Malkia Strikers regroup during the game against Brazil (C) NOC-K
Malkia Strikers' 2024 Paris Olympic Games campaign is set to come to an end today as the Kenyan ladies take on Japan in a dead rubber match at the South Paris Arena 6 on Saturday at 2 pm.
Both teams, playing in Group B, are already eliminated following losses to Brazil and Poland in their first two matches at the Group Stages.
Kenya lost to both Brazil and Poland by three straight while Japan, Olympic champions in 1964 and 1976, failed to build up on their silver medal from the 2024 FIVB Nations League, losing 3-1 to the Europeans and 3-0 against South Americans.
Brazil and Poland, on other hand, will meet in each in what promises to be an entertaining match with both teams battling to win the group.
Brazil, who have appeared in three of the last four Olympics, are the favourites to win the Group B final cracker match. The South Americans won the gold medal in the event in 2008 and 2012 but lost in the final of Tokyo 2020.
Poland's best performance in the event are bronze medal wins in 1964 and 1968.
Malkia Strikers and Japan, though contesting in a dead rubber match, will be aiming to end their tournament on a high.
Coming into the tournament, Kenya, making their fourth Olympic Games appearance, had set modest target for themselves as winning a medal is still a bridge too far at this time of their development.
The Japheth Munala-coached side went to Paris with three aims: to win a set, to win a match, and to score at least 10 points in each set.
So far, Malkia Strikers have managed to score at least 12 points in each set they have contested in the tournament but winning a set or a match has proved elusive.
Kenya has not won a set at the Olympic Games since its debut tournament at Sydney 2000. On that occasion, despite losing in all their five matches, Kenya returned home having won two sets following 3-1 losses to Australia and Croatia.
Now, heading to their last match, Kenya has to make their contest against Japan count and end the drought for a set win, or even better, win its first ever match at the Olympic Games.
Despite hopes abounding that Malkia Strikers will achieve either or both of those targets today, the odds do not favour Kenya. Malkia Strikers lost its seven previous matches against Japan without winning a set.
Whatever the outcome of their match against Japan, either way, Malkia Strikers will have to do to the drawing board to address its consistent failures against non-African opposition at international tournaments. While Malkia Strikers, with 10 titles, are the record African champions, their performances against non-African teams has continuously not been befitting of that status.
