Malkia Strikers fall to Germany as allowances row finally settled
Despite showing flashes of resilience in the first and third sets, the Strikers were outclassed by a strong German side that capitalised on Kenya’s errors and dominated at the net.
Kenya women’s volleyball team, the Malkia Strikers, got their 2025 Volleyball Women’s World Championship campaign underway with a tough loss to Germany on Saturday in Phuket, Thailand.
Playing at the Saphan Hin 4,000-seater Municipal Stadium, the Kenyans went down in straight sets, losing 25-22, 25-08, 25-20 in their opening Pool “G” fixture. The match, which served off at 1 pm EAT, marked the team’s first outing at the global showpiece.
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Despite showing flashes of resilience in the first and third sets, the Strikers were outclassed by a strong German side that capitalised on Kenya’s errors and dominated at the net.
The defeat came just hours after a long-running off-court issue was finally resolved. Earlier this week, the players had raised concerns over delayed allowances, a matter that sparked public debate back home.
Deputy President of the Kenya Volleyball Federation, Paul Bitok, confirmed on Saturday that the payments had been processed.
“We are pleased to confirm that players’ allowances have been credited to their respective accounts. For Cooperative Bank account holders, funds have already reflected. For other banks, the process may take one or two days. We sincerely apologise for the delay, but rest assured, everything has been sorted out,” said Bitok.
The resolution of the allowances saga is expected to ease tensions within the camp as the team prepares for its remaining group fixtures.
Kenya will be seeking to bounce back quickly and keep their qualification hopes alive in the prestigious global championship.
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