By Oscar Pilipili
Mention United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the picture that comes to the mind of many Kenyans is of oil-rich states with glittering skyscrapers and booming business.
The riches have attracted many sports personalities from across the world to join clubs there. Some, including Kenyan athletes, have gone as far as changing their citizenship to ‘eat’ the oil money.
But volleyball stars that went to the Middle East to explore wealth have fallen in trouble with Confederation of African Volleyball (CAVB) who wants them out of the African Clubs Championship that started in Nairobi yesterday.
A preliminary inquiry held under controversial circumstances declared six players ineligible to play at the tournament at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani.
The players in question were: Jane Wacu, Lydia Maiyo and Esther Mwombe of Kenya Prisons and Pipeline’s Lucy Chege, Asha Makuto and Janet Wanja.
Wanted them banned
Kenya Pipeline’s Janet Wanja. She is among players who were earlier declared ineligible. [PHOTO: FILE]
A section of CAVB wanted them banned from the tournament for allegedly having registered with some clubs in Dubai.
The issue elicited a bitter debate between continental officials, mostly from Egypt, and Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF).
Control Committee President, Ugandan Tom Omongole, gave Kenyans two options, first to field the players if they were confident they were not registered with any foreign club.
The Kenyans were also asked to withdraw an appeal presented to the CAVB over the case and not field the affected players pending investigations.
The Only Proof
"The only proof that a player has registered with another club is the International Transfer Certificate or 0-2 forms that contain players’ names during competitions," he said.
KVF chose to use the players in the tournament, with chairman Waithaka Kioni citing a conspiracy to weaken local teams.
"This is a crucial event with very high stakes and so some teams would want to use fair and unfair means to qualify for the inaugural World Clubs’ Championship," said Kioni.
The KVF chairman conceded the players had traveled to Dubai but did not sign for any club there.
He said: "The said players have not contravened any rule of the FIVB or CAVB and anyone who wants to challenge us has the right to appeal to the bodies."
According to the chairman, the players participated in festival tournaments organised by Dubai authorities to stimulate the sport in the country.
Sources who attended the preliminary inquiry said they smelt a rat after an unusual scrutiny of passports belonging to players from particular Kenyan teams.
"They were keen to know all places that our players had traveled to, which has never been the case in previous tournaments," said a source.