PAINFUL EXIT: Kenya Pipeline, Prisons fail to make final in Africa women club volleyball

There are plenty of positives to take from Kenya Pipeline's elimination from the just concluded 2016 African Women's Club Championships in Tunisia.

The Kenyans lost 3-1 (21-25, 31-29, 25-23, 25-15) to hosts Carthage in the semis, but the team's head coach Japheth Munala said they have learnt a lot.

Having defeated Kenya Prisons in the quarterfinals with the same margin, many expected Pipeline, who are the national champions, to turn the tables on Carthage.

But it never came to pass, as a well-oiled Carthage, who were cheered on by a partisan home crowd, completed an upset against Pipeline and with that, ensured no Kenyan team will play in the final, a first in as many years.

Pipeline started off brightly, rallying from behind to win the first set 25-21, but poor reception, unforced errors and setter Janet Wanja's controversial penalization, cost them in the subsequent sets.

In a phone interview, Munala hailed the fighting spirit of his players, but faulted the professional level of the Kenyan clubs.

"Our players fought hard, but luck was not on our side. But the reality is that North African clubs are leaving nothing to chance. As we weaken our clubs in the name of professionalism, they are doing the opposite, as they engage their players at all levels," said Munala.

"What I mean is that the North African clubs make sure they give their players the support they require. This has given them the edge over most of us."

Commenting on the team's semifinal defeat, Munala said;
"In any knockout stage, one team must lose, unfortunately that team was us. We fought hard to win the first set, but in the second as we led 23-20, they equalised after we committed numerous blunders in reception.

"Wanja was penalized two times at a very critical moment and my complains after that decision earned me a yellow card. The home support also played to our disadvantage. This was the first time the hall was almost full."

Although Kenya Prisons coach David Lung'aho was proud of his youthful side's performance, he bemoaned the absence of a Kenyan team in the final.

"This is the worst year ever in the history of the Africa Club championships. We were used to having one of our own play in the final, if not both of us, but this year, both Pipeline and Prisons missed out after being eliminated in the semis and quarters," said Lung'aho, whose side lost 3-1 to Sfax in the fifth-place playoff.

"But the Kenyan volleyball, which is slowly undergoing transition, is expected to rise again soon. Kenya Prisons, who paraded a youthful side with most of the players making a debut at the championships, made it to the quarters, while defeating some of very experienced teams in their quest.

"Prisons might be out for now, but it is a team to watch in the future," said Lung'aho.

Pipeline were due to face Revenue Authority of Rwanda in the third-place playoff last evening, while Prisons were to lock horns with GSP in the seventh-place playoff.