Last week World Health Organisation (WHO) declared Coronavirus as Pandemic and The government of Kenya through the Ministry of Health suspended all gatherings in the country it was a big blow o Kenyan teams preparing for the forthcoming Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan.
Malkia Strikers head coach Paul Bitok was one of the most hit following the announcement both for the country as well as the Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF) while preparing the team for the Tokyo assignment.
Bitok, the former Kenyan international guided the national women’s national team to qualify for Olympic after sixteen years of a long way.
But with the pandemic, Bitok said it was a big blow for him to prepare the team due to the COVID-19.
Speaking in Eldoret over the weekend, Bitok said he had come up with plans on how to prepare the team to register good results in Tokyo even doubting if the games will take place.
“According to my programme, I planned that we start training for Tokyo on April 1st but that dream is almost dying. The girls were ready for the training but this virus has cost the county and entire world a big blow,” said Bitok.
He added that they wanted to use the Africa Club Championships that were to be held in Egypt to gauge the preparedness for his team but the championships were also postponed since Egypt was the first county in Africa to report the case of the virus.
“The players come from the top three clubs and we wanted, as they play in Egypt to see how they are ready for Tokyo. From Egypt, we could get the best team to represent the country well in Japan.
In a statement by KVF president Waithaka Kioni wrote: “In view of the latest announcement by the Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Health on the first confirmed case of Coronavirus in the country, the forthcoming National League/tournament scheduled for the last weekend of this month in Kisumu has been postponed indefinitely.”