Tata, Letting in Malkia Strikers squad for 2025 World Championship

The Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF) has named the travelling Malkia Strikers squad ahead of the World championship slated for August 22 to September 7 in Thailand.

Recently crowned African Nations U-20 Championship’s MVP Marline Terry Tata Idachi (KCB) and last season's KVF women's league MVP Daisy Letting (Kenya Pipeline) highlight the 16-member squad while setter Marclean Okoko has been dropped.

Kenya Pipeline middleblocker Gladys Ekaru is the only veteran player in the squad that also consists of regulars Veronica Adhiambo, Pamela Adhiambo, Lorine Chebet, Juliana Namutira, Belinda Barasa and Meldina Sande.

Only Veronicah, Ekaru, Chebet, Sande, Belinda and Nekesa retained their status in the squad from the 2022 World Championship squad.

Head coach Geoffrey Omondi is confident the team will write history noting that this is part of the preparations for the next Olympic Games.

“The team is ready; we have a mixture of experienced and young players and I believe the team we have assembled will be able to push us to the next level. We are not just preparing for the world championships but for the 2028 Olympic Games,” said Omondi.

Omondi asked for patience as he works towards building a team that will dominate in the near future.

“This is the team that will grow and it will be the Kenyan team that will take us places. We want to first make history in World Championships by at least qualifying for the second round.”

Captain Meldina Sande echoed Omondi’s words saying they were looking forward for the competition, promising to give their best.

“We are ready for the the competition. Our coaches have helped us work on our weaknesses and we are optimistic we will do well.”

Malkia will jet out of the country tonight in two groups for eight days in Vietnam where they will have intense training and friendlies against the hosts and Spain before leaving for Thailand on August 19.

The team will be trimmed down to 14 players prior to the world showpiece.

The 10-time African champions are pooled in Group G alongside former European champions Poland, Germany and Vietnam.

Malkia Strikers Squad

Setters- Emmaculate Nekesa, Fridah Boke.

Liberos: Cellestine Nyongesa, Sharleen Maywa.

Left attackers: Juliana Namutira, Meldina Sande (captain) and Veronica Adhiambo, Daisy Leting.

Opposite hitters: Pamela Adhiambo, Mercy Iminza, Marlyne Tata.

Middle blockers: Gladys Ekaru (assistant captain) Belinda Barasa, Lorine Chebet.

Training partners - Sarah Namisi and Marriane Sokoiyo.