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The highly experienced coach secured a resounding victory in Saturday’s election and now wants to ensure there are proper structures to professionalise volleyball in Kenya
Newly-elected Kenya Volleyball Federation deputy president Paul Bitok intends to revive youth programmes and professionalise the Kenya Volleyball League following his election on Saturday.
Bitok secured a resounding victory after garnering 109 votes to his competitor Edward Kisaka’s 23 in Saturday’s election where Peter Nyabetri was elected president to replace the late Waithaka Kioni
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12:30 - 20.08.2023
FOOTBALL Former coach Frank Ouna celebrates Johnstone Omurwa's debut in Portuguese Primeira Liga
Former Wazito coach praises Kenyan international Johnstone Omurwa's journey from midfielder to defender, as he makes his debut for Estrela da Amadora in the Portuguese Primeira Liga.
He brings a wealth of experience spanning over 30 years in the game as a player and coach and believes that will put him in good stead to serve the sport that he loves while steering it to greater heights.
Bitok is currently in Yaoundé, Cameroon with the Malkia Strikers where he serving as assistant coach to Brazilian Luizomar de Moura at the Africa Nations Championships but this will be his last coaching assignment before he moves into administration.
“I am ready to learn the ropes of leadership from those who have served because I have a lot of ideals on how to improve the sport,” Bitok told Nation in Yaoundé.
“Over the last four years, we have seen a very smooth transition of players at the national team because we have tried to incorporate the young players quite early. We have managed to do this without a youth programme so you can imagine how good Kenya can become if we have one that is functioning.
“We have a lot of talent that needs to be developed through the junior national teams and our local league. It is unfortunate that our calendar still collides with the FIVB calendar because we are not able to finish our league in time and this interferes with national team programme. I want us to have a fixed calendar that will also help us attract sponsors to the league and national team.”
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12:00 - 20.08.2023
WATCH: Marcel Jacobs warms the heart of a fan after complimenting her outfit
Jacobs was in the Media Center when he complimented the young lady's outfit.
Bitok returned to Kenya in 2019 after 10 years in Rwanda where he helped shape the country’s volleyball and took over the Malkia Strikers ahead of that year’s African Games, going on to win gold, before helping them seal a ticket to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
He now wants to ensure he leaves when Kenya have clinched their place at the 2024 Games in Paris as the African Championships also serves as the Olympic qualifiers.
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11:45 - 20.08.2023
STARS ABROAD Anthony ‘Teddy’ Akumu: It’s now 24 straight league matches without being selected by Sagan Tosu!
The Kenyan midfielder’s nightmare spell in Japan continued on Saturday as he was snubbed yet again by Sagan Tosu for their J-League loss away to Kashima Antlers
Kenya last won the continental crown in 2015 but there is optimism that the Class of 2023 will end the eight-year drought.
“The late Kioni left a legacy of Kenya consistently qualifying for competitions like the Olympics and World Championships. We now need to think of reaching the second round or knockout stages at this high level. With the kind of support we have, I believe Kenya can be among the top 12 nations in the world,” added Bitok.
Before all that, however, Kenya must reassert their authority in Cameroon with their final Group B game against Lesotho on Sunday.
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