Old foes Lung'aho, Munala ready to conquer FIVB Grand Prix
PHOTO | FILE National volleyball team coach David Lung'aho (right) and setter Janet Wanja during a past training. Lung'aho and old foe Japheth Munala are set to lead the Kenyan women volleyball team at the 2014 FIVB Grand Prix in Mexico.
What you need to know:
- This will be in stark contrast to the norm over the past five years where the two tacticians have consistently locked horns both on the local front and the continental tournaments.
- Last year alone, Munala's Kenya Pipeline defeated their local arch rivals twice in the Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF) league matches.
MEXICO CITY
A historic sight awaits the volleyball audience during the opening games of the 2014 FIVB Grand Prix at the Olympic de la Perrera Hall on Saturday.
All eyes will be glued on Kenya's technical bench, with few of the sport's ardent followers awaiting with baited breath to witness head coach David Lung'aho sit next to his newly appointed assistant Japheth Munala in the country's opening game of the tournament against the host team.
This will be in stark contrast to the norm over the past five years where the two tacticians - who are also in charge of the country's top clubs Kenya Prisons and Kenya Pipeline respectively - have consistently locked horns both on the local front and the continental tournaments. It is never business as usual when the two teams lock horns.
LOCAL RIVALRY
Last year alone, Munala's Kenya Pipeline defeated their local arch rivals twice in the Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF) league matches.
Kenya Prisons returned the favour by beating their nemesis in the competition's play offs at the Nazarene University last November to win the overall league title.
Prisons have also defeated Pipeline in the semi-finals of the last two editions of the Africa Club Championships staged in Madagascar (2013) and Tunisia (2014) respectively.
"Our rivalry is healthy. It has developed volleyball in Kenya and in the continent," Munala told Nation Sport at the Fiesta Hotel in Mexico City, where the national team is residing.
At the moment, all attention and energies are focussed on team Kenya's prospects at the Grand Prix. Munala was appointed to assist Lung'aho by the Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF) specifically for this competition.
"We concluded that Lung'aho needed technical assistance especially considering the calibre of the Grand Prix," KVF Secretary General Evans Wasike told Nation Sport after the appointment was made.
"Munala's experience is invaluable. We are already seeing his importance and am certain the same will reflect over time in the team's results," Lung'aho, a Nakuru High School alumni said.
