When veteran volleyball coach Sammy Kirongo first saw Gregory Kiprono play during the 2021 Kenya University Sports Association (KUSA) National Games at the Technical University of Mombasa, in Mombasa, he was reminded of his former teammate at Telkom many years ago.
That teammate was setter Isaac Kering. Little did Kirongo know that the in-form Kiprono, Equity Bank’s opposite player, who was voted the Most Valuable Player during the Kipchumba Karori tournament in Eldoret last December, was indeed the son of Kering, a former Kenya and Telkom setter.
“I’m my father’s lookalike. During the KUSA Games in Mombasa, I was playing for Moi University Eldoret and when the match ended, Kirongo approached me and asked if I could link up with Equity and train with them when the universities were on recess, which I agreed.
"He was impressed with my way of playing and said that I reminded him of his former team mate (Kering). He asked me if I knew Kering because I resembled him. He was shocked when I told him that Kering was indeed my father,” Kiprono opens up at the Nyayo National Stadium gymnasium, Nairobi.
“At the time, I was a second-year student studying Bachelor of Education Arts. When the University closed, I travelled to Nairobi and joined Equity Bank for training. That was my turning point. I learned a lot of things and I realized things were being done differently and in a professional way.
Club training was different from university training. My training improved. I did not play for Equity in the KVF League during that period but coach Kirongo allowed me to play Mtaa Games where I turned up for Highrise Volleyball Club and that’s where and how my foundation was laid” added Kiprono.
GSU beat Equity 3-1 in their rescheduled KVF National League match held at Kasarani last month but but Kiprono was a joy to watch and evidently a fan favourite with his powerful attacks.
Kiprono, who will be graduating this August, joined the bankers late last year after completing his studies at the Moi University. He is now an Equity regular under coach Patrick Owino.
“There were many clubs that wanted to sign me after I cleared university last year but I took time off to just stay home with my parents. During that period I applied for the United States of America visa through scholarship but nothing came of it.
"My dad who was friends with Kirongo then advised me to join Equity. But unfortunately Kirongo had left when I joined the team. I felt bad because he had been the man behind the player I’m turning out to be. He is part of this journey I’m undertaking but I hope our paths will cross again. He made me,” said Kiprono who weighs 74kg and stands at 189cm on his socks.
Kiprono is optimistic that his presence at the bankers will push the team to win the elusive league title.
“For now, we are the talk of the town and more so, myself. But I still want to be a better player. We had a scrappy start to the season during the first leg in Nyeri last year but we have gotten our grove back and we want to go all the way and finish on the podium, if not clinch the title.
"This is my first time to play at this stage and winning the Most Valuable Player award really made me realize that I have something to offer. I want to ride on this form and put my name out there,” said Kiprono, who loves to listen to music and play pool in his free time.
Equity are third in the league standings with 18 points from eight matches, Kenya Ports Authority are second with 24 points from nine matches, while leaders and defending champions Kenya Prisons have 26 points from 10 matches.
Kiprono comes from a sporting family, his father was a volleyball setter, his elder sister Sheila Chebet is an athlete based in the USA, while his young sister Shelyne is a volleyball player at St Cathrine Girls High School Kesses, Eldoret.
Kiprono, 24 says his experience at Equity helped him guide Moi University to three play-offs finals where they lost to Strathmore University on all occasions.
He is considered one of the most sought-after player in Kenyan volleyball who can play both as an outside and opposite attacker. He feels a Kenya call-up in inevitable.
“I have been to Burundi turning up for National League champions Rukinzo twice in 2022 and 2024 though on short stints during the play-offs. And open tournaments and on both occasions, we won the titles. I still want to turn professional abroad and play at the highest level.
Playing for the national team is my other goal. There is that satisfaction that comes with donning your country’s colours,” said Kiprono who scored C+ in his KCSE examination.
Kiprono studied at Cheribisi Primary School in Nandi County and was an ardent football player. He joined secondary school football giants Musingu High School and naturally started training with the institution’s team.
“As you know Musingu is from Western Kenya and schools from that region are big on football. As much as I wanted to make the team my body structure failed me. I was slim while the other students training with the team were heavy built. Someone told me I would struggle there and it was better I look for another sport.
“So, while still in Form Two I decided to try out volleyball and handball said Kiprono, who is a nephew to KVF deputy president and former national team player Paul Bitok.
“The two years I played, we didn’t go past the county level during school games as Malava boys Secondary School defeated us at that stage, but I loved the experience of competing on the court.”
