AGONISING MOMENTS AHEAD: Congested fixtures await national volleyball champions

AFRICA CLUB WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS Kenya Pipeline's Janet Wanja reacts after losing to Egypt's Al Ahly in the Africa Women's Club Volleyball Championships finals in Cairo on Sunday. [PHOTO:CAVB]

With a busy schedule ahead, national women volleyball defending champions Kenya Pipeline might miss out on this year's play-offs slated for November 23-25 in Mombasa.

The seven-time African champions left Nairobi yesterday for this weekend's ninth and final leg in Kapsabet minus three of its key players.

Pipeline will have to do without the services of experienced Malkia Strikers setter Janet Wanja due to personal commitments, right attacker Esther Wangeci, who joined French side Chamalières on a short loan spell, while middle-blocker Ruth Jepngetich is recovering from illness.

Having played only one league game since the beginning of the season (majority of their players were busy with the national teams), Pipeline have an intense run of fixtures tomorrow against league leaders Kenya Commercial Bank, Oserian, Bungoma County and Talent Academy.

After the ninth leg, the defending champions will play Nairobi Water, Mount Kenya University and Nairobi Queens.

Although Pipeline coach Japheth Munala admitted it will not be an easy task in Kapsabet, they are motivated by their preparation.

"It's going to be a very tedious and congested day for us. But I believe we have worked well on our endurance and the morale in the team is really encouraging," Munala said.

"We have left early enough to acclimatise with Kapsabet environment. Most teams will come out strongly knowing that I don't have three of my starters, but they are in for a rude shock. Wangeci, Wanja and Jepngetich are certainly our dependable players, but I believe in the squad I have."

"We have Makokha (Gaudencia), Makuto (Violet), Magoi (Rose) and Kasaya (Leonida), who were instrumental in the All Africa Games team as well as Biama (Monica), Murambi (Noel) and Atuka (Triza), who were in Japan."

"Given that they performed very well with the national teams, we have what it takes to deal with the fixture congestion. This is also an opportunity for other players to prove their worth."

However, the newly appointed national women's team coach warned his charges against undermining their opponents.

"We cannot afford to underrate our opponents because being the champions, all teams will come out firing and we need to be at our best to qualify for the play-offs," Munala said.

"By the time we qualify for the play-offs, Wanja and Jepngetich will be back."

Kenya Prisons are also affected by the busy calendar.