Kenya confident of making more gains at Tokyo Games

When the curtain rises on the Tokyo Olympic Games in August 2021, the Kenyan women's volleyball team will be marking the third decade since its debut on the global scene.

The team first cut its teeth in international competition back in 1991, when a win-less campaign at the 24-team World Cup in Japan proved to be a chastening but worthwhile experience.

Three generations of players later, a lot has changed.

Head coach Paul Bitok, a former international player during his youth days, has been recalled from his tour of Croatia, Tunisia, Egypt and Rwanda to take charge of the east African team.

It is a challenge that coach Bitok has taken in his stride. His aims are clear: To raise the bar competitively and earn his team respect on the world stage at the rescheduled Tokyo Olympics next year.

Bitok said 30 years of development must yield some positive results.

"We have the capacity, technology and talent to take on any rival," Bitok told Xinhua in Nairobi.

"Volleyball has evolved and our players too have grown, developed and adapted to the changing international playing styles.

"We have a blend of local and international players competing in different leagues and this will offer us an edge, a reason to believe we can make it."

Since debuting at the 1991 World Cup, Kenya has gone on to represent Africa at five other editions of the competition. Its last appearance, in 2019 in Japan, yielded an 11th-place finish out of the 12 teams.

Kenya has also made inroads at the world championships, qualifying for every edition since its debut in 1994.

The championships, which are held every four years, have helped Kenya both gauge its progress internationally and maintain its continental dominance.

Kenya is record nine-time African women's volleyball champion. The country also gained a morale-boosting victory over Peru in the 2015 FIVB World Grand Prix Group 3 final.

Now Bitok is eyeing further gains in Tokyo, with the coach hopeful his charges can impress when the sport's heavyweights－Argentina, Brazil, Italy, Japan, Russia, Serbia, the United States and reigning champion China－go to battle.

"Our focus has shifted to the Olympics. We need to have better preparations heading to Japan so as to be able to dominate the Olympics," Bitok said.

"We have to go for a serious training camp, and we have petitioned the government to set up one in Serbia or Turkey and be able to play friendly matches against top nations."

Kenya has been drawn in Group A for the Games, and will come up against South Korea, Serbia, the Dominican Republic, Brazil and host Japan.

In their last outing at the Olympics, in 2004 in Athens, Kenya lost to Brazil, Italy, South Korea, Japan and Greece.

"Currently, Kenya is the best in Africa. Now the hard work is to turn that into being the best on the world stage. We must start small by winning matches, playing well and dominating the global stage. The Tokyo Olympics will offer the platform," Bitok said.

Bitok's plan has, of course, been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. First the Games were pushed back to 2021 and then he had to devise new methods to continue training his side.

Bitok has been undeterred by the setbacks and uses the messaging tool WhatsApp to provide his players with daily fitness plans.

"We don't live in ordinary times, so it calls for extraordinary solutions. My team has continued to train through the use of technology. No playing nets at home, no problem for me. I must ensure they are fit during the pandemic. I have daily programs, which all the players must follow," said the coach.

"Each player shares with me short video clips of what she has done for the day and this has been the norm for five consecutive days because I usually give them two days to rest each week," he added.

Team practice is currently forbidden in Kenya according to health and safety measures imposed by the country's government to fight the COVID-19 pandemic. And while that poses obvious challenges for team sports, Bitok says his players can focus more improving their physical conditioning.

"Unlike other sports like track and field, volleyball is different. Handling of the ball requires two or three players depending on the position. For instance, you can't spike or receive the ball alone at home so what we focus on is strength, physique and other fitness exercises," he said.

"When the health situation improves and we are allowed to return to action, we will take the minimum amount of time to hit our peak," added Bitok.

The postponed Olympics are also giving injured players a chance to return to fitness in time for the Games.

"We have dependable players like Trizah Atuka who was not in the list this year," Bitok said.

"Their journey to recovery is going well and they could get a chance next year."

Xinhua in Nairobi