Malkia Strikers' coach Paul Bitok has maintained the team's target is to accumulate maximum points during the Challenger Cup from July 27 -30 in Espace Mayenne in Laval, France.
Bitok said a stellar performance in France will ease the burden at the Africa Championships that follows a week later in Cameroon. In Cameroon, the team will have to win the event to cement their chances of qualifying for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
"Our target is to get maximum points from the Challenger. This will reduce the burden and pressure during the African Championships as we will only need to get 200 points and that will cement our position as the top-ranked team in Africa. That way, the African slot at the Paris Olympic Games will be ours," said Bitok.
"We have only two chances; either we get maximum points in France or we rank first in Cameroon for us to qualify for Paris. We are not taking any risks. We want to perform to our level best at both events and enhance our chances but first, we target the Challenger. We must again represent Africa at the global show," he added.
Bitok also said the team is motivated to produce perfect performances since the girls also want to have a taste of the Olympics next year.
His comments were seconded by Malkia captain Mercy Moim who reiterated the need to perform at the best level for it is the only chance to qualify for the Olympic Games.
"We know the competition will be stiff since we are playing the best teams from each continent. However, we know this is our chance to go to Paris next year. Therefore, we have to perform very well. The team is determined to live up to the expectations," said Moim adding that they will take the Challenger as a final.
Malkia will face hosts France, Colombia and Mexico in what will be a knock-out competition. The Kenyan girls will launch their tournament against Colombia in a must-win game. If they lose their chances of advancing into the competition, their chances to qualify for Paris 2024 will shrink.
Malkia are expected to jet out of the country on Friday to Morocco for a three-week training session under the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) programme. In Morocco, the team will be tutored by coaches from Brazil in a bid to sharpen their skills before heading to France.
