FIVB, KVF fallout ominous for Kenyan volleyball, coaches warn

Kenya Volleyball Federation has come under criticism after its hardline stance against international body FIVB’s suggestions regarding the coaching set up for the women’s national team Malkia Strikers saw the latter halt its lucrative Ksh. 88 million under the Volleyball Empowerment Programme.

FIVB had suggested six coaches to join the Malkia Strikers set up as an integral part of the Targeted Support aimed at enhanced performance and revolutionalize the global appeal of African volleyball.

The six coaches were Roberto Opice Neto (Team Manager), Luizomar de Moura (head coach), Jefferson Arosti (assistant coach), Marcelo De Souza (strongness and conditioning coach), Leonard Barbos (Statistician) and Thiago Lessa Moreira (Physiotherapist).

The programme has benefited the national team to a tune of Ksh. 88 million since the 2020 Olympic Games held in Tokyo, Japan in 2021.

However, the two parties found themselves at loggerheads after FIVB turned down KVF’s demand for an equal representation in the technical bench in this year’s Olympic Games in Paris, lobbying for three local coaches to join the Brazilian contingent.

With the program now off the table, it is unclear what KVF has in store for Malkia Strikers ahead of the Olympic Games.