Malkia Strikers’ libero refl ects on her return to World Championships

**Malkia Strikers libero Celestine Nyongesa reacts during the World Championships/HANDOUT**

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Malkia Strikers libero Celestine Nyongesa says her international comeback at the ongoing World Championship in Phuket, Thailand, is just the beginning of good things to come.

Her sentiments come after an impressive debut that saw her anchor the team's defence in their final Pool G victory over Vietnam on Wednesday.

Nyongesa, who plays for local champions Kenya Pipeline, returned to the national stage after nearly a decade in the shadows and shone on the occasion as Kenya swept Vietnam 3-0 (25-23, 25-20, 25-18) to end their group campaign on a positive note.

The triumph, however, was not enough to take Kenya beyond the preliminary round as they finished third in the group behind leaders Poland and second-placed Germany.

Both European powerhouses advanced to the Round of 16, which begins today in Bangkok, while Kenya and Vietnam bowed out of the tournament.

Nyongesa, 29, noted that the outing was more than just results; it was about growth and rediscovering herself on the big stage. Going by my experience watching and competing against top-tier liberos from other nations, I noted they do things differently.

“Their posture, approach to the game and even how they receive is totally different from what I do. I hope that whatever I have picked from here will help me become a better player in the coming days.”

The Malava Girls High School alumnus had to wait patiently for her moment, serving as backup to seasoned libero Agripina Kundu for nine years before finally earning a starting role in Thailand.

“She (Kundu) might have been overlooked in this championship, but she is still a good libero and a force to reckon with. I’m still learning a lot from her, and I admire how she plays. When I joined Pipeline in 2015, I found her, and we formed a healthy rivalry,” Nyongesa revealed.

Her perseverance has now paid off after years of heartbreak since her last appearance at the 2015 FIVB Under-23 Championship in Slovenia.

“It’s humbling that I finally earned a national team call-up and a starting role. I’m happy that my patience, hard work, and discipline have paid off, and I just want to keep improving,” she said.

Nyongesa also credited teamwork for their emphatic finish in the pool. “Teamwork won us the game. Every department worked, and we hope to be better in future assignments,” she added.

Head of delegation and Kenya Volleyball Federation president Paul Bitok hailed the team’s resilience, particularly their historic set win against world number two Poland earlier in the week. “We came with one mission united as one team. We’ve already achieved an important victory against Vietnam and even took a set from one of the world’s top teams, Poland,” Bitok said.

Bitok reiterated the federation’s long-term vision of elevating Kenya to global prominence through proper planning and exposure.

“With stronger preparation both locally and internationally, we will rise to the top. Let’s keep pushing to earn more points at the 2026 African Cup of Nations and make history at the 2028 Olympics,” he noted.

Kenya is currently ranked 21st with 158.49 points, ahead of Cameroon (45th, 76.72) and Egypt (56th, 46.90). The first batch of players, including Nyongesa, is expected to jet back into the country from Thailand on Friday at 2:30 pm EAT as Kenya shifts focus to the upcoming African Cup of Nations qualifiers and other international engagements.