Women volleyball team lands Sh42m deal, set for name change
National women’s volleyball team, led by captain Janet Wanja, pose with the trophy at Kasarani indoor gymnasium after being crowned winners of Africa Nations Cup on September 19, 2013. PHOTO | FILE |
What you need to know:
- This team, which is the reigning Africa champion, will adopt the nickname "Malkia Strikers" as per terms of the sponsorship.
- Makokha in the meantime called on other sponsors to come on board and support the men's team as well as the KVF's top flight league.
The national women volleyball team players and technical bench officials on Wednesday expressed their delight moments after the unveiling of a multi-million shilling partnership with the National Oil Corporation.
Speaking during the unveiling of the three-year sponsorship deal worth Sh42 million at a Nairobi hotel, the team's stand in captain Janet Wanja said the partnership will go along way in helping the team.
"This excitement is real, I guess what this translates to is that we will prepare well for upcoming tournaments and that will motivate us to perform even better" Wanja said.
"This is a very important moment in the history of volleyball in this country, with this financial boost, we are now on course to retain all the continental titles next year and qualify for the World Cup as well," the team's head coach David Lung'aho added.
MALKIA STRIKERS
This team, which is the reigning Africa champion, will adopt the nickname "Malkia Strikers" as per terms of the sponsorship.
Also in attendance was a host of dignitaries, led by Cabinet Secretary for Sports, Culture and the Arts Hassan Wario, National Oil CEO Summayya Athmani and a host of Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF) officials including first vice chairman Martin Makokha and secretary-general Evans Wasike.
"The Kenyan women team has ruled the continent by clinching eight Africa Nations Cup crowns (to date). I believe it is the hope of every Kenyan that our girls extend the winning streak and we are here to announce full support," Athmani said.
Wario on his part thanked the sponsors for the support and urged the KVF administrators to earn trust of the corporate bodies by practising accountability, before ordering Sports Kenya officials to allow national teams train at Government facilities 'without conditions'.
Makokha in the meantime called on other sponsors to come on board and support the men's team as well as the KVF's top flight league.
"We need to improve the standards of our competitions and this can be done by motivating the stakeholders," the KVF official said.
This development coincides a congested program for the team in the coming year, with the All Africa Games qualifiers, Africa Nations Cup, and World Cup qualifiers coming up.
