Nairobi Star (Nairobi)
Dun Okinyo
17 June 2011
Four teams will today battle it out in the fifth edition of Oita Miyoshi Alder Cup at Nyayo Stadium. The matches will see the finalists of last week’s Hon. Alfred Khangati Cup take on each other once again for top the honours in the event that is quickly shaping up the level of volleyball in Kenya.
For the first time since its inception, women teams will take part. Africa Club Championships runners-up Kenya Pipeline will take on Malava Girls High School in the women’s match while army side Ulinzi will fight it out with General Service Unit (GSU) in the men’s duel.
After falling to Ulinzi in the Khangati Cup final in Bungoma about a week ago, GSU have another opportunity to prove themselves but they must brace for tough clash against army men.
In the women’s match, it would be another grudge re-match of sort as seasoned Pipeline take on the students from Malava. The students beat former Africa champions Kenya Commercial Bank and other league sides on their way to the finals.
Despite losing 3-0 to Pipeline in the final, Malava looked a threat from the onslaught in the final and are likely to pose a great challenge to their more experienced counterparts.
Pipeline coach Japheth Munala said he expects the students to come out with their guns blazing as they have nothing to lose after their brave performance in Bungoma. “We are the ones who will be under immense pressure because we have a name to protect unlike them. They proved that they are equal to the task after making it to the finals. For them, reaching the final was big achievement and we expect them to be even more inspired and lethal this time round,” Munala said.
Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF) secretary general Evans Wasike said the matches are being played today because the founder and financier of the event will be in the country.
Wasike said Miyoshi, who owns a club in Japan, decided to come up with the tournament in 2008 to promote volleyball in Kenya after watching Kenya players during Japan tour.
Among the players who impressed Miyoshi were- Philip Maiyo, Dennis Mokua and Sila Makiso. Maiyo, a brother to national women’s team left attacker Lydia, has since moved to Bulgaria. “He instantly fell in love with Kenyan volleyball after watching some of our players. He feels there is a lot of talent and wants to help us nature it,” Wasike said. He said Miyoshi decided to include the women’s teams in this year’s event to spice it up as women volleyballers have continued to put rule the continent.
AllAfrica – All the Time
Link:
Kenya: Four Teams Line Up at Nyayo for Oita Miyoshi Cup