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2008 Men’s African
Clubs Champions Championship-
Misurata, Libya |
Kenya Commercial
Bank participates in the Women’s competition and
withdraws from the Men’s
Nairobi, Kenya, April 7, 2008- Kenya Commercial Bank’s
men’s volleyball team has pulled out of the Africa Club
Championship which will be held in Tripoli 10-18 April
2008. The club’s team manager, Kenneth Tonui, confirmed
his squad will not make the trip to North Africa citing
late invitation as the reason that locked them out.
Confederation of African Volleyball (CAVB) had offered
KCB the opportunity to return to continental competition
after seven years but the bankers are not taking up the
chance.
Tonui said they had already budgeted for the season in
January but the invitation arrived a month later and his
efforts to convince the management to send the team to
Tripoli has since been quashed.
“We are definitely out. Maybe we will consider it next
year, but for now, we will just focus on the league
title,” he said.
However, the women’s team will be trying to get their
name on the continental trophy they last won in 2005.
Head coach Paul Bitok is confident he has discovered the
problem which cost the team the last two competitions
which.
Bitok said setting has been his main problem but he said
he relishes the challenge ahead as he has signed up
veteran Esther Ouna, 36 and youngster Florence Bosire to
assist Halima Bakari in the pivotal position in the
team.
“I have lost twice because of this position. Now I have
got Ouna from her retirement and I have the players for
the assault on the title,” he said.
Ouna last played for Telkom about five years ago when
the team was still under the Kenya Postel and
Telecommunication management.
She was moved to the Posta side when the two departments
were separated. But Bitok, has given her a new lease of
life and she intends to pay back with a superb display
in Cairo.
“The arrival of the two players has increased the
competition which is healthy for the team. Now I must
make a decision on who to drop when I name the final
12,” said Bitok.
The club has also acquired the services of four other
young players - Joyce Tarus, Florence Bosire, Grace
Cheptoo and Truphena Nyongesa - to boost its squad. Now
Bitok has the task of blending them with the experienced
to gain maximum performance to challenge for the title.
Veteran national team captain Dorcas Ndasaba has since
been named assistant coach to Bitok, as she moves into
management having played for over two decades. At 37,
Ndasaba and Margaret Indakala 42 are the oldest players
in the squad.
This year, KCB, Kenya Pipeline and Kenya Prisons are the
three local teams that will be vying for the continental
honours in Cairo.
The respective coaches - Paul Bitok, Sylvester Kioko and
David Lung’aho - have all said it won’t be an easy job
to capture the crown on foreign land.
While KCB are pitching camp at Kasarani, Lung’aho is
leading his Prisons charges in training at the Nyayo
Stadium.
Kioko on the other hand, has his squad at their backyard
in Embakasi preparing for the tournament.
The warders won their first national league title last
year, beating both KCB and Pipeline.
However, they lack experience at this level with only
three players Moim, Jane Wacu and Lydia Maiyo having
continental experience.
By Chris Musumba KVF Press Officer
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