•Bitok said the young players introduced into the squad have adapted well and have brought balance to the team ahead of the upcoming Challenger Cup and the continental event.
• Kenya has lost three consecutive finals in the championships to Cameroon but Bitok believes they will end the trend next month.
Image: FILE
Malkia Strikers' coach Paul Bitok is confident the team will perform exemplary and reclaim the lost African Championships title during this year's event slated for August 6-18 in Yaoundé, Cameroon.
Bitok said the young players introduced into the squad have adapted well and have brought balance to the team ahead of the upcoming Challenger Cup and the continental event.
He bullishly said he would like the team to meet Cameroon in the final so that they can settle the scores one more time on their home ground.
"I have confidence in the squad. They have trained together and I believe the integration of the young and experienced players brings the balance that we need to reclaim our title," said Bitok during the launch of a Sh15 million sponsorship from Mozzart Bet on Wednesday.
"This sponsorship is a motivation for the team. The girls feel appreciated for their work and they are willing to fight for the title. The morale in the squad is high."
Kenya has lost three consecutive finals in the championships to Cameroon but Bitok believes they will end the trend next month. Kenya last won the title in 2015 on home soil after defeating Algeria 3-0.
In the 2021 edition held in Kigali, Rwanda, Bitok said inexperienced players saw them lose to Cameroon for the third consecutive time.
"In the last edition, we were really good but due to the unavailability of some top players, we were forced to pick young and inexperienced ones to fill the gaps. The majority had not played in the national team and, therefore, they were not used to the pressure. But this time, I have a perfect squad that is eager to win the title," Bitok said.
"We arrived late for the competition after our travel from the Olympics was delayed and we did not have enough time to train. This left the team blunt against opponents Cameroon," he added.
Bitok further explained that KVF having their playoffs immediately after the Olympics and days before the championships also prevented the team from having a collective training session.
His comments were backed by Malkia captain Mercy Moim who said she is amazed by how fast the juniors in the squad have adapted and blended with the experienced players.
"For the few days we have been in the camp, I have seen the future of Malkia. I did not expect the youngsters to adapt this fast and now it is hard to tell who are the new players. They are also very hardworking and they seem determined to prove a point," said Moim.
Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF) acting president Charles Nyaberi claimed that Malkia Strikers enjoy playing and beating Cameroon in their backyard more than at an away venue.
Malkia are set to jet out of the country today (Friday) to Morocco for a three-week training camp under the International Volleyball Federation programme before heading to France for the Challenger Cup set for July 27-30.
The team will then fly to Cameroon for the African Championships. Both tournaments will be crucial in the team's bid to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics as the points accumulated in the event will decide the fate.