Chema Volleyball Club head coach Jeremiah Mukopi Shikanga believes their recent promotion to the Kenya Volleyball League top tier is a product of sheer grit and growth, describing the just-ended season as the most intense of his career.
“This isn’t my first promotion. My first was with Kenya Airports Authority men's side back in 2009—but this one was particularly intense,” Mukopi, who has also coached Kenya Airways, Equity Bank, GSU and DCI, said after steering Chema through a Division Two campaign that ended in title glory.
“Being crowned champions was no walk in the park. The level of competition was very high, and every side brought its best.”
Chema’s season included a morale-boosting run to the final of the Rwanda Genocide Memorial volleyball tournament, where they stunned Kenya Cup finalists KPA in the semifinals before falling to REG VC in the final.
Mukopi said the performance injected both confidence and urgency into the camp. “It was our first regional outing for most of the players, and it gave them a taste of what to expect in the top flight,” he said.
“After Kigali, the mood in training completely shifted. The boys are more motivated than ever and want to make a mark in the league."
Chema will now prepare to join Eldowas as the two newly promoted sides in the KVF national league, with Mukopi vowing to build a squad that can hold its own against established sides.
“We are ready to face the big boys. By all standards, we will match them and be competitive,” he said, adding that the club is actively recruiting to boost depth and experience. Among the new arrivals is libero Bethoven Okombo, who joins from Equity Bank and is expected to anchor the team’s backcourt with his top-flight experience.
“At this level, we need to inject fresh energy and experience. There will be new faces joining us,” the tactician added.
While Chema and Eldowas rose, it was a painful end for Mt. Kenya Base Yetu and the Department of Defence (DOD), who have been relegated from Division One after struggling to pick up points across the season.
