KCB have one hand on the African Club Champions
Volleyball and Handball
By
Mike Kihaki
| May 30, 2022
KCB's Captain Noel Murambi (left) and Lorine Chebet during KVF League at Kitui School on April 26, 2019. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]
Kenya Commercial Bank sailed through to the finals of the African Club Championships in Kelibia, Tunisia on Monday after beating their co-patriates and archrival Kenya Pipeline 3-0(25-15,25-23,25-12) in the semifinal.
The bankers climb the stage on Tuesday for the finals where they will meet either record holders Al Ahly of Egypt or the hosts and reigning champions Carthage of Tunisia.
The semi-final saw the resilient KCB pull a surprise lead of 10-5 in the second half after the first half proved balanced.
Mercy Moim, Sharon Chepchumba, and Emmaculate Nekesa commanded the banker’s onslaught for goals widening the gap to 16-8 which proved difficult for the Kenya Pipeline to bridge.
KPC through Telespory Alouch combined with Triza Atuka, Violet Makuto and Pamela Adhiambo to try and resuscitate hopes for their side from a humiliation gap of 23-12.
Kenya Pipeline’s middle blocker Gladys Ekiru picked up an injury after a collision with KCB’s captain Edith Wisa. She would leave the pitch for Lydia Iswan.
It was a narrow gap between the two sides in the second set as KCB continued with the lead 24-22 and finally 25-23 for a 2-0 win.
KCB extended their lead in the third set to 14-7, 20-8 and 23-9, before they bagged the set 25-12 as Pipeline's setting crumbled.
In another match, Kenya Prisons defeated Rwanda Patriotic Army 3-0 (25-10,25-19,25-20) to end the tournament in the fifth position with FAP of Cameroon winning against Kelibia of Tunisia 3-0 (25-20,25-19,25-17) to finish seventh.
Prisons in 2013, won the trophy for Kenya in Madagascar against GS Pétroliers of Algeria 3-2.