Former Impala coach sets lofty goals after joining Mwamba

Former Impala RFC assistant coach Jackson Katunga, popularly known as Kalonje, has officially joined Mwamba RFC’s technical bench.

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The tactician has already set ambitious targets as the club plots a return to the Kenya Cup, and improved fortunes on the National Sevens Circuit.

Kalonje parted ways with 10-time Kenya Cup champions Impala shortly after the start of the 2025/26 season, following changes within the club’s technical setup.

His exit came in the wake of head coach Louis Kisia’s departure after the expiry of his contract, with new head coach Malik Ndemi opting to assemble his own backroom staff.

The experienced tactician wasted no time settling into his new role, overseeing his first training session with Mwamba on Wednesday, 10 December at the Goan Institute.

Speaking to Mozzart Sport, Kalonje expressed excitement about the new challenge and optimism about the team’s potential.

“I’m feeling great. Today (Wednesday) marked my first training session with the team, and I’m already enjoying every bit of it,” he said.

“The transition from Impala to Mwamba has happened very quickly, but I really can’t complain. I love the environment here,” he continued.

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Kalonje joins Mwamba as assistant coach to Paul Murunga, a partnership widely viewed as a strong blend of tactical acumen and player development expertise, as the club seeks to regain its top-flight status.

Having assessed the squad in training, Kalonje was quick to point out areas requiring immediate attention.

“After watching the team train, one of the key areas we need to address urgently is the forwards, particularly the tight five, as well as the midfield combination at 12 and 13. These positions will be crucial for our overall structure and competitiveness,” he noted.

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Mwamba finished ninth on the 2025 National Sevens Circuit with 45 points, a return Kalonje is keen to significantly improve. His ambitions extend beyond consistency to genuine title contention.

“My ambition is to help steer the team back into the Kenya Cup and to finish in the top three in the 2026 National Sevens Circuit. I also hope we can reach at least two or three finals during the circuit,” he said.

Kalonje brings with him an impressive coaching résumé.

He guided Impala RFC to the 2024 Impala Floodlights final and was instrumental in returning the club to the National Sevens Circuit, where they finished 10th with 41 points. He also oversaw Impala’s strong showing at the Christie Sevens, earning 13 points.

Previously, he led Makueni to back-to-back Division Two National Sevens Circuit titles between 2016 and 2020 and played a key role in nurturing top talent at Strathmore Leos, including Nygel Amaitsa, Victor Mola, Stanislaus Shikoli, Brian Mwendwa, and Elton Amalemba.

In 2024, he also took charge of the Impala Roans women’s programme following the departure of coach Mary Ochieng.