Kenya Pipeline coach Geoffrey Omondi faces a tough task ahead after he was named the new women’s national team Malkia Strikers head coach on Saturday.
Omondi was picked after a recruitment process that saw him beat other candidates among them former Malkia Strikers head coach Japheth Munala of KCB Bank and former Malkia Strikers star Catherine Mabwi who has managed junior women’s teams in the past.
Other applicants for the post were Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) coach Elisha Aliwa and Nairobi Water’s John Mwaniki.
Omondi a FIVB Level Two coach will be assisted by KCB’s David Muthui and Esther Chepkosgei of Kenya Pipeline. He will be in charge of the team until the end of this year after which Kenya Volleyball Federation will decide to extend his contract or hire a new tactician.
He is expected to hit the ground running in a bid to prepare Malkia Strikers for this year’s FIVB World Championships set for August 22 to September 7 in Thailand.
Having been appointed as Kenya Pipeline coach in September last year, Omondi has led them to an unbeaten run in the ongoing Women’s National League.
He also had his first international assignment with the oil merchants last month during the Confederation of African Volleyball (CAVB) Zone Five Club Championship where they were defending the title.
However, they were overpowered by APR Rwanda in the final settling for the silver medal.
The pressure he is facing at the club after losing at Zone V tournament means that he faces even more scrutiny at the national team.
He will have to fight hard to take Malkia Strikers to the level that they were at the 2020 Olympic Games when a Brazil coaching team that was seconded to Kenya by FIVB were in charge.
It is during the reign of the Brazilians that Kenyans saw a change in the coaching philosophy of the national team and Omondi has a tough task in ensuring that Malkia Strikers are back to that level or even higher.
Omondi’s volleyball journey began at Kisumu Boys High School in 1995 where he represented his school until 1998.
He joined Stima Kisumu late in 1998 and shifted allegiance to Telecom Kisumu in 1999 then moved to KCB from 2000 to 2010. He was an all-rounded player and could effortlessly deliver in any position. He played as a libero, middle blocker, opposite hitter, setter and left attacker.
His coaching career began at the Germany School Society in 2005. He has coached the Technical University of Kenya, Cooperative Bank and Trailblazers Volleyball Club. He served as the national team Wafalme Stars coach in 2015. Last year he was the assistant coach of the Men’s Under-18 team.
His assistants Muthui and Chepkosgei also bring a wealth of experience working on the technical benches of top women’s clubs in the country. Chepkosgei was the interim head coach at Kenya Pipeline before Omondi’s appointment.
Omondi is currently in Abuja, Nigeria for the Women’s African Volleyball Club championship that begin tomorrow.
Kenya Pipeline will represent Kenya alongside KCB and Kenya Prisons. The three sides have all won the continental trophy and will be out to ensure that they return it home. KCB were the last Kenyan side to win in 2022.
