The big serve-off beckons as KVF unveils restart plan

Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF) has set the month of January next year as the action-return date for the National Volleyball League season.

In a letter addressed to club managers Wednesday, KVF secretary general Ben Juma said Team Managers would meet ‘soon’ to draw the fixtures ahead of the restart.

Last week, the government allowed resumption of low-risk contact sports paving way for the start of the top-flight leagues in the country after an eight-month suspension owing to the coronavirus pandemic.

“Following the recent partial lifting of the restrictions on contact sports by the Ministry of Sports the KVF National League shall commence after the first two weeks of January 2021.

“A Team Managers meeting shall be convened soon to conduct the draws as well as discuss/review any other matters related to the National League,” read part of Juma’s letter.

The federation had earlier planned to have the league serve-off in October so as to align its calendar with that of the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) which runs from October to April, but it was delayed further after the government maintained ban on contact sports.

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

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, the federation’s executive committee members Wednesday met with BOMAS of Kenya officials to discuss the possibility of using the facility as a venue for league matches when action returns.

Sources within KVF say the federation is keen to ensure the delayed league ends in April hence the search for other venues to be used besides Kasarani Indoor Arena and Makande Hall in Mombasa.