Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF) has, on Saturday, confirmed the sudden death. “It is profound grief and sorrow that we announce the passing on of iconic Volleyball Coach Gilbert Ohanya just after midnight last night. Funeral arrangements to be announced later by the family. May Coach Ohanya’s soul rest in peace!” Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF) Deputy President Charles Nyaberi has told Opera News.
While still at it, Nyaberi, has showered praises to the fallen hero, asserting that Kenya has lost someone who had a good intention for the sport. “Ohanya was undoubtedly Kenya’s most decorated, charismatic and flamboyant Coach in Kenya and, indeed Africa,” he added.
Otherwise known by his peers as Gilbert Charles Agara Ohanya, the former Malkia Strikers tactician, played for Kenya national team before coaching Telkom Kenya (Posta, then) and Kenya Pipeline-clubs he took to greater heights.
Of interest is the fact that he served at the helm of Malkia Strikers when Kenya had some of the finest players in the continent including Violet Barasa and Dorcas Ndasaba among others.
He will be remembered for a dramatic twist at KVF when Turkish coach Nejat Santjak took over from him in June 2003 for about two months before he (Ohanya) returned to the throne. He would later be dumped and his deputy David Lung’aho appointed head coach the same month.