Bitok full of praise for title-winning KCB

Seventeen years ago, coach Paul Bitok guided a KCB side to their first ever continental club title against Al Ahly. 

On Tuesday, 31 May, night, history repeated itself as the bankers, making a return to the Confederation of African Volleyball (CAVB) women's club championship since 2019 where they finished ninth, saw off a stubborn Al Ahly 3-1 ( 25-18, 25-22, 11-25 and 28-26), to lift the 2022 title. 

One thing remained constant in the two finals, one Bitok who headed to Tunisia as the technical director to a perfectly-coached KCB. He also had Mercy Moim on his side as the only other person that shared in the 2006 heroics. 

As celebrations rocked a nation that had waited for nine years to clinch the continental title, Bitok was keen to note that it had had taken nothing short of hard-work for the bankers to achieve this against the title record holders. 

"The players did an amazing job. It was a tough match given the stature of Al Ahly. We had a good strategy that led us to winning the first two sets but the plans begun to tire in the third set which we lost. 

We rested some of the main players like Sharon Chepchumba, Edith Wisah and Emmaculate Nekesa and prepared for the fourth set. The fourth set was also a fight, having to trail for the better part of the match," offered Bitok. 

The national team tactician says the introduction of Phosca Kasisi, a beach volleyball continental champion changed the team's service as she won four straight points from 16-20 to tie the set at 20 points. 

"This was a turning point for us and we were able to rally on for the hard-fought win. This was an emotional moment for us and we are happy to be crowned champions," added Bitok. 

The tactician has voiced what many Kenyans feel is, finally, a break from North African's dominance at the championship. 

Chepchumba crowned MVP as Kenyan players dominate African volleyball awards

"We bring back home gold, bronze and a fifth place finish for Kenyan teams. Kenyan teams beat their North African counterparts in the final and in the third-place match, pointing to the level of talent that Kenyans have. I believe we can build on this going forward," said Bitok. 

Four Kenyan players also made the team of the tournament with Chepchumba named Most Valuable Player (MVP). Moim and Kenya Pipeline's Veronica Adhiambo where crowned the tournament’s outside hitter with Wisah bagging the middle blocker award.