Prisons to play Chinese side in FIVB World Club Championships first tie

By Oscar Pilipili

Africa champions Kenya Prisons meet Guangdong Evergrande of China in their opening match of the 2013 FIVB World Club Championship on October 9.

The annual tournament is scheduled to take place in Zurich, Switzerland on October 6-14.

Prisons other opponents in Pool “A” are hosts Volero Zurich and the Kenyans take on the hosts in their last preliminary match on October 11. Prisons coach David Lung’aho said although they have not played any of the two teams, he believes they are equally good sides.

“I have seen China teams play in the Championships before and they are worth opponents,” he said.

“Voleri Zurich is also another new team in the tournament and being in Europe I want to believe they are good,” he said.

Prisons have not recorded a win in their last four appearances in the tournament and Lung’aho insisted that their aim to beat one team and advance to second round.

use amateurs

“It has been a challenge for us to beat our opponents because most of them field professional players unlike us who use amateurs,” he said.

“But most of my players have participated in several high profile international tournaments where they have gained valuable exposure,” he said.

Prisons represented Kenya in the last African Club Championship that they won in Madasgar last May to qualify for the worlds.

Six of Prisons players- Bracksides Agala, Diana Khisa, Mercy Khisa, Jane Wacu, Evelyn Makuto and Liz Wafula- were all in the national team that won CAVB Africa Cup of Nations tournament at Kasarani last Thursday.

premier clubs

American champions Unilever Volei of Brazil will have the honour of playing the opening match of the Championship against USA’s Iowa Ice in the Zurich Saalsporthalle on October 9.

Unilever and Ice are drawn in Pool “A” alongside VakifBank Istanbul of Turkey.

Hosts Volero Zurich will make their debut on October 10 with a match against Guangdong Evergrande.

The 2011 silver medalists and European champions VakifBank Istanbul will play their first match the same day against Iowa Ice.

Zurich is the first Swiss city to host an FIVB volleyball event when it welcomes six of the world’s premier clubs.

The tournament involves winners of continental Championships.

Unilever is the South American representative after claiming the South American Women’s Club Championship crown last May.

Guangdong Evergrande won the Asia title while Turkey’s Vakifbank qualified by winning the CEV Volleyball Champions League in March.

Prisons won their fourth straight African title in April. Ice is the fifth Confederation team selected as the NORCECA representative. —opilipili@standardmedia.co.ke