Prisons Kenya deprived of Indoor facility as continental championship looms

Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF) women’s league champions Prisons Kenya players are continuing with individual training for the upcoming Confederation of African Volleyball (CAVB) women's club championship as a solution to their predicament is sought.

“With the dates fast approaching, we are maintaining a personal training schedule since sporting activities have been suspended as we wait for word on the possibility of using an indoor facility to prepare from both the federation and our employer,” said head coach Josp Barasa. 

A statement to federations from CAVB had indicated that the continental body had failed to secure a waiver from the Federation Internationale de Volleyball (FIVB) to hold Clubs Championship beyond the FIVB Club season which ends on May 2, 2021.

“On a positive note, the Tunisian Volleyball Federation has agreed to retain organisation of the Championship to be held from the 19th of April to the 1st of May 2021 in conformity with the FIVB Calendar. The event shall still be held in Sousse, Tunisia,” the statement read in part.

Teams are expected to arrive in Sousse on April 19 with a technical meeting set for April 20 before action serves off on April 21 to 30. National Federations are required to register their representative clubs before April 5 while teams will, thereafter, be required to confirm their final participation before the deadline of April 12.

“Three weeks are enough for us to perfect our game ahead of the championship. Hopefully, we can assemble soon for that. Having played the local league indoors is an added advantage for us and we will only need some fine-tuning before we can head to Tunisisa,” added Barasa.

The team's last appearance at the continental scene was marred by drama as their employer and the state department for correctional services claimed the team had attended the competition without their knowledge after they were detained in Egypt for failure to clear hotel bills.