Kenya volleyball League

GSU men and KCB women, the champions

Nairobi, Kenya, November 23, 2008- General Service Unit (GSU) stamped their prowess in local competition to lift the Kenya Volleyball Federation national men’s league title for an impressive eighth time, with Kenya Commercial Bank claiming their first women’s crown.

After the league’s three-day play-offs staged at Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani, both teams proved their worth with deserved wins to qualify for next year’s Africa Club Championships.

GSU defeated Prisons 3-2 (23-25, 25-17, 21-25, 25-14 and 15-10) in a thrilling final to earn the country’s ticket to Cairo, while KCB demolished Africa Club Champions, Kenya Prisons and former heavyweights, Kenya Pipeline. KCB will now represent the country in the Africa Club championships in Nairobi next year in April.

It was song and dance as players, team officials and fans stormed the court after the final as they celebrated GSU’s historical achievement.

“It was one of the closely contested finals we’ve ever had. For a moment, I couldn’t believe we were trailing. I must commend our opponents for a well played game,” said GSU’s head coach, Moses Epoloto.

Reclaimed the lead

GSU went into the final match of the play-offs as overwhelming favourites but it was not a smooth sailing affair for the paramilitary men as they were stretched to the fullest by their opponents. After losing the first set 23-25, GSU recovered to clinch the second set 25-17, but Prisons had other intentions as they reclaimed the lead with a 25-21 win for the third.

GSU levelled the sets with a resounding 25-14 win of the fourth set, before bagging the title with a 15-10 victory in the decisive set.

“We’ve have come to appreciate Prisons as worthy opponents. They are a force to reckon with and in the future, they are bound to produce stunners in the sport,” said Epoloto.

Despite making their maiden appearance at the play-offs finals, Prisons stunned all as they disapproved their underdog status, receiving heaps of praise from Epoloto. The warders were equally impressed with their achievement. “We were not doing well with our reception department, but all the same, we played well. Reaching the Play-offs finals was a great achievement for us and we intend to continue proving to the rest that the days of trailing are long gone. We also want to stand and be counted,” said Prisons coach Gideon Chenje.

On coaching course

KCB men’s team defeated Homegrown 3-1 (25-23, 21-25, 25-23, 25-18) in another entertaining match at the same venue to settle for the third spot. While Africa women club champions, Prisons, defeated their arch-rivals Kenya Pipeline 3-0 (25-22, 25-20, 25-17) to settle for the runner-ups spot, with KCB winning their first national title.

The bankers achieved the historic victory after demolishing former champions Kenya Pipeline 3-0 (25-22, 25-17,25-21) in their second match of the season play-offs.

“This is a great day for KCB club as we have won the league for the first time after several futile tries,” said the team’s captain, Dorcas Ndasaba who dedicated the trophy to their head coach, Paul Bitok, who is way in Hungary on a coaching course.

“I thank my players for winning the league for the first time, despite having had lost some of our top players early in the year,” said Bitok in an e-mail to the Saturday Nation.

The best that KCB have managed is a second place finish in the past, despite having won the Africa Club Championships in 2006 in Mauritius. The last time this tournament was held in the country was in 2005 where Kenya Pipeline dismissed Al-Ahly of Egypt 3-1 in a four-set thriller at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani.

Kenya Prisons were surprise winners this year when they stunned Maulidia of Algeria 3-1 in the finals, while KCB claimed the bronze beating Al-Ahly in the play-offs. League champions, GSU, have been a permanent fixture in the tournament for the last seven years.

By CHRIS MUSUMBA KVF press officer.