Anxiety as Pipeline and Prisons approach league title play-offs

By Oscar Pilipili

Kenya Prisons setter Jane Wacu celebrates a point with team mates during a past World Club Championship match in Zurich, Switzerland. [PHOTO: FIVB]

Four teams are out to claim top honours but Kenya Prisons and Pipeline are definitely the sides to watch when National women volleyball play-offs start at African Nazarene University gymnaisum tomorrow.

The rivalry that has developed between the two teams that have dominated local volleyball over last seven years is immeasurable.

Both sides are based in Nairobi and have a lot of in common.

First, they have over a length of time, provided a huge chunk of national team players and coaches.

Prisons players who turn out for National team include Jane Wacu, Everline Makuto, Diana Khisa, Elizabeth Nafula and Mercy Moim.

Pipeline, on the other hand, has Esther Wangeci, Asha Makuto, Janet Wanja, Ruth Jepngetich, Monica Biamba, Agripina Kundu and Violet Makuto in the Kenya National team.

The star-studded line-up is reason why fans should brace for explosive and thrilling encounter when the two teams clash in the final match of the play-offs Sunday.

Kenya Pipeline team has exhibited top form throughout the season as they finished the league phase of the competition without losing a match.

Pipeline coach Japheth Munala hopes the young players he recruited to the team will combine well with veterans and claim the trophy.

“Morale is very high among the players and they have promised that they would overcome opposition and lift the trophy,” he said.

New players Pipeline recruited early this year to replenish the team include Eglay Kulova, Trizah Atuka, Violet Makuto, and Agripina Kundu, who all did duty at recent FIVB World Championship in Mexico.

Despite losing to Pipeline in most of their meetings this year, Prisons coach David Lung’aho is optimistic that his charges would rise to the occasion and retain the title. “We’re well-prepared and our goal is to retain the trophy,” said Lung’aho.

Lungaho confirmed that all players in his camp are in great shape and ready for the task ahead as he remained optimistic they will retain the trophy.

Lungaho who is also head of National technical bench is banking his hopes to national team aces like Khisa, Wacu, Moim, Khadambi and Everline Makuto to prevail at Nazarene.

Before facing off in what could be the league’s decider, Prisons and Pipeline will have to face the challenge of Nairobi Water and Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB).

Pipeline has the honours to play the opening match of the tournament when they take on KCB (10am) while Prisons start their title defence with a match against Nairobi Water (at noon).

Nairobi Water is one of the fastest rising women’s team in the country.

KCB coach Vernon Khayinga believes that by qualifying for the play-off, the team has proved that they are capable of winning the trophy.

He said: “Any team that qualifies for the deciding stage is capable of winning the league. It has been long since we won the trophy and as KCB we have high hopes of claiming the title of this occasion.

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