Kenyan clubs suffer heartbreak in African Women's Volleyball Championship semifinals
KCB and Kenya Pipeline will now face off in the third-place off match
Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) and Kenya Pipeline faltered in the semifinals of the African Women's Volleyball Club Championship, losing to Egyptian sides Zamalek and Al Ahly, respectively in matches played on Friday 3 May.
In a gripping encounter at the El-Ahly Sporting Club Arena in Cairo, Egypt, KCB faced off against Zamalek in a highly anticipated clash. The Bankers, led by coach Japheth Munala, started strong, securing the first set with a 25-22 victory. However, Zamalek responded with determination, dominating the following sets with scores of 25-12 and 25-11. Despite a valiant effort to rally back in the fourth set, KCB fell short, ultimately conceding defeat with a scoreline of 3-1.
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Meanwhile, Kenya Pipeline, under the guidance of former national team player Esther Jepkosgei, encountered fierce opposition from Al Ahly. Despite a spirited performance, Pipeline struggled to maintain their momentum, succumbing to a 3-1 defeat (25-25, 19-25, 25-18, 25-13). The Egyptian side's relentless pressure proved too much for the Kenyan champions to handle, dashing their hopes of a consecutive finals appearance.
Kenya Pipeline will only win the CAVB African Clubs Championship when they appoint a proper TB. The company has the resources to get the best volleyball brains to train the team but keeps appointing tactical dwarfs. Awuoro
— Japheth Mutinda (@JaphMutinda) May 3, 2024
For KCB, the semifinal loss marked the end of a promising campaign that saw them defeat fellow Kenyan side Kenya Prisons in the quarterfinals. Similarly, Pipeline's journey came to an abrupt halt following a quarterfinal victory over Cameroonian outfit Litto Team Volley (LTV).
The defeats for both Kenyan clubs paved the way for an all-Egyptian final showdown between Zamalek and Al Ahly.
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