Volleyball: Prisons’ attacker Sande eyes Olympic dream debut

Kenya Prisons left attacker Meldina Sande has vowed to punch above her weight and work her way into coach Japheth Munala’s plans, after being named in Malkia Strikers’ 19-member provisional squad ahead of the FIVB Challenger Cup and 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

The 27-year-old Mukumu Girls’ High School alumnus last featured for the national team during the 2022 FIVB World Championships in the Netherlands, but has since been overlooked for Malkia’s international assignments.

Sande failed to make it to the final squad for last year’s FIVB Challenger Cup and African Cup of Nations and the recent African Games, but she is determined to get the nod this time round after playing a crucial role in Kenya Prisons’ second-place finish in the just-concluded KVF Women’s League.

“I've been away for a while but now I'm back and I'm happy to be called again to Malkia Strikers. I'm excited to train again with the national team and I want to put in more effort to be called in the final squad,” she said.

“Donning the national team colours is always an honour for every player that is very everybody is training hard to make it to the final squad. For me I'll give my best and I'm ready to go again,” added Sande.

Malkia Strikers commenced their residential training at the Kasarani Stadium Indoor Arena on Monday in preparation for the two international assignments.

Sande will fight for the four slots in her position against Malkia’s go-to attacker, Veronicah Adhiambo, KCB’s duo Juliana Namutira and Mariam Musa, Pipeline’s Leonida Kasaya and DCI’s Jemimah Siang'u.

Only Leonida Kasaya has been to the Olympics from the pool, after she participated in the delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, while Veronica Adhiambo has been a regular since making her debut in African Cup of Nations in 2021.

Recently crowned KVF women's league MVP Juliana Namutira has also been a regular since making her debut in 2023, so has been DCI's Jemimah Siang'u who made a comeback to the team in last year's FIVB Challenger Cup in Laval, France since 2020, when she made her debut as Malkia Strikers were chasing an Olympic ticket.

Another fast-rising attacker, Mariam Musa, recently crowned KVF women's league best outside hitter and potential Mercy Moim's heir at KCB, is also in the contest to make her debut for Malkia Strikers.

The final 16-member squad will be released before flying out to the Philippines for the Challenger Cup slated for July 4-7, 2024, and will be further trimmed down to 13 before flying to Miramas, France for high-performance training in preparation for the Paris Olympic Games slated in August this year.