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Lung'aho revealed that the late Kioni was in talks with FIVB to raise the standards of the men's national team.
Kenya Prisons men's volleyball head coach David Lung’aho has urged the Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF) fraternity to ensure that they honor the late Kioni Waithaka’s dream of ensuring the men’s national volleyball team rises from the ashes.
Lung’aho revealed that the late Kioni, who was the KVF president, was in talks with the FIVB to see how the men’s team can achieve the standard of the women’s national team, Malkia Strikers.
“Last week, we were having a meeting at Kasarani on how we can raise the standard of the men’s national team. Kioni was in talks with FIVB and that was his latest project.
It’s so sad that he has left but I want to urge the volleyball federation to ensure that we make sure this initiative is realized,” Lung’aho said while speaking during Kioni’s tribute that was organized by the National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOCK-K).
The late Kioni, who also served as the NOC-K’s first Vice president mentored many young men and women, Lung’aho being part of the people he inspired. The veteran tactician revealed that Kioni was the one who gave him an opportunity to coach Kenya Pipeline from 2003 to 2007.
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16:40 - 10.04.2023
VOLLEYBALL Waithaka Kioni: The triumphs and tribulations of departed KVF boss
The KVF president leaves behind big shoes to fill following his rich legacy at the helm of Kenya Volleyball Federation
“Kioni saw the potential in me and gave me a chance in 2003, one that I will never take for granted because it opened so many doors for me. I will make sure his legacy lives on,” he said.
Meanwhile, Malkia Strikers captain Mercy Moim was also taken aback by the demise of Kioni. Moim revealed that Kioni had supported the national team in all the ways he could and he was always approachable.
“I don’t know if we will ever find a leader like Kioni. He was a father, a mentor, and a great leader. I lost my mother this month sometime back and now I have lost him too. This month will never be forgotten,” Moim said.
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11:00 - 09.04.2023
GENERAL Kenyan sporting fraternity in mourning after Waithaka Kioni passes away
The late Kioni served as the Kenya Volleyball Federation president and vice president of the African body.
Also, in attendance were CAVB Zone 5 president Fernand Sauveur Ruterana, CAVB board member Fabio Azevedo and CAVB president Bouchra Hajij. Hajij was in tears as she narrated how the late Kioni challenged her to take up leadership.
She revealed that they were planning to travel to the FIVB headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland for a meeting to see how they can improve volleyball in Africa.
“Kioni was a friend…he was one of the people who welcomed me into the office of the CAVB Committee in 2015. He challenged me to vie for the presidency because he believed in me…he believed I was a capable leader. We have lost a leader and a friend,” she said.
According to a statement from NOC-K, Kioni, 70, was taken ill on Saturday, April 8, and rushed to the hospital, where he succumbed around 1 am on Sunday morning after a suspected cardiac arrest. He will be laid to rest next Wednesday at his rural home in Kiamwangi village, Gatundu in Kiambu County.
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