Focus now shifts to FIVB 2010 Championship

By Oscar Pilipili

Kenya has shifted attention to the 2010 FIVB World Championship qualifiers in Italy and Japan.

This follows failure by its men and women’s teams to deliver at the African Clubs Championship this season.

General Service Unit (GSU) were eliminated in the quarterfinals of the men’s event in Egypt, ending the country’s campaign at the clubs level on naught.

The Kenyan paramilitary men lost 3-2 against Fab of Cameroon in a quarterfinal duel on Wednesday.

GSU’s exit was a big blow to Kenyans since Al Ahly of Egypt won the feminine trophy beating hosts Pipeline, Prisons and Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) in a controversial event in Nairobi early last month.

The results mean that Kenyan clubs that have dominated continental volleyball for many years will not be part of pioneers to the inaugural World Clubs Championship.

Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF) maintains, however, that all is not lost as the country has another chance to regain its glory.

Secretary General Evans Wasike said: "Kenyans should put behind what has happened and focus on the World Championship."

The women qualifiers will be played in Nairobi in July with men’s converging in Tunis, Tunisia a month later to vie for two tickets reserved for Africa at the world show.

"I know that GSU will provide most players to the national team and the experience they have gained in Cairo will come in handy during the Championship," said Wasike.

The KVF official announced that the women team would be constituted after the national league to be played in Nyeri on May 8-9 and go to camp a week later.

Kenyan women have been given bye to the second round at the World Championships qualifiers.

Two teams that will qualify in round one will join Kenya and Tunisia in vying for one ticket under Pool C. The round one teams are: Cameroon, Senegal, Botswana, Nigeria and DR Congo.

Egypt and Algeria, who have got bye to round two, will be joined by two successful teams from first round qualifiers to contest for Pool D slot.

 

 

Read all about: Kenya Volleyball Federation KVF

 

 

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