Kenyan ace Adhiambo joins Greek side GS Panionios

Kenyan international Veronica Adhiambo has signed a two-year deal with Greek second tier side GS Panionios.

Adhiambo, 23, joins Panionios from Turkish second tier club Tarsus Belediyespor where she plied her trade in the 2022/23 season.

The 23-year-old Adhiambo took the Turkish second tier league by storm after walking straight into Tarsus’s first team. They finished ninth on the 12-team league with 26 points, 11 behind fourth-placed Bahcelievler Belediyespor to miss out on the four promotion play-offs slots.

Her exploits in the second tier league had caught the eye of a number of top tier clubs in Turkey but she opted to move to Greece where another Kenyan player Sharon Chepchumba is based.

“I had a lot of offers from Turkish clubs but after discussing with my management we settled on the offer from Greece. I am grateful to Tarsus for the opportunity they gave me to experience professional volleyball for the first time. It has been a good season and I’ve learnt a lot,” said Adhiambo who revealed she consulted Chepchumba before settling for GS Panionios.

“Chepchumba is a good friend of mine. She has told me a lot of nice things about Greece and the standard of volleyball there. I am currently on holiday in Kenya but I can’t wait to link up with my new team mates,” she added.

At her new club, Adhiambo will entirely be fielded as an outside hitter as opposed to Turkey where she doubled up as an opposite and outside hitter.

“It’s one of the factors that contributed to my decision. I really enjoy playing as an outside hitter because it allows me to express myself fully on the court. I want to specialize more on this position and polish my reception and see where it takes me,” said Adhiambo.

GS Panionios finished seventh with 36 points in the 13-team Greek Pre League to miss out on promotion in the 2022/23 season. 

Adhiambo’s breakthrough arrived at the 2022 FIVB World Championship in Netherlands where she emerged Kenya’s second best scorer behind Chepchumba with an impressive tally of 50 points (41 kills, four blocks, five aces).

She is expected to link up with the national team, Malkia Strikers, for upcoming assignments namely FIVB Challenger Cup in July and African Nations Championship in August.

Both competitions will be key to Kenya's qualification to the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.