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2007 Women's African Clubs
Champions Championship: Cairo- Egypt |
KCB, Kenya Pipeline train
for the competition
Nairobi, Kenya, March 12: Defending champions Kenya Commercial
Bank (KCB) and local arc rivals Kenya Pipeline Company (KPC)
women volleyball teams have embarked on preparations for the
African Women Club Volleyball Championships set for Cairo, Egypt
1- 15 April 2007.
The two teams are both shaping up in non residential training at
the modern Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani under the
watchful eyes of their coaches Paul Bitok (KCB) and David
Lung’aho (KPC).
Speaking at Kasarani, Bitok who led the KCB team to victory
during last year’s Club Championships held in Mauritius when
they beat the dreaded Al Ahly from Egypt said so far he was
impressed with the performance of the girls during training.
“As you can see we have injected new blood in the team but to my
surprise they have fitted in well and the training has been
going on very smoothly,” said Bitok who is a former
international player and the first coach in Kenya to learn the
VIS technology.
The youthful KCB coach whose side was recently named as 2006
Sports Team of the Year in Kenya after sweeping virtually all
titles locally and inaugural beach volleyball title in East
Africa said currently he was working on endurance before
embarking on the technical aspect of the game.
“My priority is to instil fitness in the players by taking them
through endurance. Once I am satisfied that they are physically
in good shape, I will move to the next step bearing in mind that
we have very little time left before we travel,”Bitok said.
He pointed out that the team was generally intact with the
players who did duty during the last championships in Mauritius
ready to successfully defend the title amid strong challenge
from KPC and teams from North Africa who are determined to end
Kenya’s dominance.
KCB Team Manager David Kimosop pointed out that they were
working on a crush program whereby the coach will be naming the
team at least a week before they jet out for the title defense.
Among the experienced players in the KCB squad are former Telkom
Kenya international Dorcas Ndasaba, national team regular Salome
Wanjala, Halima Bakari and Rose Odwako who is a very experience
libero player.
In the KPC camp, coach Lung’aho who has since been replaced as
national women team coach by Sammy Kirongo will heavily rely on
experience from national team centre player Jannet Wanja, libero
Mercy Wesutila who is making a come back after a short break and
veteran Judy Serenge along with Esther Chepkosgei.
“My team is intact save for one player who has left for the
United States on a scholarship. The players are presently
focused in training with our main target being to reclaim the
title which we surrendered last year after losing to KCB in the
semi final in Mauritius,” said Lung’aho.
“A lot of water has passed under the bridge and what happened in
Mauritius last year is now history. With the kind of response I
am seeing during training, our opponents should prepare for a
bruising battle,” said Lung’aho whose side includes the pint
size Tindi who was unearthed during the East and Central Africa
Volleyball Championships held in Nairobi in December 2005.
KPC Team Manager Wanja Kanyi said the girls have shown
dedication and seriousness during training and the final team
which will travel will be composed of players who can fight to
the bitter end and bring the trophy back to the club.
From Jack Kwemba, Nairobi-Kenya |
Al Ahly African Champions for the fifth time
 |
Ahly
and Pipelines to final Spot
 |
Purely
Egyptian and Kenyan Clashes in the
semifina
 |
KCB,
Pipelines and Ahly secured semifinal
tickets
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All Big Forces Achieved their first Victory
 |
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The
Defending Champions KCB Meets Mofolofolo
of Botswana in the opening |
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9 teams compete for the trophy
in the strongest competition in History |
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KCB, Kenya Pipeline train
for the competition |
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By Tarek Al Adwar CAVB Press
Officer |
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