Dates for new KVF season confirmed

KCB's Juliana Namutara (centre) spikes the ball against Trizah Atuka and Faith Imodia of Kenya Pipeline during their Kenya Volleyball Federation playoffs match at Kasarani Gymnasium on October 04.[Stafford Ondego, Standard]

Champions Kenya Prisons and KCB will be looking for a winning start when the 2023/24 National Volleyball season starts next month. 

The Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF) has released the fixtures for both men and women leagues that serves off on November 4-5 at Koitalel Samoei University in Mosoriot, Nandi County. 

Prior to the league, teams set for the league will test waters by participating in the National Heroes Community tournament to be held at the same venue on November 1-2.

Federation's Fixtures Secretary John Oronje said the men's league will have 16 teams while the women's league will comprise 12 teams. 

Camp Administration Unit (CAU) and Mt Kenya Base Yetu have been promoted to the senior men league after finishing first and second respectively in the lower division two league last season.

In the women's league, Maranatha and Bunge teams have earned promotion to the league and will be among the 12 teams that will be battling for the title currently under KCB's cabinet.

However, CAU are expected to face their hardest moments on November 3 when they face dreaded and the immediate former champions General Service Unit (GSU) in their debut match. 

Base Yetu will test their top league entry with a match against Western Prisons.

On the women's side, KCB under coach Japheth Munala play Vihiga County while immediate former champions and Africa Club silver medallists Kenya Pipeline face Kenya Army in their season-opener.

Oronje urged teams to pay their annual subscription fees before they could be allowed to participate in both the Heroes Community event and the leagues.

"Annual subscription fee for clubs is Sh6,000 and Sh3,000 for the universities and colleagues," said Oronje adding that schools and self help teams are to pay Sh1,000 and Sh1,500 respectively. 

For the tournament, Oronje said senior clubs will pay Sh5,000 as participation fees with universities/colleges and schools paying Sh2,000 and Sh1,500 respectively. Self supporting teams will pay Sh1,500 as the tournament 's participation fees.