Coach to pick team from winning clubs

By Erick Ochieng’

Celebrated Prisons coach David Lung’aho will select the women’s volleyball national team in three weeks from the three clubs dominated the Africa Club championships in Mauritius last week.

This means Prisons, Pipeline and Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) players would have slots at the national team that represent Kenya at the World Volleyball Championship to be held in Japan later in the year.

Lung’aho, who is also the national women’s volleyball coach, announced this at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport upon Prisons arrival from Mauritius where the team secured a slot to the World Club Championship to be held in Qatar in December.

Prisons received a decorated welcome at the airport by the Prisons Department, volleyball fraternity and members of the public.

It was the second time Prisons were winning the clubs’ trophy in a span of three years with Lung’aho.

"My selection for the national team to represent the country in Japan would come from the three teams that contested the club’s championship," said Lung’aho.

Lung’aho has also won the trophy twice with Pipeline who finished runners-up this year after Prisons defeated them 3-1 in the finals.

Lung’aho said he has been attracted by the finesse of the young players that the Kenya teams sent to Mauritius.

"At the moment, volleyball is taking anew dimension in the country where teams are opting to sign younger players and I think this is good for the national team," Lung’aho told FeverPitch.

Prisons Captain Prackcedes Agala, also the national team captain, affirmed Prisons prowess would be carried on in Qatar.

"We vowed to make it this year," Agala said as she lifted the glittering trophy that Prisons won in Mauritius.

Kenya Volleyball Federation chairman Waithaka Kioni was at the airport to receive the teams. He said the 1-2-3 finish by Kenyan clubs in Mauritius has made preparation for Japan easy.

Prisons Acting Senior Deputy Commissioner Benjamin Njoga, who received the team on behalf of Commissioner of Prisons Isaiah Osugo, echoed Kioni’s sentiments.

Njoga also promised that the department will reward the players for the impressive performances in Mauritius.

Prisons won the Africa Clubs championship finals 3-1(23-25,25-11,25-14,25-11) over rivals Pipeline.

Pipeline that arrived with Prisons in the same plane also received a cordial welcome from their staff members though the public eyes were focused on the winners.