Betting Firm Mozzart Bet has signed a one-year deal with Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF) that will see the company sponsor the National Women’s volleyball team Malkia Strikers.
Mozzart Bet will now be the official sponsors of Malkia Strikers until June 2023.
The Sh10 million sponsorship package will include a week-long training camp in Serbia in September where Malkia Strikers will play friendly matches against world champions Serbia and Colombia as part of their preparations for the World Championships planned from September 23 to October 15 in Poland and Netherlands.
KVF President Waithaka Kioni, while thanking Mozzart Bet for the support, exuded confidence in Malkia Strikers ahead of the 2022 FIVB Women;s World Championship set to be held jointly by Netherlands and Poland from 23rd September to 15th October 2022.
“We welcome Mozzart to the volleyball fraternity. We are confident this partnership will work and will hopefully be extended for a much longer time,” he said.
The team is set to travel to Brazil for a two-month high performance camp early next week subject to the Government availing logistical support according to Kioni.
“We were actually supposed to travel tomorrow (Saturday 18th June 2022) but we are still in talks with the Government and I am confident we will have a breakthrough soon. The camp is very crucial for the preparations of the team ahead of the World Championships,” he added.
Malkia Strikers coach Paul Bitok said the Mozzart Bet sponsorship comes as a reprieve to the technical bench with morale in camp at an all-time low due to the uncertainty that surrounded their camp in Brazil.
“I am very happy to have Mozzart Bet on board. It is a great relief for the whole team and I am happy that this beautiful game has caught their attention. The sponsorship is a game changer for Malkia Strikers,” he said,
Bitok noted that the friendly matches in Serbia will place the team in good stead of qualifying for the second round at the World Championships.
“As per yesterday I felt so sad that this golden opportunity to have good preparations was going to slip from us. Playing against European countries will help us analyse their style and help bring the mood for competition into the team.
“Our dream is to make history, and with this sponsorship there is good morale in the team. We can now focus on the World Championships.”
Captain Mercy Moim hailed Mozzart Bet for actualizing their World Championships dream and promised that the team will repay their support by making history in Netherlands with a second-round berth at the World Championships.
“Finally, there is light at the end of tunnel. The mood in camp was so low since players were worried about our fate. We can now go and pack our bags confident that we will train professionally thanks to Mozzart. As players, we promise to give our best and give them reason to extend it for even the next five years,” said Moim.
Mozzart Bet Marketing Manager Frank Ochieng urged Malkia Strikers to make the best out of the opportunities the partnership provides.
“We are very delighted to enter into a partnership with the Malkia Strikers. The beautiful ladies have been very good ambassadors for Kenya and they deserve all the support they can get. They will not be representing the Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF) or Mozzart Bet at the World Championships but Kenya and that is why we were very keen to ensure they prepare well, play against good teams in Europe and hopefully do well at the World Championships,” he said,
“I call upon the Malkia Strikers to work hard as they are carrying the hopes of Kenyans. Mozzart is just supporting the team on behalf of the Kenyans that have so much hope in this team so go out there and represent them well – make them proud,” he added.
Kenya is in Pool ‘A’ of the World Championships alongside Italy, hosts Netherlands, Belgium, Cameroon and Puerto Rico.
PROVISIONAL SQUAD
Outside hitters: Mercy Moim (KCB), Noel Murambi, Veronica Adhiambo (Kenya Pipeline), Pamela Jepkirui, Meldinah Sande, Yvonne Wavinya (Kenya Prisons).
Middel blockers: Trizah Atuka, Gladys Ekaru (Kenya Pipeline), Edith Wisa, Belinda Barasa, Magdaline Mwende (KCB), Lorine Chebet (Kenya Prisons)
Opposite attackers: Sharon Chepchumba (KCB), Emmaculate Chemtai (Kenya Prisons), Violet Makuto (Kenya Pipeline)
Setters: Emmaculate Nekesa, Faith Imodia (KCB), Veronica Kilabat (KDF)
Liberos: Aggripina Kundu (Kenya Pipeline), Veronica Makokha (KDF).
The Mozzart company has been operating on the gaming market since 2001.
In Kenya, the company has been actively been involved in sports. They are currently the title sponsors of Football Kenya Federation Premier League (FKFPL), recently also sponsored local driver Issa Amwari for the WRC Safari Rally. They have also in the recent past supported the Kenyan football National team, Harambee Stars.
