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Kenya league season begins
with exciting competition
 Nairobi,
Kenya, February 25, 2009- For eight years, champion General
Service Unit have dominated the local men volleyball league but
coach Moses Epoloto has cautioned his players against
complacency when the new season resumes tomorrow in Machakos,
50km South of Nairobi.
Already runners up KCB, Cooperative Bank and Prisons have signed
up new talents to bolster their squads and Epoloto has warned,
it will not be easy cruising to victory as their rivals seek to
take the battle to the GSU armoury.
This year’s Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF) leagues start
tomorrow at Machakos Technical Training Institute, to be
followed by the Chairman’s Cup a day later. The men’s division 1
league has 12 teams - GSU, Prisons, KCB, Cooperative Bank,
Homegrown, Posta Kenya, Telkom Orange, Prisons Kakamega, Post
Bank, Mombasa West, Administrative Police Training College and
Blue Triangle.
GSU have since signed up young players to replace the aging.
Epoloto has a selection headache with no injury worries in his
26-member squad. New recruits William Kitur, Paul Kariuki and
Abraham Rotich, must be at their best to edge out veterans Dan
Tali, Wesley Rono, Elphas Biwott, Alex Kariuki, Benard Musumba,
Stephen Mathenge and Jeremia Rotich in the first team.
“We are confident our squad will triumph in the league yet
again. But the challenge especially from Prisons should not be
taken lightly. I believe they will soon be the giants after
doing a massive recruitment,” said Epoloto.
 The
Women League’s has regulars KCB, Prisons, Pipeline while new
clubs Blue Triangle, Huruma team, Kenya Ports Authority, Stima
Nyeri, Nairobi Water Company and City Council of Nairobi are
banging hard to carve their space and respect in the league.
While KCB have lost the jewel in their crown in Paul Bitok, who
has signed up with Rwanda’s side APR, the bankers are still keen
to retain the league title and keep 2007 winners Kenya Prisons
at bay. The continental champions will be hoping to reunite with
their captain Praxicedes Agala who professional contract in
Turkey expires in next month.
“I expect her to be back in March. Her contract is expiring next
month which will free her to return to our club,” said Prisons
head coach David Lung’aho
KCB have also lost the service of captain Dorcas Ndasaba who
followed Bitok to APR. Former National women volleyball coach
Sammy Kirongo has also signed up with the newest team on the
bloc, Blue Triangle of Athi River. Kirongo has since recruited
several young players from schools as he lays his foundation on
youth.
Paul Gitau, a veteran coach with defunct Telkom is in charge of
Homegrown while Juma Walukhu reign at Cooperative Bank club was
terminated and is unattached.
Bitok said he is optimistic the level of competition in the
women’s league will improve after four new clubs were brought on
board to join the five, which played last season.
The four clubs will have to sharpen their claws against regulars
Kenya Pipeline, continental club champions Kenya Prisons, league
defending champions KCB, Blue Triangle and Huruma Club.
“It will be an advantage to the national team. This will stiffen
the competition and raise the standards of the game, which will
ultimately be reflected in the national team performance,” said
Bitok.
Prisons head coach David Lung’aho has since recruited national
junior team captain Evelyne Makuto to strengthen his attacking
department.
By christopher musumba, KVF Press
officer
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