Pipeline and Prisons chase African glory

Kenya Pipeline captain Trizah Atuka trains at Moi International Sports Complex indoor arena on March 4, 2017. Pipeline and Kenya Prisons are Kenya’s representatives in the African Club Championship that begins on March 6, 2017 in Monastir, Tunisia. PHOTO | CHRIS OMOLLO |

What you need to know:

  • Al Ahly, GS Petroilers teams to watch
  • Fireworks expected as women’s African Club Championship starts in Tunisia

Continental bigwigs Kenya Pipeline and Kenya Prisons insist they are better prepared to face the common enemy at the Women’s African Club Volleyball Championship this time round.

The 10-day competition serves off Thursday at the Ksar Hellal Jammel Hall in Tunisia’s coastal city of Monastir, some 130km away from the country’s capital Tunis.

Despite winning a combined 12 of the 26 continental titles thus far, the most in terms of country, Pipeline and Prisons’ dominance is increasingly facing serious threat from the north African contingent.

Egypt’s Al Ahly and Algeria’s GS Petroilers are the biggest threats and have in fact won the last three editions of the competition.

Kenyan sides continue to come out second best in contests against north African opposition in recent times.

Kenya Prisons finished fifth out of 17 competing clubs, at the men’s version of this competition, having lost to hosts Tunisia’s Esperance and Etoile du Sahel, plus eventual winners Egypt’s Ahly last month.

“That threat (from the north Africans) is something that we are well aware of and we have specifically prepared to counter.” Pipeline captain Triza Atuka told Nation Sport on phone at the team’s camp at the Rosa beach hotel in Monastir. 

“Our opponents are well aware they can’t match us on power play. So they try to use means that are sometimes unorthodox, some times playing tricks to destabilise us. We are ready for them.”

TROPHY DROUGHT

Pipeline who are seeking to win their first title in more than a decade, have the likes of Atuka, star setter Janet Wanja, and attackers Monica Biama, Noel Murambi, plus Violet Makuto.

Prisons boast of internationals Brackides Agala, new captain Everlyne Makuto, Jane Wacu and Lydia Maiyo. The two teams will face home side Carthage, El Shams (Egypt), University of Zimbabwe and Ndejje Volleyball Club (Uganda).

The drawing of lots and pooling was scheduled to be conducted Wednesday evening.

Participating teams: Kenya Prisons, Kenya Pipeline, Al Ahly (Egypt), GS Petroliers (Algeria), El Shams (Egypt), University of Zimbabwe, ARSU (Seychelles), Ndejje (Uganda), Carthage (Tunisia), FAR Rabat (Morocco), Revenue Club (Rwanda), Police (Ghana), Jos South Rocks (Nigeria) and Injis (Cameroon).