Malkia Strikers’ vice-captain Edith Wisa says they are ready to fight tooth and nail to make their presence felt at the Paris Olympics.
The women’s national volleyball team players will head to the Olympic Village today from Miramas, where they have undergone high-performance training.
Wisa celebrated her birthday in Miramas on July 20 as Malkia wrapped up their training program in the sleepy French town.
Malkia are in Group ‘B’ alongside Olympic silver medallists Brazil, European powerhouse Poland and Asian giants Japan.
The team defeated local side Salon de Provence in straight sets of 25-14, 25-14,25-14 to win their second friendly match in Miramas.
She commented: “July being my birth month, I would like to perform well in Paris . I want to go out there, play my heart out and do better than I have done before,” said Wisa, who also captains the KCB Bank outfit back home.
Wisa is among the team’s most experienced players. As a vice-captain, she is responsible for guiding the junior players, most of whom have never seen an Olympic Village.
She added: “It’s the first time for most players; so, having not been there, they don’t know what to expect. Therefore, we have to encourage them and tell them that it’s just like any other competition and the opponents are the same ones they met at the World Championships and in the Challenge Cup. We want to make them comfortable and help them give their best.”
Wisa said Miramas has been a good experience and they have had ample time to prepare.
“Every player is ready for the task ahead and as we end our training here, we continue to focus. We’ve acclimatised well and I am optimistic about a better performance.”
On her second Olympic, Wisa says it’s a welcome idea to also savour the off-the-court experience in the village.
She said: “This time, we will have time to interact because in Tokyo there were a lot of restrictions and we could not go and cheer other Kenyan teams. With no social gathering restrictions, we hope to support our Kenyan athletes and we expect them to reciprocate when we are in action. We will also find time to interact with people from other countries at the village including some of the world’s renowned athletes.”
On Saturday, Wisa’s teammates sang her birthday songs to appreciate an athlete who inspires countless others with her unwavering focus to push beyond their limits.
She recounted: “Almost all my birthdays find me in the national team and I’m happy to be in the team as that is where I spent most of my time.”