More than 80 teams set to battle in the Heroes Volleyball tournament

The organizers of the annual Heroes Volleyball tournament are expecting more than eighty teams to jostle for top honors in the second leg set to be played between December 2-11 at the Koitalel Arap Samoei University, Nandi.

The tournament that was introduced last year was initially supposed to have its second edition played last month but the dates were pushed forward. A total of 88 teams participated in the inaugural year.

The tournament's patron Paul Bitok who doubles up as the national women's team, the Malkia Strikers head coach said the event had outgrown the community level and scaled to the a national competition.

"We are expecting more than eighty teams for we are growing. Last year it was a community tournament but with almost all national league teams confirming participation, it will be a countrywide event. We are making baby steps but I believe we are in the right direction," he said.

For the second year running the tournament will be sponsored by Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei who will be backed a number of corporates.

So far a total of Ksh. 300, 000 had been pooled together with most of the corporates offering support in kind.

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The outspoken Senator revealed that the second edition had been revamped and expanded to accommodate a number of activities among them is tree planting, coaching clinics, Covid-19 testing as well as amplifying the message of total eradication of use of banned substances.

"The second edition is here with us although we have delayed. I continue to appeal to more corporates to come and partner with us so as to make the tournament a success. We will have scouts during the tournament from local teams and from the federation to net the promising players. We will also plant as the Kenya Forest Service extended a kind gesture of providing seedlings. Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya will provide capacity building during the period," he said.

The Kenya Volleyball Federation second vice chairman David Kilundo reiterated the body's commitment in spreading the game throughout the country.

Kilundo who is also the Kenya Prisons women's team manger noted that the tournament would provide a platform for the youth to showcase their talents.

"We are committed in seeing the game spread all over the country. We are partnering with a number of entities in a bid to bring more youths to the game. We have duty to ensure that we give them the opportunity to grow their talent," he said.