Hunt for Africa title

By Oscar Pilipili

Title holders Kenya Prisons and the country’s second side Pipeline are among 16 teams that are set to compete in CAVB women African Club Championships, which starts today in Antananarivo, Madagascar.

And the single ticket reserved for the continent in lucrative FIVB World Club Championships will be the centre of focus as each team is aiming to play at the global level.

The FIVB World Club Championships that was re-introduced four years ago involve six continental winners and has total prize money of US$750,000 (Sh63million).

Kenya Prisons has been in the last three tournaments finishing fifth, which has a prize of $30,000.

Every team is now aiming to win the continental showpiece and qualify for the FIVB World Club Championships slated for Brazil in June.

The continental event is the first ever international volleyball competition to be hosted by the island located in the Indian Ocean in the eastern part of the African continent.

Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF) secretary general Evans Wasike, who is in Antananarivo, told FeverPitch that Prisons and Pipeline have settled well and are ready to start the campaign of chasing the title.

teams arrive

The Kenyans arrived at the venue last Monday after three and a half hours flight from Jomo Kenyatta International Airport.

Wasike named Kutlwano of Botswana, Al Ahly of Egypt, Ndejje (Uganda), Bejaia (Algeria), Moulidia (Algeria), Prisons (Kenya), Pipeline (Kenya), Water Sport (Ethiopia) as teams that were first to arrive.

“More teams are expected to report like APR (Rwanda) and two each from DR Congo, Congo Brazaville and Cameroon,” Wasike said on telephone yesterday.

Meanwhile, Madagascar Volleyball Federation President Clarisse Bakoly says they are ready to stage the event at Palais de Sport Hall.

preparations complete

“The hall with the capacity of 6000 spectators is ready for the opening ceremony of the competition,” said Bakoly while receiving the participating teams last Tuesday.

“We hope to organise a successful competition in presence of the continental forces and we hope the teams show Africa high level volleyball.”

Defending champions Prisons, who have four titles to their name and six time winners Pipeline are among the tournament’s favorites.

Their main challengers include Egypt champions Al Ahly who have lifted five titles in the history of the tournament.

Al Ahly returns to the scene after being absent last year and are now aiming at regaining their dominance after their last cup win in 2009.

Algeria will be represented by MB Bejaia as well as GSP Petroliers who won the local league last season.

FAP team from Cameroon who qualified to the semi-final of the last two editions are looking towards an improved performance on this occasion and so are Kutlwano of Botswana.

The host country will be represented by Stef Auto who previously participated in last edition and Damant.

Other participating teams are AS Tanda from Cote d’Ivoire and Les As from Burundi.

The men tournament will be held in Libya on April 30. Prisons team will be Kenya’s sole representatives.