I’m at a loss for words to describe the feeling of losing our volleyball legend, Janet Wanja. I’ve read glowing tributes about our departed volleyball star, which confirm her solid place in the history of Kenyan volleyball – an impeccable Hall of Famer.
Fellow journalists have described her photogenic nature and ability to wow the crowds, on and off the court, with her natural flair, class, beauty, discipline, extraordinary talent as a setter and dedication to her beloved nation. I couldn’t agree more.
I’ve seen Janet Wanja grow in the game and travelled with her and the “Malkia Strikers” squad to many faraway places, including, most recently, to the Paris Olympic Games. But my most memorable moment was at the 2006 Women’s Volleyball World Championships in Japan, when Kenya was then coached by Japanese veteran, Sadatoshi Sugawara, assisted by Paul Bitok and Anthony Lung’aho.
At one of the training sessions before Kenya’s opening match against Poland at Tokyo’s Yoyogi National Gymnasium, Wanja wept uncontrollably, and was only comforted by Kenya Volleyball Federation official Waithaka Kioni (MHSRIEP).
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She was absolutely devastated that her training didn’t go well at all, and her service reception drills were far from her desired targets. Her technique was at sixes and sevens. Such was the passion Wanja had for the game, all the way to her last moments on earth.
Ahead of the Paris Olympics, she played a huge role as trainer in motivating the “Malkia Strikers” squad, sticking to her role and in no way making the players feel intimidated or getting in the way of the head coach Japheth Munala and his staff, despite her vast experience.
“These girls are lucky… in our time, we never had the luxury of such training periods and facilities,” she remarked at the team’s pre-Olympics training camp in Kurume City, Southern France, as we watched the team warm down after a training session.
She always had time for the media and for the 20 years I knew her as a Kenyan international, she never complained whenever I sought an interview, and would go further by offering more insights into the state of the sport, even off-the-record, just to keep the sport going. Whenever we bumped into one another, she would take time for a quick catch-up and always had something to say about the state of Kenyan volleyball.
A huge thanks to the Kenya Pipeline Company for taking Wanja up after her retirement as an instructor, and to the Kenya Volleyball Federation for keeping her on the coaching staff, allowing her to serve to the very last possible moment.
It’s a huge loss to KPC and KVF, and especially to her loving family. My deepest and most sincere condolences to you all, and to those patriots who love Kenyan volleyball and who cherish “Malkia Strikers.”
May the Almighty God grant you strength.
Such is the transient nature of life…
Go well, Wanja. Shine on your way.
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