Kenya Pipeline women’s team will welcome setters Janet Wanja and Rose Magoi ahead of this Friday’s third leg of Kenya Volleyball Federation national league at the Polytechnic grounds, Eldoret.
Celebrity setter Wanja has been away on leave while Magoi was on maternity leave. The local champions lost to arch-rivals Kenya Prisons in their season opener during the second leg last month in Ndakaini-Murang’a County and they will be keen to make amends when they play Nairobi Water and Mt. Kenya University.
“It wasn’t a full house during our season opener and that might have contributed to our first loss of the season. However, I am glad that all the players are around and in good spirit ahead of the Friday’s show,” said coach Japheth Munala. He added: “I’am happy that Wanja and Magoi are back with us and therefore I am spoilt for choice in the setting department. We look forward to a successful outing as our target is to make it to the play-offs and see what happens from there.”
In absence of the regular setters, Munala has been parading Veronica Tanui and the fast-improving Joan Muindi. Tanui is part of the under-23 women’s team that will compete in the forthcoming World Championships set for August 27 to September 3, in Ljubljana and Maribor, Slovenia respectively. Muindi on her part recently participated in the Africa Club Championship in Tunisia, where they finished fifth. However, Pipeline will have to do without the services of right attacker Esther Wangeci, who is away on personal reasons. “Of course Wangeci is a key player in the squad but there are other players in that department too who can fit in her position and therefore we can only hope for the best,” said the tactician.
Meanwhile, Kenya Prisons women’s volleyball team is positive to retain the Africa Merchant Assurance Company trophy this weekend.
Coached by David Lung’aho, the five-time African champions will be out to settle score against their rivals Kenya Pipeline throughout the year.
Assistant coach Josp Barasa, who led the Kenya Prisons side to defeat Kenya Pipeline 3-1 (18-25, 28-26, 25-18, 25-23) in last year’s Amaco finals, said the girls are ready for the battle.
“We have prepared well and now it is time to work smart,” said Barasa, the national women’s under-23 team assistant coach and a former Kakamega Prisons middle blocker.
Last year, both sides were without their key players who were away on national duties. This time round, the 2017 edition promises raging exchange considering the two sides will be having their top players in their ranks. Kenya Commercial Bank coach Vernon Khainga said that his charges are ripe to clinch the top accolade at Amaco show especially after finishing second twice in the first two league tournaments.
In their last three fixtures, Kenya Prisons outfoxed Pipeline 3-1 (24-26, 25-16, 25-16, 25-17) in the Nairobi Water Chairman’s Cup, 3-1 (19-25, 25-21, 17-25, 22-25) in the second leg of the league last month in Ndakaini and 3-2 (13-25, 28-26, 25-19, 23-25, 15-13) in Africa Club Championships in Tunisia.