Prisons, GSU land tough pairing in Club Championship

Kenya’s representatives to the 2018 CAVB African Volleyball Men Club Championship Kenya Prisons and General Service Unit (GSU) have been drawn in tough looking pools ahead of the serve off on Tuesday in Al Ahly Club Hall, Cairo, Egypt.

Paired in pool ‘D’, GSU will face Port club of Cameroon, Olumpique of Algeria, Kampala of Uganda, Wollaitta of Ethiopia and Egypt’s Elguish.

At the same time, the 2011 silver medalists Prisons have been paired alongside record holders and 12- time winners,  hosts Al-Ahly, Espoir of Congo, Nemostar of Uganda and Police of Ivory Coast.

The Paul Muthinja coached Prisons have a tough task in their opening game against cup holders Al-Ahly who are no doubt the toughest opponent in their group, and whom they confront Tuesday evening at the Al-Ahly Club Hall.

Prisons are the only Kenyan side to have ever reached the finals of the competition when they fell 0-3 to Al-Ahly in 2011 in Cairo, and they will be aiming to prevent another dejavu.

The two Kenyan teams will be seeking to avoid humiliation from North African heavyweights, just like their female counterparts Kenya Pipeline and Kenya Prisons who crashed out in the semi-finals in the just concluded women’s championship where their dreams were nipped in the bud by Carthage Eagles and Al- Ahly respectively.

A historic 24 teams are going to square it out in this year’s edition which will come to an end on April 5.

SUMMARISED DRAW

Pool A: Ahly (EGY)- Prisons (KEN)- Police (CIV)- Espoir (COD)- Nemostar (UGA)

Pool B: Al Swehly (LBA)- Finances (BEN)- Swimblue (SEY)- DGSP (CGO)- Aviation (EGY)- Bafia (CMR)

Pool C:  FAP (CMR)- AS Police (BEN)- Ahly B (LBA)- University (ZIM)- Smuoha (EGY)- Mwangaza (COD)

Pool D: Port (CMR)- Olumpique (ALG)- Kampala (UGA)- GSU (KEN)- Wollaitta (ETH)- Elguish (EGY)