Malkia Strikers assured over allowances before Africa Nations Championship

Kenya’s Malkia Strikers have been assured that their delayed allowances will be paid before the Africa Nations Championship, which begins in Nairobi on August 23. The team had staged a go-slow over the outstanding payments and the absence of playing kits less than a week before the competition.

Kenya Volleyball Federation deputy president Paul Bitok said the Ministry of Sports would deposit the approved allowances into the players’ individual accounts. He said the first portion had been paid the previous week, while payments covering the remaining days and the recognised local training and competition period were still being processed.

Bitok said the players had been told that the administrative process could take time, but maintained that the outstanding payments were being handled. The assurances followed the disruption to the team’s preparations ahead of the continental tournament, which runs until September 5.

The federation official also said the kit issue would be resolved before the opening match on Saturday. Some training clothing had already been received from Nairobi Sports House and the National Olympic Committee of Kenya, while Mozzart and Tessen were expected to provide more training and leisure shirts on Friday.

Competition uniforms were expected to be ready by Saturday, ahead of the Confederation of African Volleyball technical inspection. The availability of the playing kit was another concern raised by the squad during the go-slow.

The Malkia Strikers will enter the tournament as defending champions after winning the 2023 edition in Cameroon. That victory extended Kenya’s record as the most successful team in the competition. Geoffrey Omondi’s side is seeking to retain the title on home soil, with the championship also offering a route to qualification for the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.