Kenya’s representatives at this weekend’s African Men’s Club Championship in Cairo, Egypt, local champions Kenya Prisons, Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) and Equity Bank left the country on Friday morning, trying to stand up and be counted. in the annual event.
Kenyan teams have failed to shine in recent years, with Kenyan Prisons winning a silver medal in 2011 in Egypt, the best performance ever posted by a Kenyan team.
All three teams will be keen to emulate or surpass Prisons’ performance.
The Kenya Prisons, KPA and Equity teams were scheduled to depart at 5:55am. with Egypt Air.
The championship runs from April 13 to 23.
Kenya Prisons, under the guidance of former Kenyan international Dennis Mokwa, will return to the competition after six years in the cold due to financial constraints, while KPA also under Kenyan international James Ondere who have been regulars recently, finished fifth in the last edition held in Tunisia.
Equity, on the other hand, who are under the guidance of veteran coach Sammy Kirongo, will grace the invitational event, having finished 10th in their maiden appearance in 2022 at the event held in Tunisia.
Speaking on Thursday over lunch at Equity Bank’s Upper Hill headquarters opposite Nimrod Kamadi who moved from the Trailblazers to the bankers this season, he beamed with confidence saying the underdog might just work in their favour.
“We are little known as we last participated in the 2022 edition. We didn’t win automatic qualification for the event so our opponents may underestimate us or have little knowledge, which is good for us, but we want to make it felt our presence I am among the seven players who will make their debut in the competition and that can work for or against us, but we are determined and looking forward to a better performance. The management has really given us the support and in return we want to make them proud,” said Kamadi, who recently worked as a Board Relationship Officer at Equity Bank.
The players who will make their debuts are outside hitters Lester Mudibo and Moses Kamau, middle blocker Cecil Wekesa, setter Felix Otieno, libero Bethoven Okombo, Chester Ongoro who can play as a middle blocker or opposite, and Kamadi .
KPA and national team middle blocker Brian Kamonde believes the time is ripe for the team to make the quarterfinals.
“We have had good preparations ahead of the championship and the fact that we recently won the Kenya Pipeline Company @50 Volleyball Extravagance is a timely boost ahead of the event. We want to build on the current form and hopefully this time he will go all the way and be on the podium. We also want to thank the technical bench and management for the support,” said Kamonde, who was adjudged the best middle blocker at the KPC@50 event at the Moi International Sports Center indoor venue, Kasarani. .
“This time we have to get through the last eight. The guys have put in the work and the recent performance at the just ended KPC@50 shows what we have to offer,” said KPA team manager Joel Kosgei.
The Mokua Prisons coach, who was part of the team that won the silver medal at the 2011 event, said they will be keen to extend their local supremacy to the international stage.
“We have done our homework well and players rarely leave. We just hope to land in a favorable pool and push ourselves. Almost all the players have experience and exposure and stage fright will not trouble us,” said Moqua . he doubles as an assistant coach for the men’s national volleyball team.
After the conclusion of the men’s event, Cairo will also host the women’s edition scheduled for April 24 to May 5.