Volleyball: Could Munala be leaving Pipeline?

Malkia Strikers' Coach Japheth Munala during their match of the 2017 CAVB Zone V World Championship Qualifiers against Rwanda at Kasarani Gymnasiun on Saturday, July 29, 2017. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

All is not well at the national women’s volleyball champions Kenya Pipeline as head coach Japheth Munala could be on his way out of the club.

According to a source close to the Embakasi-based club, Munala, who has won five league titles with the oil merchants since he joined them in 2011, is likely to rejoin his former club Kenya Commercial Bank after the upcoming Kenya Volleyball Federation national play-offs at Kasarani Gymnasium.

The Malkia Strikers coach recently signed a two-month extension to his present deal as the company offered a one year deal to the players.

Team manager Bernard Kimani has also resigned two weeks to the eagerly awaited national play-offs.

“I’m stepping down as the team manager. Hellen Gichuru and Benard Barasa will be handling all matters volleyball from now on. Kindly accord them the necessary support thank you,” read a statement from Kimani to the players in the team’s Whatssap group.

This comes barely two days after six key players led by assistant captain Noel Murambi reportedly signed a pre-contract with playoffs opponents KCB.

Others, who are expected to cross over ahead of the 2019 season due to contractual dispute include reigning KVF most valuable player Violet Makuto, Leonida Kasaya (centre) Veronica Tanui (setter), Truphosa Samoei (left attacker) and Christine Njambi (right attacker).