Kenyan teams out to shine at Club Championship in Cairo

Six-time women’s African Club champions Kenya Pipeline and one time winner Kenya Commercial Bank are banking on new signings to reclaim Kenya’s lost glory in the continental scene, when the championship serves off on March 16 in Cairo.

Kenya last won the coveted title in 2013 when Kenya Prisons downed GSP Algier of Algeria. Since then it has been an all North African affair but Jappeth Munala of KCB says he is ready to break the hodoo.

The banker’s squad has intensified training in one of the Egypt’s club gymnasium ahead of the annual championship after a revamped 12-woman team left the country on Friday with full of hope of replicating their 2006 feat.

“I have already started fine tuning my team  and having been in this championship for long with Kenya Pipeline I know how it is important to prepare well and that’s why we are here a week before the championship.

“I have a good squad; well blended – with experienced and young players whom I know will be key in our quest to win this title,” Munala said.

The new six players KCB poached from Kenya Pipeline and who made the cut to Egypt are Noel Murambi, award-winning attacker Violet Makuto, utility player Leonida Kasaya, Jemimah Siangu, Truphosa Samoei and Christine Njambi.

At the same time, Kenya Pipeline head coach Margret Indagala is upbeat her five new top guns will help her side win the title after finishing third last year.

Pipeline have already added four Kwanthanze Secondary School graduates to their roster; beefing up the squad that got deposed as Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF) champions last year.

The side was deprived of squad depth after former head coach Japheth Munala lured six key players into joining him at KCB.

The Kwanthanze quartet who joined the Embakasi based club is Betty Sifuna, Esther Mutinda, Gladys Ekaru and Metrine Wanjala.

Promising national women’s volleyball team left attacker Sharon Chepchumba also joined the Oilers last month.

“The five have brought in more energy and we believe they will help us because they have integrated well with other players,” she said when Citizen Digital visited the team camping at Kasarani Indoor Arena.

Kenya Pipeline and Kenya Prisons who will also be flying Kenyan flag in Egypt are scheduled to leave the country this week ahead of the event which serves off on March 25.