Exposing the players to high profiled indoor matches and training helped Junior Malkia Strikers deliver the country’s maiden Women’s Under-20 African Nations Championship title in Yaounde, Cameroon.
Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF) deputy president Paul Bitok also paid tribute to Kenya Secondary School Sports Association (KSSSA) Games for helping produce and mould the players.
Daisy Letting, captain of the Under-20 national volleyball team, reacts during the team's training session at the Nyayo Stadium Gymnasium on July 27, 2025.
Photo credit: Chris Omollo | Nation Media Group
History was made on Monday night when Junior Malkia, coached by former international Jackine Barasa, edged out hosts Cameroon in 3-1 (26-24, 19-25, 28-26, 25-16) in a tense final.
It was a sweet revenge for Kenya after the hosts had beaten them 3-1 (25-18,18-25,19-25,25-27) in the preliminary round.
Paul Bitok speaks during the launch of the inaugural Paul Bitok International Volleyball Tournament at KCB Sports Club, Nairobi on March 28, 2023.
Photo credit: Pool
Six of the players in the team feature for top clubs in the country, including opposite attacker Malyne Tata, who plays for KCB and team skipper Daisy Chepkirui of Kenya Pipeline.
The others are outside hitter Milka Akinyi of Kenya Defence Forces, setter Sheila Khasandi of Kenya Prisons), Kenya Pipeline libero Sharon Jepkosgei and KDF centre Benta Akoth.
Tata was declared the Most Valuable Player as well as Best Opposite player of the tournament, while Akinyi was named the Best Outside Hitter, as the duo also made it to the Dream Team of the tournament.
“We reviewed our match with them and knew our serving and ration of players would work for us. It’s such a beautiful feeling,” said Barasa on Tuesday.
Verosally Sikutwa of the National Volleyball Under-20 team during training at the Nyayo Stadium Gymnasium on July 27, 2025.
Photo credit: Chris Omollo | Nation Media Group
“We solely depend on school programmes to identify talent and we are lucky most of the players cleared high school last year and are still within the age group and playing for top clubs,” added Bitok.
The depth in the talent showed as Kenya delivered without key players from top schools like Kwanthanze Girls' Secondary School, Bishop Sulumeti Girls Secondary School, Soweto Academy Secondary School and Kesogon Mixed Secondary School.
The schools had requested that they be exempted from selection to allow them to prepare for the KSSSA Secondary School Games and the East Africa Secondary School Games.
Birok also noted that putting former international Barasa, who is the Kenya Defence Forces coach, in charge also created a good atmosphere in the team.
“There is nothing as good as having a former female player handling the girls,” said Bitok.
