Munala, Bitok upbeat as Malkia face Brazil's 'Samba dance'

Malkia Strikers head coach Japheth Munala and Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF) deputy president Paul Bitok have backed the national women’s volleyball team to “cause trouble” when they face two-time champions Brazil on Monday in their Paris Olympics Pool B opener at the South Paris Arena.

The ten-time African champions are yet to win a single set in Olympics but Bitok, who accompanied the team to the Miramas camp here in France, said the team was ripe to stun the 2020 Tokyo Olympics silver medalists, adding it was no longer a lofty ambition to pick points against world beaters.

Bitok however said the team will need to be in their best form to stop the second ranked team in the world and also actualize their dream of reaching the second round.

“We need to get everything right and also attack hard when we face the Brazilians. I think this is our time but first let’s ensure we’re in our best form individually.

“I was with the team in Miramas before jetting back to Kenya and I can confidently say we’re ready for the action,” Bitok said.

Munala, who took over from Bitok last year, also said individual brilliance would be key when they take on the South Americans starting from 2pm Kenyan time.

“We have to get it right in all the departments if we’re to throw a spanner in the works for Brazil.”

Malkia Strikers will then face former European champions Poland on Wednesday in their second Pool B fixtures before winding their preliminary matches against former champions Japan on Saturday.

Kenya performed dismally at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics losing all the group matches with straight sets against Japan, South Korea, Serbia and Dominican Republic finishing bottom in Pool A in what was their first appearance at the games since back to back appearances in 2000 and 2004.

Brazil lost in straight sets against the United States at the Tokyo Games and will be keen to reclaim the title they last won in 2012 Olympics in London.

Long-serving coach José ‘Zé Roberto’ Guimarães, who has been at the helm of the Brazilian national team since 2003, trusted six members of the squad that took silver in Tokyo to make another Olympic run – setters Macris Carneiro and Roberta Ratzke, opposite Rosamaria Montibeller, outside hitters Gabriela ‘Gabi’ Guimarães and Ana Cristina Souza and middle blocker Ana Carolina ‘Carol’ da Silva.

Veteran middle blocker Thaisa Menezes, who returned to the national team last year after five years away, is the most experienced member of the roster – the 37-year-old is going to her fourth Olympic appearance after winning gold in Beijing 2008 and London 2012 and finishing fifth in Rio 2016.

In the opening Pool B fixture, Poland rallied from a set down to beat Japan 3-1 sets (20-25, 25-22, 25-23, 28-26) on Sunday.

Group A has the hosts France, reigning champions the United States, three-time Olympic champions China and current world champions Serbia.