Pipeline Coach Munala not looking outside for answers

Kenya Pipeline Coach Japheth Munala does not believe his team needs injection of new blood to re-establish them as a force in the continent.

The record African Women Volleyball Club champions fell at the semis of the competition last year in Tunis, Tunisia and Munala believes they will provide an instant response this term.

Pipeline are also eyeing to retain their domestic crown to seal the double in face of stiff local competition by arch rivals Kenya Prisons.

The national champions were treated to a lush breakfast buffet by sponsors Kenya Pipeline Company on Wednesday morning in honor of their consistently impressive performances in the country and on the international scene.

Last year, the team defeated rivals Kenya Prisons in the national play offs in a thrilling final played in Mombasa to win the league title for the third year in a row and bagged the bronze medal in Tunisia after a 3-1 upset against hosts Carthage.

“This year we resumed our training on January 4 which will go all the way to March when the league kicks off. So far we are doing well and have no injured players at the camp. I am sure we are going to start off on a high note.

“We are changing our system of play because we have been there before and seen how our opponents play. Having also witnessed how they defeated us we are going to change everything and hopefully when we go for the club championships in Tunisia we’ll perform very well,” Munala told Citizen Digital.

He hailed the impact of captain Trizah Atuka whose performances last year saw her earn nomination for the SOYA awards, win the Magharibi Michezo Awards Overall Personality of the year along with the 2016 Kenya Volleyball Federation player of the year.

“Trizah was a key player to us last year. She is always keen in training and executes every move taught to her which puts her at par with other players. I hope that this year she wins more awards,” he said.

He maintained he will continue to have faith in the current squad, saying each of the 24 players recruited last year has something special to offer.

-Report by Mwangi Githinji.