Prisons and Pipeline women teams skip KVF league date

Prisons and Pipeline women teams have been excluded from the National Volleyball League starting in Kericho tomorrow.

But the two teams are eligible to play in the Mutai Cup championships after the league tournament on Saturday and Sunday.

Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF) fixtures secretary Iguanya Ndirangu confirmed exempting the two teams from the league’s third leg since most of their players are with the national team in Kampala for the All African Games qualifiers.

“The two teams requested to be exempted from the league because they could not do without their top players, who are with the national team in Kampala for the All African Games qualifiers, and we had to abide by their request,” Iguatha said.

Pipeline have six players with Prisons presenting a similar number of players for the national team duties.

The Pipeline players are setter Janet Wanja, left attackers Noel Murambi and Monica Biama, centres Ruth Jepng’etich and Triza Atuka and right attacker Esther Wangechi.

Kenya beat Egypt 3-1 in Kampala on Monday and were to play Ethiopia yesterday. Pipeline Team Manager Kashujaa Onyonyi confirmed they would skip the event.

However, the two men’s teams -- General Service Unit (GSU) and Prisons, who missed the first leg of the league in Nakuru in January due to their participation in the African Club Championships in Rabat, Morocco, have been included in the Kericho fixtures.

KVF second vice chairman, Kipkemei Sirma, confirmed all men’s teams and the women’s teams with the exception of the two would take part in the three-day competition.

There will be 21 men’s and five women’s matches.

In the first four men's matches to be played from 9am tomorrow, Nairobi Water take on Vihiga County, GSU face AP Kenya, Western PRI meet Oserian and Forest Rangers face Nairobi Prisons.

In the women’s matches, KCB play Talent Academy, Nairobi Water take on Oserian, Nairobi Queens meet Kenya Defence Forces, Mount Kenya University face Talent Academy and Bungoma County play KCB.