Munala explains curious swap with Bitok

The decision by KCB's Volleyball team head coach Japhet Munala to swap places with the club's technical director Paul Bitok during their final match of the second leg of the Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF) against former champions Kenya Pipeline caught many by surprise.

Munala manned the technical line during their first game against the Kenya Defence Forces (KDf) played on Saturday at the Nyayo gymnasium on but let Bitok to call the shots against Pipeline the following day.

The Malkia Strikers assistant coach pulled a fast one on his former employers by letting Bitok take charge a strategy which he feels worked to fruition after KCB recovered from a set down to sink Pipeline 3-1.

Munala ditched the oilers for the bankers in 2018 while Bitok, who doubles up as the national team head coach joined KCB in December 2019.

"Pipeline were anticipating that I will be at the technical line. Most of their players understand my philosophy and we had to counter them by making changes which confused them. We missed three points in the first leg and it was important for us to bag all six in the second leg, " he said

With the second leg done and dusted, Munala said the club will shift their focus on leaving a mark in the Africa Club Championship. Morocco will stage the men's event between April 16 to 25 in Rabat, while the women's showpiece will go down on April 2-10 in Algiers.

" The second leg helped us identify some of the areas we need to work on before the African show which will be our next assignment, " he added

The long serving tactician ruled out adding more fireworks into his already star-studded team.