Daggers drawn ahead of KVF league playoffs

Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF) women’s league playoffs throw off on Friday 27 August 2021 at the Makande Hall in Mombasa where defending champions Kenya Prisons will have three other sides baying for their crown. 

Former champions Kenya Pipeline, KCB volleyball and Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) are looking to dethrone the holders, in a repeat of the 2019 playoff held at the Kasarani Indoor Arena. 

The Josp Barasa-coached Kenya Prisons may have lost some key players in the lead up to the 2020 season that was abandoned due to Covid-19 but in the 2021 regular season, they have proven to be the team to beat, finishing top of the regular league. 

In the final leg of the regular season played two weeks ago, Barasa who was joining the side for the first time since April as he was in camp with Malkia Strikers, led the team to pick wins against DCI and Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) to book their ticket to the playoffs unbeaten. 

The wardresses boast a strong squad that has six players who were in camp with Malkia Strikers since April, with three making the final squad to the Tokyo Olympics with one more doing duty at the Summer Games in beach volleyball. 

The six Joy Lusenaka, Pamela Masaisai, Lorine Chebet, Joan Chelagat, Emmaculate Chemtai and Elizabeth Wanyama were in camp with Malkia with the initial three making the trip to Tokyo. League’s Most Valuable Player (MVP) Brackcides Agala who later qualified for the Tokyo Games alongside Kenya Pipeline’s Gaudencia Makokha in beach volleyball adds to Prisons’ depth. 

Meanwhile, title hopefuls KCB welcome back Rwandese setter Arnestine Akimanizanye who missed the final leg of the regular league as she was away in Rwanda with the national team that is preparing for next month's African Nations Championships. 

“We are prepared for action and everyone is up for selection. Akimanizanye is back and she joined us for some light training. We are in a good place,” said KCB head coach Japheth Munala. 

DCI who are looking to do better than their debut in 2019 where they finished fourth will miss the services of their influential right attacker, Maureen Wekesa, who picked a left knee injury during the team’s training session at Karura Forest last week. 

DCI coach Daniel Bor acknowledged that it was a big blow to the side that is making its second appearance in the play-offs. 

"Wekesa is an influential player but I have belief in Marion Indeche who has taken her place. We arrived in Mombasa on Tuesday and our preparations are going on well. We are waiting for the draws to be released and see who we start against," said the official.