Clubs Gear Up For Paul Bitok National Volleyball Tournament

NAIROBI, Kenya- Kenya Volley Federation (KVF) clubs will utilise the forthcoming 2023 Paul Bitok National Volleyball Tournament in Nairobi to step up training for the African Clubs Championships to be held in Tunisia in May.

The Paul Bitok National Volleyball Tournament will be staged at Nyayo and Kasarani stadiums on April 7-9 ahead of the continental clubs showpiece in Tunis, Tunisia on May 9-22 (men) and May 13-26 (women).

Kenya will be represented in Tunis by African women’s defending champions KCB Bank and KVF women’s National League champions Kenya Pipeline, who together with hosts CFC Carthage, will try to wrestle the African title from the spirited bankers.

On the other hand, KVF National League men’s defending champions General Service Unit (GSU) and runners up Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) will be Kenya’s representatives in Tunisia in the men’s category.

Eight women and 16 men’s KVF league teams have so far registered for the Paul Bitok National Volleyball Tournament.

“This competition will help in discovering more talents, it will ensure there’s continuity in the national teams as well as at the club level,” tournament proprietor and Malkia Strikers head coach Paul Bitok told Standard Sports.

Initially, the local tournament was scheduled for Kiminini Primary School Grounds in Bungoma County but has since been rescheduled by the KVF to Nairobi to give the four Kenyan outfits good preparations ahead of their departure to Tunis.

“We have realised that teams will use indoor courts in Tunisia, so we have decided to relocate the Paul Bitok National Volleyball Tournament to Nyayo and Kasarani that have Indoor Arenas,” KVF Deputy President Charles Nyaberi explained.

“It is also raining heavily currently in Western Kenya so outdoor courts won’t be appropriate for the participants,” Nyaberi stated.

Nyaberi said the tournament has been given a clean bill of health by the federation terming the contest as a landmark event.

“The deadline for registrations for teams is this Friday, we will then hold the draws and fixtures at the KCB Grounds in Ruaraka on Wednesday next week.

“The women will play at Kasarani while the men will stage their contest at Nyayo.

“We have decided to do away with self-supporting clubs, schools and colleges teams due to the abrupt change of tournament venue,” Nyaberi highlighted.

Both Bitok and Nyaberi assured the contest will be held in accordance with world volleyball governing body FIVB and KVF standards.

“Winners in both men and women categories will walk away with Sh100, 000 each while runners up will go home with Sh50,000 apiece.

“We expect various global scouts to look for talent in the tournament even though we have plans to take this competition international next season,” Bitok said.

The KVF has given its Nairobi branch the mandate to fully take charge of the tournament and all its logistics.

“As Nairobi branch we will oversee that the event lives up to its billing, we will waive the 15 percent mandatory fees that organisers should pay the branches when hosting their events.

“These fees will be injected into the tournament as part of our sponsorship and support to the competition,” KVF Nairobi Branch chairman Moses Mbuthia indicated.

Sponsors who have come on board to support the tournament are the KCB Bank, Miyoshi VBG, Yokora Sports, CAAN Feel Alive, Nairobi Sports House, Coca Cola, Event Marketing Solutions, and Kenya Pipeline among others.

KVF Clubs for the African Championships in Tunis, Tunisia

Men

-General Service Unit (GSU)

-Kenya Ports Authority (KPA)

Women

-KCB Bank (Defending champs)

-Kenya Pipeline