• Mulinge guided the women's beach volleyball team to their maiden Olympic appearance in Tokyo and is also part of the beach volleyball commission.
•The coastal side claimed the second position in the playoffs held in June but managed to finish fifth in two consecutive appearances at the African Club Championship
Image: /HANDOUT
Kenya Ports Authority volleyball coach Sammy Mulinge has said the current squad can write history if the players can be given contracts as part of motivation after emerging as a force both locally and continentally.
KPA are a team on the ascendancy after finishing third last year in the national men’s league.
The coastal side claimed the second position in the playoffs held in June but managed to finish fifth in two consecutive appearances at the African Club Championship to underline their growth under Mulinge who took charge in 2019 after returning from Rwanda.
Mulinge said better remuneration will not only ensure the players maintain a competitive level but will also boost the players' morale.
“Our players have no contracts and nobody knows what is going to happen. We want the best for the players and we can’t continue operating from the point of unknown. Players get allowances but contracts give a binding agreement.”
He added: “When a player is not settled, he can’t deliver. I was satisfied with the results last season. Beating GSU 3-0 in the regular season was a great moment for us given the circumstances. We can only back that up by going for the title in the coming season but important things must be sorted first,” he warned.
Mulinge guided the women’s beach volleyball team to their maiden Olympic appearance in Tokyo and is also part of the beach volleyball commission.
While maintaining the current squad is a priority, Mulinge noted that freshening up the team will help retain their spark. “We want to leave a mark and to do that calls for concerted efforts from everyone. We can be favourites for the league if we don’t lose the spine of the team. The target shifts once players leave,” he said.
“We were lucky for the first time to finish fifth and secondly, we know what was ahead of us. We have worked hard to become regulars and next year we can go one step better. There’s no limit to our achievement.”
KPA are yet to return to training ahead of the new season slated to start in December. Mulinge admitted that the coming season will be even trickier considering their rivals have beefed up their squads.
“We want to get hard at work as soon as possible. It’s going to be tough since all teams have strengthened. GSU have added more firepower while Equity and KDF are wounded lions after missing the playoffs and will go all out to prove a point. ”
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