Kenya Pipeline head coach Japheth Munala says he will have a difficult time when selecting his travelling legion ahead of the 2015 African Women’s Club volleyball Championships set for March 25 in Cairo, Egypt.
The 2014 KVF League champions, who have been in a residential training at Kasarani since Tuesday last week, will draw motivation from their recent triumph in Kenya Pipeline Cup tournament in Nakuru.
Pipeline will travel to Cairo alongside local rivals Kenya Prisons and KCB, as they seek to reclaim the title they last won in 2005.
Prisons surrendered the title to GSP of Algeria in last year’s final in Tunisia, but with three Kenyan teams at this year’s edition, Munala is confident of bringing the trophy back.
“The competition is very stiff and it is going to be difficult to come up with the final squad. We are progressing well and everybody is in good shape, but as a coach, I will have to decide who travels to Cairo. At the moment, setter and centre positions have proven to be the most competitive. It is good for the team,” Munala told Feverpitch.
“Being league champions and having won the Kenya Pipeline Cup, the girls are motivated to restore our lost glory in the continent. We have Prisons and KCB too, but most Kenyans have pegged their hopes on us. .”
The seven-time African champions, who have lined up two friendly matches against Nairobi Queens and Nairobi Water this week, will trim the team down from 17 to 12 before departing to Egypt next week. The experienced tactician has hinted at retaining the squad that won in Nakuru last month.
“We are trying to eliminate our weaknesses and strengthen our strong areas. We are expected to play Queens and Water this week. We have 17 players in camp, but I will drop five before we travel next week. We played very well in Nakuru and I am confident we will do well in Cairo,” said Munala.
Some of the experienced players in camp include Janet Wanja, Ruth Jeng’etich, Asha Makuto, Violet Makuto, Esther Wangeci, Monica Biama and Gaudencia Makokha.
By Rodgers Eshitemi, The Standard