FIVB Delegation discusses the future of volleyball in Kenya
An FIVB delegation this week visited Kenya and held strategic discussions with the Kenya Volleyball Federation, National Olympic Committee of Kenya and Ministry of Sports, Culture and Heritage on the development of volleyball in the country ahead of the women’s national team’s participation at the FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championship and future events.
The FIVB Head of Technical and Development Department, Steve Tutton, alongside his colleague Hugo Derycke, held a number of meetings in Nairobi, Kenya. The key points for discussion included the preparations of the women’s national team for the upcoming World Championship and outlining plans for future projects.
FIVB delegation with the Kenya Volleyball Federation Executive Committee and Coaches’ Commission
The visit got underway on Sunday 15 May with meetings with the Kenya Volleyball Federation Executive Committee and Coaches’ Commission. In the following days, the FIVB delegation met with the National Olympic Committee of Kenya and Kenya’s Ministry of Sports, Culture and Heritage, and visited various volleyball facilities in Nairobi. The FIVB delegation also visited training sessions of the Kenya women’s national volleyball and beach volleyball teams as well as several men’s and women’s club teams.
FIVB delegation also met with Shadrack Maluki, First Vice-President of the National Olympic Committee of Kenya, and its Acting General Secretary Francis Mutuku
During the various meetings, officials explored the progress made so far, including the women’s national team’s preparations for last year’s Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, as well as the team’s objectives for the FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championship. Various opportunities for future cooperation were also discussed with sports stakeholders in Kenya.
FIVB Delegation also met beach volleyball players, some of whom will join Kenya’s national team for the upcoming FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championships and Commonwealth Games
The FIVB Head of Technical and Development, Steve Tutton, said:
“On behalf of FIVB President Dr Ary S. Graça F°, we are pleased to be here in Kenya to discuss future projects with the aim of boosting volleyball in the country and raising the level of national teams. We thank the Volleyball Federation of Kenya and the country’s sports institutions for their dedication to and support of volleyball, and their commitment to working together to improve the level of volleyball in the county and increase the competitive level of the national teams. The FIVB President believes that the projects with the Kenya Volleyball Federation will bring a positive impact on the development of volleyball in both Kenya and Africa, both in the short-term ahead of international competitions, and also beyond this in the next Olympic cycle.”
While visiting various volleyball facilities in Nairobi, the FIVB delegation also attended training sessions of club teams preparing for the African Clubs Championships
Kenya Volleyball Federation President Waithaka Kioni said:
“We were delighted to welcome the FIVB delegation to Kenya and we are grateful for the FIVB’s support of our women’s national volleyball team. We are now starting the second project with the FIVB in preparation for the FIVB Volleyball Women’s World Championship. Together with the FIVB, Kenya Ministry of Sports and the National Olympic Committee of Kenya, and with the help of high-level Brazilian coaches, I am sure that our team, the Malkia Strikers, will show their competitiveness during the matches in a few months.”
FIVB delegation attended the final training session of a women's club team before their departure to Tunisia for the Women's African Clubs Championship
The Malkia Strikers, Kenya’s national women’s team, is set to depart for a three-month training camp in Brazil. This is the second time the FIVB is supporting country’s preparations for an international volleyball competition through the Volleyball Empowerment programme after the team was selected for a pilot project ahead of the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020.