Malkia face Brazil in must-win encounter

The Kenya and Brazil camps have exchanged friendly fire ahead of their must-win 2018 FIVB Women's World Championship Pool 'D' clash at Hamamatsu on Wednesday afternoon.

Kenya's assistant coach Josp Baraza believes the Malkia Strikers have the capacity to 'pick something' in this contest despite Brazil being clear favourites.

Brazil coach Jose Guimaraes has however hit back. 

Speaking after his team's surprise straight sets loss to Serbia, he said his charges don't have 'any choice' but to beat Kenya.

"Serbia played well today and was strong on the attack from start. We suffered in the counter-attack and now have no choice other than to win well against a hardworking Kenyan team.," said Guimares ahead of the 1:20pm EAT clash at the Hamamatsu arena.

By all accounts, this will be a tough one for team Kenya despite the impressive form of captain Mercy Moim. The contest, however, will certainly not be anywhere near as scary as what the Kenyan contingent witnessed when a typhoon raged through the city on Sunday.

"It was very scary I have never seen anything like this, the teams were evacuated (from the 15th) to the second floor because the building was swinging. It took six good hours and even part of the hotel was destroyed," explained Kenya Volleyball Federation technical director David Lung'aho.

Brazil have won in all their seven meetings against Kenya and in straight sets including a 25-15,25-16,25-11 triumph during the 2010 World Championship. 

In this competition, Kenya has lost twice, against Serbia and Puerto Rico, with their only win being the 3-0 spanking of Kazakhstan in the opener.

Brazil have meanwhile comfortably beaten Puerto Rico and Kazakhstan. Besides Moim, Kenya coach Japheth Munala will be banking on the experienced trio Janet Wacu, Noel Murambi and Edith Wisa.

Kenya's final match of the competition will be against the Dominican Republic on Thursday.