is yet to travel and is expected to start a non-residential training camp on Monday at the Nyayo Stadium.
Bitok, who guided Malkia to the delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, is pleading with the Ministry of Sports to come to their rescue.
"I urge the government to facilitate the processing of visas so that we can travel and represent the country at the continental level as well as the Challenger Cup," said the former KCB player.
"These two competitions are the only pathway to the much-awaited Paris Olympics Games. The government should not let this opportunity slip away. We need to be sure of our travels before we embark on any plans."
Bitok named a 20-member provisional squad that will be trimmed down t0 16 players before the team take the flight to Morocco.
Malkia suffered a similar fate in September last year when they failed to return to Nairobi from Brazil on the planned date due to a delay in visas.
The nine-time Women's African Volleyball Championship winners are scheduled to battle Colombia, France, and Mexico in the Challenger Cup. The top two teams from the tournament will be invited to the lucrative Volleyball Nations League, where finalists will get direct tickets for the Olympic Games.
