Search for Malkia Strikers head coach enters homestretch

A new Malkia Strikers head coach is expected to be announced when the Kenya Volleyball Federation’s National Executive Committee members meet on Saturday to review the selection panel’s recommendations.

This follows the interviews that were conducted on Friday with four coaches in the race to lead the 10-time African champions.

In an exclusive interview with Citizen Digital, KVF Secretary General Ismael Chege confirmed that the national women's team will be having a new technical bench soon.

“We will be having a NEC meeting over the weekend and the appointment of Malkia Strikers’ head coach is one of our agendas. We are going to review the selection panel’s recommendations and constitute a new Malkia technical bench,” said Chege.

Chege also dismissed talks of delay in the appointment of the new coach saying they were within the timelines.

The interviews had been earlier scheduled for February 15 but were postponed with concerns raised over the process delay.

Immediate Malkia Strikers head coach and Kenya Commercial Bank Japheth Munala, who led Malkia Strikers in 2024 Paris Olympic Games is in the running to remain the head coach. He had been in charge on a one-year contract which has since run down.

Catherine Mabwi, a former player and holder of a FIVB Level Three coaching certificate, is also in the race to become the first woman to lead the national team.

Other two coaches who were also interviewed for the position include Kenya Pipeline head coach Geoffrey Omondi and Nairobi Water Women’s team head coach John Mwaniki.

The federation is seeking to recruit a new Malkia Strikers technical bench with a binding contract rather than on a temporary basis.

The new head coach will be tasked to lead Malkia Strikers in the 2025 FIVB Women’s World Championships scheduled for August 22 to September 7, 2025 in Thailand.