Kenya volleyball champs to miss top players for Africa Club Championship

NAIROBI, march 6 (Xinhua) -- Former African Club champions Kenya Pipeline will miss star players Mercy Moim and Jane Wacu during this year's volleyball competition set for Cairo, Egypt from march 16-20.

Kenya will have three teams, the Prison warders, Kenya Pipeline and KCB Bank, in the weeklong 16-team Women's Africa Club Championships, with the winner to compete in the World Club competition in Japan.

Right attacker Moim and setter Wacu have moved abroad to pursue professional volleyball with Thailand champions Supreme Club and Anse Royale of Seychelles respectively.

"It is a blow to our preparations. But it is normal in sports to lose your best players to the highest bidder. But we have a big reservoir to replenish the playing unit," said Josp Barasa, coach of the Kenya Prisons.

Last year, Al-Ahly won their 13th title to become the all-time record holders, while Kenya Pipeline have lifted the trophy a record seven times and the Prisons five times.

"We have our eyes cast on the title. It has been a while since we won, but we now have a good team and are willing to take on whatever challenge, especially from teams in Egypt, Cameroon, Algeria and Tunisia, who have dominated the competition of late," said Barasa.

The championship is the most prestigious women's volleyball competition for Clubs in Africa organized by Confederation of African Volleyball (CAVB) since 1986.

Kenya teams will depart for Cairo next week. Enditem