Year-in-Review: Re-building Malkia Strikers – Coach Omondi’s delicate balancing act

The year 2025 marked the dawn of a new chapter for Kenya’s women’s volleyball giants, Malkia Strikers, following a major coaching shake-up by the Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF).

After a rigorous recruitment process, Kenya Pipeline head coach Geoffrey Omondi was handed the reins of the 10-time African champions, edging out former head coach Japheth Munala and volleyball legend Catherine Mabwi. The appointment ended years of recycling familiar faces and signaled a bold reset for the national team.

Omondi assembled a new technical bench featuring his assistant coach at Pipeline Esther Jepkosgei, KCB assistant coach David Muthui, and Kenya Prisons’ Azenga Mavisi, who took over the trainer’s role previously held by the late Janet Wanja.

The mandate was clear: steady the ship, refresh the squad, and restore consistency on the continental and global stage.

“Any senior coach at a club level should be able to take over Malkia Strikers because we all go through rigorous training. I believe if you can reach the senior level of any team, it means you have gained sufficient experience to handle Malkia Strikers,” Omondi said during a recent interview with Citizen Digital.

World Championship Squad Surprises

Omondi’s first major test came with squad selection for the World Championships, and it sparked debate nationwide.

In a bold move, several long-serving stars were left out as Omondi opted for a youthful rebuild. African U20 MVP Marline Terry Tata Idachi (KCB) and KVF Women’s League MVP Daisy Letting (Kenya Pipeline) headlined the 16-member squad.

Kenya Pipeline middle blocker Gladys Ekaru emerged as the lone veteran, joined by regulars Veronica Adhiambo, Pamela Adhiambo, Lorine Chebet, Juliana Namutira, Belinda Barasa, Meldina Sande, and Lorine Chebet.

Notable absentees included former captains Mercy Moim and Trizah Atuka, the latter having led the team during the 2024 Olympic Games. Others are: vice-captain Edith Wisa, Agrippina Kundu, Esther Mutinda and Jemimah Siang’u, players who had anchored the team for nearly a decade.

Rwandan-based Police Volleyball Club’s attacker Meldina Sande was appointed captain, with Ekaru named deputy, another sign of the changing guard.

“We have made little progress over the past few years and it’s good if we did something different. We have to build the team beyond the World Championships and Kenyan’s have to be patient because this is a process,” Omondi said.

One of the most talked-about omissions was star attacker Sharon Chepchumba. Omondi insisted the decision was strictly performance-based.

“There’s no short-cut to being called up to the (national) team. I select the players strictly based on form. If you are performing well, you’ll definitely be called. Everyone has to fight for her position.”

Chepchumba has battled injuries since late 2023 while playing for her club PAOK in Greece, undergoing surgery in 2024 and missing the Olympic qualifiers.

Prior to her knee issues, she limped off with a right ankle injury during a friendly match against Rwanda in Yaoundé, Cameroon. This was a re-aggravation of a long-standing ankle problem she had played through since the 2020 Tokyo Olympic qualifiers.

However, Omondi left the door open for her return, noting her steady recovery at Azerbaijan’s Gence Volleyball Club.

“I’m happy for the progress Chumba is making in Azerbaijan, she still has a key role to play for us and she just needs to get back to her best. She and other players previously left out can make a comeback to the team,” Omondi said.

Despite the transition pains, Malkia Strikers delivered a landmark moment at the World Championships, registering their third-ever victory with a straight-sets win over Vietnam in their last Group G match in Phuket, Thailand.

The triumph followed losses to former European champions Poland (3-1) and Germany (3-0) and marked just their second win across seven World Championship appearances, restoring belief in the project.

Head coach Geoffrey Omondi was impressed by how his project took off.

“This win is important since it brings back confidence in the national team. We have won both a set and the match. It’s a motivation to the players and even to the young girls at home that it is possible to train well and win,” Omondi said.

In Chepchumba’s absence, Veronica Adhiambo shone brightly, scoring 19 points against Germany and underlining her importance in the new setup.

Omondi has placed faith in rising stars, particularly Marline Terry Tata Idachi, whom he believes could anchor the team for the next decade.

“Terry is a player that I really look forward to working with. Her talent is immense, she’s a mixture of Sharon Chepchumba and Dorcas Nandasaba and she can be an asset for Malkia for the next 10 years. She just needs to focus and stay disciplined,” Omondi noted.

With Omondi breathing fresh life into Malkia Strikers and opting for a fresh start, fans await to see the progress, with 2028 Olympic Games expected to weigh in the success of the Kenya Pipeline tactician.