- Both Malkia and the relay teams will receive Sh5mn
- This is part of an earlier Sh30mn sponsorship by KBL
- Malkia have already qualified for the Olympics while the relays are seeking qualification
Ahead of this year’s Olympic Games, the national women’s volleyball team, as well as the Kenya relay teams have been handed a massive boost with a sponsorship package of Sh10mn from Kenya Breweries Limited.
Malkia Strikers, who have already qualified for the Olympic Games, have been given Sh5mn which will go into their preparation, while the sprinters will get an equal Sh5mn, to help them attain qualification.
This Sh10mn is part of the earlier announcement of a Sh30mn sponsorship to the National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOCK) towards preparation for the quadrennial games to be staged in the French capital of Paris between July and August.
Malkia, who clinched a ticket to the Olympic Games last year after winning the African title, are set to start preparation for the Olympics towards the end of May, after the conclusion of the African Club Championships.
“We are really grateful to Tusker for their sponsorship because it really encourages and motivates us to keep working for a good performance in the Olympics. When you are supported like this, then you have no reason not to prepare well and preform at the best of your level,” assistant captain Triza Atuka said after they were handed the sponsorship.
The relays teams will also be supported with the 4x100m men, 4x400m men, 4x400m women, and the mixed relay set to benefit from the massive financial injection. The selected athletes have commenced their training at the Nyayo National Stadium, where they are sharpening their skills under the tutelage of the seasoned sprint coach Stephen Mwaniki.
Kenya won previous relay medal at Olympics
Kenya’s national women’s volleyball team, Malkia Strikers during at EABL during their unveil as Tusker-sponsored athletes for Paris 2024
Kenya claimed the men’s 4x400m relay silver medal at the 1968 Mexico City Olympic Games before winning the gold at the following event in Munich in 1972. They will be hoping to post positive results in Paris this year.
The team will be competing in different events between now and May, including the World Relay Championships, seeking ranking points and qualification standards.
Speaking during the athletes unveil, KBL’s Managing Director Mark Ocitti underscored the company’s dedication to supporting Kenyan athletes and fostering talent through its ‘Tusker Nexters’ platform.
“Our sponsorship of these select athletes is a testament to our unwavering commitment to their success at the Olympic Games. Our decision to support these athletes is in line with our Tusker Nexters platform through which we seek to support the next generation of Kenyan talent across various fields including sports,” he said.
Remarkable growth witnessed in sprints
From Left – Boniface Mweresa, Rispher Ohaga – EABL Chief Finance Officer, Zablon Ekwam, Maureen Thomas, Joan Cherono and Mike Mokamba and KBL MD MarK Ocitti
“The remarkable growth we’ve seen in sprinting which has traditionally not been a Kenyan forte, speaks volumes about the potential of our athletes and Ferdinand Omanyala is a great example of that potential. Our support therefore aims to empower these athletes to excel and make their mark on the global stage. Similarly, Malkia Strikers’ historic qualification reflects their immense potential, and we are proud to stand by them in their journey,” added Ocitti.
NOCK Secretary General Francis Mutuku said it wasn’t an easy decision to pick which two teams will be supported by the financial aid.
“By the time we had started this conversation, Malkia had already qualified and so we picked on them first. We also looked at the sprinters and their potential and we saw what they did at the Commonwealth Games,” Mutuku said.
He added; “Sprinters have really been working hard and coming up really nicely over the past few years and we also decided to give them this support for them to try qualify for the Olympic Games.”
Kenya aims to field a contingent of between 80 and 90 athletes for the Paris Olympics Games, aspiring to surpass the 10 medals secured at the Tokyo Games in 2021. The teams that have secured their qualification include the national volleyball team, Malkia Strikers, and the Kenya Sevens rugby team.
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