MALKIA STRIKERS’ WOES: National Volleyball team yet to earn a penny from Grand Prix exploits

When Malkia Strikers clinched the historic 2015 World Grand Prix (Group Three) title in Canberra, Australia, many expected them to smile all the way to the bank.

There were monetary rewards that accompanied their famous triumph.

However, it never came to pass as their success came with a price.

Even after overcoming a grueling three rounds of the 2015 FIVB World Grand Prix, the gallant African Queens have nothing to show of following Kenya Volleyball Federation’s inability to pay the International Volleyball Federation, an estimated Sh7.7m (77,500 USD) in participation fees for the 2014 and 2015 seasons.

prize money

Tournament’s regulations require all national federations to pay an annual participation fees of Sh7.5m (75,000 USD), failure to which, deductions will be made from what the national teams earn in terms of prize money.

Although the debt is always deducted from the cash reward given to teams after each win in the Grand Prix rounds, documents seen by Feverpitch, indicate that KVF are yet to clear the outstanding fees.

When contacted, KVF Chairman Waithaka Kioni admitted to owe the global body money, but said they have requested FIVB for a waiver.

“We have requested FIVB to try and waive that debt because we are not in a position to pay it.

“As a federation, we are facing many challenges and it’s our hope that they will heed our request,” said Kioni.

Malkia Strikers pocketed Sh2.5m (25,000 USD) for winning the title in Canberra with an additional of Sh1m (10,000 USD) and Sh1.5m (15,000 USD) for finishing third and first in Monterey (Mexico) and Cheraga (Algeria)-preliminary rounds.

SH2.5M for victory

However, the team returned home empty handed as the cash went directly into FIVB’s account with Sh2.5m still in debt.

In addition to unpaid Sh5.2m (52,500 USD) carried forward from their inaugural Grand Prix season, KVF now owes FIVB Sh7.7m.

KVF are also yet to pay the participation fees for this year’s Group 2 competition that serves off next month in Argentina.

Meanwhile, Kenya women’s volleyball team head coach David Lung’aho has named a 14-member squad for the upcoming Olympics qualifiers in Puerto Rico and World Grand Prix Group 2 tournament.

The team has already resumed training at the Kasarani Gymnasium.