Kenya Prisons aim to retain the Kenya Volleyball Federation women’s title

Violet Makuto of Kenya Prisons (R) strikes against Janet Wanja of Kenya Pipeline during their 24th Women's African Club Championship semi final match in Carthage, Tunisia, April 25, 2014. Kenya Prisons won 3-0. Photo/Stephen Mudiari/www. Pic centre.com (TUNISIA).

Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF) women’s reigning champions Kenya Prisons are set to defend their national title at the playoffs set for November 26-28 at the Makande Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) hall, Mombasa. This is despite the five-time champions missing their key players middle blocker Brackcides Khadambi and setter Jane Wacu, who joined professional ranks at French Division two club Chamalieres.
However, the five-time continental club champions are determined to retain their title and maintain the status quo. They have won the title consecutively since 2011 and believe that this year’s competition will not be any different.
Head Coach David Lung’aho told Game Yetu that he has confidence in his current squad as they have already proved their worth. “I am confident in my squad. They have won two out of the three tournaments after the departure of our celebrated players and I am certain they will do a good job at the playoffs,” Lung’aho said.
Prisons have played three tournaments in the absence of Khadambi and Wacu gaining victory in Nanyuki and Eldama Ravine.  Nevertheless, they fell to arch rivals Pipeline in Homabay. Lung’aho said that Prisons which was formed in 2006 has a rich history of good performance having won five titles out of their eight attempts to the national trophy. They will be out to grab their sixth national title and are certain that their objective is achievable.
Prisons will battle it out with bitter rivals Pipeline who have already made the cut to the final four others likely to qualify are Nairobi Water and KCB. International libero Elizabeth Wanyama said that they were up to task and ready to defend their title.
“With victory on our minds, we are always ready to take on any team, we know what is at stake and there is no other way to it but victory, we will retain our title at all costs,” she said. She also pointed out Pipeline to be their major threat to winning their fourth national title in a row but added that the entire team was committed to make sure that they keep the trophy.
“We can’t write off any club but Pipeline have always made things hard for us, I believe that they will not let us have it the easy way, we are working hard to up our game and am positive we will emerge victorious,” she added.
The Kenyan queens are also plotting to reclaim the continental club championships title that they lost in Tunisia early this year. They went down 3-0 to GSP Alger of Algeria to relinquish the African crown but are set to reclaim it in 2015.