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GSU, Pipeline, Telkom to
represent Kenya in African Club Championships
THE General Service Unit (GSU) men team and Kenya
Pipeline ladies retained their national championships
title after outplaying their opponents in the Kenya
Volleyball Federation play-offs at Kasarani.
GSU who came back from a set down to beat Kenya
Commercial Bank (KCB) 3-1 (18-25, 25-23, 25-18, 25-18)
and Kenya Pipeline who hammered Telkom Kenya 0-3 (25-18,
25-10, 25-23) earned a ticket to represent Kenya in
African Clubs Volleyball Championships.
Despite losing to Pipeline in the finals, Telkom ladies
also earned a ticket to participate in the continental
championships as Kenya’s representatives since Pipeline
are the defending champions of the women’s event.
GSU that is a paramilitary side started the game against
KCB on a slow pace despite leading 8-7 at the first
technical time out since KCB were superior in attack and
blocks with their top spiker Paul Bitok who retired
after the play-offs playing his heart out.
KCB seemed destined to turn tables on GSU as they bagged
in eight straight points which saw them take a
comfortable lead as GSU struggled to gain their rhythm
with KCB leading 16-14 at the second technical time out
and went on to win the first set 25-18.
Inspired by their performance in the first set, KCB got
off to a flying start in the second set which they
dominated in the initial stages to lead 8-6 and 16-14 by
the first and second official technical time outs as GSU
fought back gallantly.
Sensing trouble, GSU technical bench made some quick
changes that paid dividends as they regained posture at
fought back fiercely to rap the second set 25-23 to the
shock of the packed crowd which included among others
Kenya Volleyball Federation president Ibrahim Efumbi,
secretary general Jacob Owiti, treasurer Ken Tonui and
GSU top officers.
There was no stopping the GSU soldiers in the third set
as they went for the kill from the word go scoring vital
points at will after KCB blockers cracked and did very
little to put on any resistance as the champions led 8-7
16-11 and 24-17 enroute to an impressive 25-18 victory
in the third set.
The fourth and last set was a foregone conclusion as KCB
failed to put up any fight with Elphas Bitok leading the
onslaught for GSU with some powerful spikes that saw the
crowd cheering and screaming for more action.
GSU led through out the fourth set by 4-2, 8-4, 16-10,
19-12, and 23-17 before wrapping the set 25-18 and a
ticket to African Club Championships leaving KCB with no
silverware this year.
In the women’s final, Pipeline currently handled by
national women assistant coach David Lung’aho made easy
work of Telkom whom they overpowered from the start and
maintained the tempo to clinch victory in three straight
sets.
Catherine Wanjiru opened the scores for Pipeline and the
team never looked back with Leonidas Kamende and Judy
Serenge all Athens Olympians playing a tactical game
which their opponents failed to master despite fighting
hard to stop the marauding Pipeline attackers.
Despite fielding Olympian Dorcas Ndasaba, stylish libero
Mildred Odwako and Asha Makuto, Telkom coach Paul Gitau
watched in disbelief as Pipeline tore into his ladies to
win in three straight sets.
While congratulating the winners, KVF secretary general
Jacob Owiti called on GSU, Pipeline and Telkom to start
early preparations for the African Club Volleyball
Championships since competition on the continent has
become very stiff especially among men |
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