Lung’aho confident as Prisons eye club championship title

Kenya Prisons women’s volleyball team head coach, David Lung’aho, believes her charges are close to returning to elite status in Africa, exuding confidence after landing in Tunisia for the CAVB Women’s and Men’s Club African Championships.

Prisons, the third most successful team in the championship have won the cup five times, the last being in 2013 while finishing second and third in 2014 and 2017 respectively, and Lung’aho is predicting tough competition.

“We came here to win and we are confident of winning. I know the Egyptian teams are not taking part in this year’s competition but that doesn’t mean the competition is of low level because teams like Pipeline from Kenya and CF Carthage who will be at home are all here. We have come all the way from Nairobi to win this cup but we are not going to take it lightly because we have to work very hard,” he said. ” Our biggest threat is CS Faxien, CF Carthage and Pipeline because of their history in the championship. I wish all the teams all the best, especially my team Kenya Prisons,” added Lung’aho.

Fourteen clubs are set to feature in the 2021 Women’s Club African Championship with hosts Tunisia being represented by four teams –  Faxien, CF Carthage, AS Marsa and CO Kélibia.

The other participating clubs include ASEC Mimosas (Côte d’Ivoire), Customs (Nigeria), Wolaita Sodo University (Ethiopia), National Alcohol (Ethiopia),  and AS Customs (Burkina Faso).

Others are; Muzinga (Burundi), VC Price (DR Congo) and University Wolves (Zimbabwe).

Kenya Prisons landed safely in Tunisia ready for the African Club Championship which started on Sunday with the men’s competition while the women teams starts on Wednesday.

“We left Nairobi at 4am to Istanbul, Turkey where we took a connection flight after a four-hour wait. We arrived safely with all our players in good condition but it’s winter here thus very cold. After one or two days we shall acclimatize. We have a good squad and a name in African competitions and after having good preparations we are very much confident of winning this title,” said Lungaho after arrival.

Lung’aho has at the same time rued the absence of Egyptian team Sousse, observing that the absence of perennial winners, the 2019 champions Al Ahly, as well as runners up Smouha, is a disappointment but has insisted that it will not water down the level of competition.

Al Ahly are 14-time winners while Smouha clinched bronze  in 2018 and 2016, in addition to finishing fourth in 2015.

The Prisons coach believes the presence of teams like Pipeline from Kenya and Tunisian clubs like CF Carthage will spice up the contest.

In Sunday’s men’s matches Kenya Ports Authorit won 3-1 (24-26,25-23,21-25,25-23,15-12) against APR of Rwanda while another Kenyan team GSU was beaten 3-0 (25-17, 25-15, 25-22) by Zamalek from Egypt.