KVF to help local clubs improve as Prisons lose again

By Oscar Pilipili in Doha

Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF) is ready to work with local clubs to inject professionalism in the sport.

Chairman Waithaka Kioni said Kenyan players are talented, but they need intensive technical empowerment to match teams from outside Africa.

“The federation is ready to work with clubs and embed few professionals in their squads a few months to such tournaments,” Kioni suggested.

“None of the teams that have qualified for the semi-finals depend solely on their home players and that is the way we should follow if we want to be at par with teams from Europe and America,” Kioni said.

The KVF chairman was speaking after watching Prisons go down to Fenerbahce of Turkey in straight sets of 25-14, 25-17, 25-11) and consequently exit Women’s FIVB Club World Championship in Doha, Qatar Wednesday.

The performance saw the wardresses exit the Championships since they had lost first game against Lancheras 1-3 sets in three-team Pool ‘B’ on October 13.

Kioni also asked technical officials to scout for taller players in future, as height was an added advantage in volleyball.

He pointed that stats available indicated that Fenerbahce line-up has seven players who are much taller than Prisons towering star Lydia Maiyo who stands at 185cm high.

Soroglu Ipek and Tokatlioglu Seda both stands at 192cm, Calik Meryem is 194cm and Dundar Eda 187cm tall.

The KVF chairman said he was negotiating with technical officials of Brazil over possibility of starting an exchange program between the two countries.

 “We voted in Ary Graca as President of Federation of International Volleyball on platform of supporting African volleyball and we expect him to deliver on the promise,” said Kioni.

During the match, Fenerbahce received the benefit of 29 points from the opponents’ errors while making only 10 for the entire match. The winners held a 7-4 advantage in blocks and 5-2 in aces.

Seda Tokatlioglu led the Turkish club with 13 points, including five blocks, followed by Mari Steinbrecher who notched 12 with three aces. Paula Pequeno charted eight.

 Lydia Mayo was the only Kenyan player with double digits in the scoring charts with 11 points while Everlyne Makuto finished with seven.

The score was close in the early part of the first set with Fenerbache recovering from a 5-3 deficit to lead 8-6 at the first technical time-out.

The Brazilian duo of Mari Steinbrecher and Paula Pequeno contributed to a 16-11 advantage for the Turkish club at the second pause.

Prisons who finished fifth last year have to wait until final match tomorrow to know their overall ranking.

What is certain is that the Kenyan have pocketed US$30,000 (Sh2.5million), which is prize money for each team that finish fifth and sixth in the tournament.