Munala banking on revamped squad for KCB upturn

KCB volleyball team head coach Japheth Munala is banking on his revamped squad for an upswing in the team’s performance once top flight volleyball resumes.

The bankers finished second, behind Kenya Prisons, in the Kenya Volleyball Federation women’s league last campaign and Munala believes the arsenal he had paraded prior to the cancelled season, will propel his side to the volleyball top echelons.

Early this year, Munala roped in seven new top guns among them Malkia Strikers captain, Mercy Moim , who switched from Kenya Prisons alongside Edith Wisa and Sharon Chepchumba who ditched Kenya Pipeline.

Other than the three, the Bankers also staged a coup by signing Sharon Amito, a Ugandan setter, Ernestine Akimanizanye a Rwandese middle blocker and immediate former Kwathanze duo Immaculate Nekesa and Sharon Sandui.

“I’m not expecting new players once we resume because we closed the signing chapter in January after acquiring seven new players who I think will help our club rule in Kenya and Africa. I know we’ll have a busy season once things get running and my squad depth will be our advantage,” said Munala.

Volleyball is among sports classified as contact sport which are yet to be given green light to restart but a spot-check by Citizen Digital has revealed some KVF clubs have, since last month, resumed training albeit in small groups.

“We’ve started our training, but in small groups. My squad has many new players who must gel before we’re allowed to resume. I don’t want to find myself in a tricky situation where league is starting and we’ve done nothing as part of preparations,” he added.

Besides league title target, Munala is eyeing African Club Championship gong which KCB last won in 2006 when current Technical Director Paul Bitok was in charge as head coach.

“After spending heavily on new players early this year and last year, of course the management will not expect anything short of KVF and continental title.”