Lungaho bemoans failure to restart volleyball league

Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF) technical director David Lung’aho says hopes of restarting the volleyball league before the end of the year have gone up in smoke.

The federation has not succeeded in having the top-flight league resume since it was suspended in March, owing to the continued government ban on contact-sports.

However, Lungáho has urged the clubs to train their eyes on a January 2021 return noting that they have written to the Ministry of Sports for possible review on the matter.

“Any hopes to resume before the end of the year have been scrubbed and its better we accept that and switch our minds to may be January or February, next year,” said Lungáho who is also the Kenya Prisons men’s head coach.

KVF had planned to restart the leagues in October in order to fully adopt the new league format – to run from October and end in April – in conformity with the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) calendar.

Kenya’s national regular league has been traditionally operating from February to December.

“We had planned to switch to FIVB format this year and we’re yet to decide on whether or not we will squeeze the new season to run from January to April when the government gives us green light to return to court.

Nothing has been reached regarding the issue of how we will restart but all options are on the table,” he added.

KVF nullified the 2020 season which had served off in February with only one leg played, following a forced-stop in March by the coronavirus.

Meanwhile, Health Chief Administrative Secretary Mercy Mwangangi on Tuesday said the ministry is in consultations with the Ministry of Sports to find a way forward in which contact sports can resume safely in the country.

This comes as the FKF Premier League season expected to kick off this weekend with clubs already undergoing the Covid-19 tests.