KCB ready to bank title in new season

Elizabeth Marian 9, and Juliana Namutira of KCB Bank block a strike from Kenya Prisons during their Kenya Volleyball Federation KVF Finals and Playoffs at Kasarani Gymnasium in Nairobi on June 08, 2024. [Stafford Ondego, Standard]

Kenya's women volleyball champions Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) are psyched up to defend their title when the league serves off on October 30 despite losing two valuable players to their rivals Kenya Pipeline.

Mariam Musa and Elizabeth Sokoiyo have signed for Pipeline. The bankers will also make do without their dependable setter Esther Mutinda, who is on a maternity leave.

KCB beat Kenya Prisons 2-1 to be crowned the 2023-2024 Kenya Volleyball Federation women’s league champions.

"We are well prepared as a team despite losing some key players. We are sure that we will perform even better than last season,” said KCB captain Edith Wisa after the team attended a safeguarding workshop organised by KCB Bank, Kenya Volleyball Federation, National Olympics Committee of Kenya (NOC-K), and the Kenya National Women Self Defence Association (KNWSDA) at the KCB Sports Club, Ruaraka on Friday.

The workshop was aimed at empowering the athletes by equipping them with vital skills and knowledge to ensure their safety and well-being both on and off the court.

The workshop reflected on KCB’s commitment to not only foster athletic excellence, but also promote the holistic development and protection of its players.

"I would like to thank KCB for organising the event as we prepare for the 2024/25 season," said Wisa.

Coach Japheth Munala said he expects his charges to pick from where they left last season.

"I believe the departures for our players offer an opportunity to other players to step up and showcase their talent," he said adding he he will beef up his squad before the start of the season.

Speaking at the event, Kenya Volleyball Federation president Charles Nyaberi said: “As KVF, we are grateful to all the stakeholders for hosting this impact-led program whose time has come."

"We are all aware that we have had sad cases, so the safeguarding program will benefit us across the board. "