The Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF) have pushed the highly anticipated Kenya Cup quarter-finals to next month to pave the way for the Kigali Genocide Memorial tournament and the African Beach Championship qualifiers.
The last-eight stage, initially set for June 20 to 22, will now be played on July 5 and 6 at the Nyayo Stadium, while the semifinals and finals will take place a week later on July 12 and 13.
KVF organising secretary, Ismail Chege, said the rescheduling was a necessary decision to protect the integrity of the championship and support the national beach volleyball agenda.
“It was important to strike a balance between our club competition calendar and international obligations. Our clubs expressed interest in taking part in the Kigali tourney, and our beach volleyball team is entering a critical qualifying phase,” Chege said.
In the men’s quarter finals, newly crowned league champions GSU will face Kenya Airports Police Unit (KAPU) as they chase a season double.
League finalists KPA, who fell to GSU in the playoff final, will be out to make amends against the Trailblazers.
Former champions Kenya Prisons, ousted at the semifinal stage, have a date with Equity Bank side while Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) lock horns with Administration Police Kenya in the Disciplined Forces derby. On the women’s side, fresh league champions Kenya Pipeline have already secured a bye to the semis.
KCB, who finished third, must navigate a tricky quarter-final against Postbank, while Kenya Prisons take on Kenya Army. DCI, buoyed by their runner-up finish in the league, hope to cap their season with silver as they prepare for a quarter-final clash with KDF.
Meanwhile, KVF named a provisional six-man squad for the 2025 African Beach Volleyball Championship qualifiers, set for June 23 to 30 in Tetouan and Martil, Morocco. The said group began their training on Wednesday at Strathmore University ahead of resuming in Mombasa next week.
The competition, just like the women’s, serves as the continental pathway to next year’s FIVB Beach Volleyball World Championship.
Returning to the technical bench is experienced coach Sammy Mulinge, who previously guided Kenya’s women’s duo of Brackcides Agala and Gaudencia Makokha to the Olympics.
His recent exploits include leading Rwanda Energy Group to bronze at the Zone Five Clubs Championship in Uganda. “This is a critical assignment. We have assembled a youthful yet experienced team, and Mulinge’s return injects both tactical depth and international pedigree,” Chege said.
The provisional squad includes Jairus Kipkosgei and Elphas Makuto (Kenya Prisons), Brian Melly (GSU), Donald Mchete (Prisons Mombasa), Wilson Cheruyot (Equity Bank) and Joseph Muliro (Strathmore University).
The technical unit comprises Simon Kibe (physiotherapist), Robinson Okoth (team manager) and KVF Assistant Secretary General John Ogara, who will lead the delegation to Morocco. The team began a non-residential training camp on Wednesday before proceeding to Mombasa next week to train on the sand.
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