When Geoffrey Omondi was appointed Malkia Strikers coach in March last year, he took a leap of faith with the full backing of the Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF) executive.
He dropped some big names when he selected a provisional squad of 29 players in June of the same year for the 2025 FIVB World Championships, which was staged from August 22 to September 7 in Thailand.
They included opposite hitter Sharon Chumba, outside hitter Mercy Moim, libero Apripina Kundu, middle blocker Triza Atuka, middle blocker Edith Wisa and setter Joy Luseneka.
National women's volleyball team Malkia Strikers players take the first runner-up position during the 2026 African Volleyball Confederation Women's Africa Volleyball Championship on September 4, 2026 at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani Indoor Arena.
Photo credit: Chris Omollo | Nation
Omondi, who is also the coach of Kenyan champions Pipeline, was clearly on a rebuilding mission with a team made up mostly of fresh blood with a sprinkle of experience.
The old guard who made his final 14-strong squad were Finland-based Pamela Adhiambo, skipper Meldina Sande, who plies her trade in Rwanda, Veronica Adhiambo, who is based in Greece, and local-based middle blockers Gladys Ekaru and Lorine Chebet, and setter Emmaculate Nekesa.
In Thailand, Kenya lost to Poland and Germany, and beat Vietnam to bow out in the preliminary stage. This was the squad Omondi settled on to fight for a fifth qualification to the Olympic Games.
Milkia strikers seemed to be cruising during the Women’s African Nations Volleyball Championship cum 2028 Los Angeles Olympic qualifiers, before they crashed out 3-0 to Egypt in the final. Only one qualifying spot was available.
The Egyptians were decidedly superior in their straight sets victory of 25-22, 25-15, 25-15.
Inexperience showed in the young Malkia Strikers side that struggled to contain the suave Egyptians, who trained in Turkey for several months.
Only four experienced players from the World Championships made the Olympic qualifiers team, namely, Sande, Adhiambo, Ekaru and Nekesa as setters. There were nine new players, including four teenagers -opposite hitters Merlin Terry Tata and Milka Akinyi, all aged 18, and the 19-year-old liberos Josephine Kataa and Sharon “Shakakhola” Arusei.
“We can’t always try to win without injecting new players. I would rather lose with this crop of players and learn than continue losing with players who will exit after one year,” said Omondi.
The coach said going into the championship without build-up matches while their opponents like Egypt and Cameroon trained in Europe for weeks was their main undoing.
CAVB President Bouchra Hajij (left) presents the trophy to the Egypt women's captain during the 2026 African Volleyball Confederation Women's Africa Volleyball Championship on September 4, 2026 at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani Indoor Arena.
Photo credit: Chris Omollo | Nation
Omondi could, however, be happy with the performance of his young players, the likes of Beatrice Marian Sokoiyo, who was named the tournament’s best blocker, Tata, who was the best opposite, and outside hitter Milka Akinyi. “But we need to expose them to quality opposition,” said Omondi.
Kenya clearly has the talent. The government and Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF) must deliberately support schools that have produced talent like these players by making them centres of excellence.
Subjecting the team to a poor diet in camp was another factor that contributed to the team’s failure to win the single qualifying spot.
The partnership between KVF and FIVB, where the global body provided elite Brazilian coaching and high-performance training camps to Malkia Strikers through the FIVB Volleyball Empowerment Programme, would have ensured the diet issue never arose.
Kenya's national women's volleyball team players celebrate their win over Nigeria in the round of 16 of the 2026 Africa Volleyball Championship at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani indoor Arena, on August 29, 2026.
Photo credit: Chris Omollo | Nation Media Group
It’s that partnership that saw Malkia Strikers qualify for the 2020 Tokyo and 2024 Paris Olympic Games before KVF terminated the deal, wanting more Kenyan coaches to be involved.
The partnership was extended for a multi-month training camp in Sao Paulo, Brazil, giving the squad access to state-of-the-art facilities at the Osasco Volleyball Club and high-profile friendly matches ahead of the 2022 World Championship and 2024 Olympics. The positive results were there for all to see.
