For the second time in a row, Egypt will host the African Women's Club Championships next month. The tournament was moved from Kenya due to political instability following the December General Election, the Daily Nation reported Wednesday.
Confederation of African Volleyball had awarded Kenya the chance to host the 23rd edition of the championship during its board of administration meeting in Nairobi last year, but annulled its decision following the post-election violence.
A statement on the CAVB website said, "Due to the withdrawal of Kenya from hosting the 23rd African Club Championship, CAVB has granted Egypt the organisation of the competition to be held in Cairo, from April 25 to May 5."
Kenya Volleyball Federation chairman Waithaka Kioni expressed his disappointment over the decision.
A late appeal by the federation portraying Kenya as a stable country after the peace deal was signed could not make the continental body change its mind.
Kioni said the KVB had already guaranteed sound financial backing from sponsors, well-wishers and the government for the tournament in Nairobi and it was a blow that CAVB had opted to take the tournament to Cairo.
This means that Kenya Prisons, Kenya Pipeline and Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) will have to brave the Egyptian crowd hostility and unknown ground in their bid to take the continental title from Al-Ahly.
"It also requires the clubs to amend their respective budgets as they will be required to buy air tickets now. This might have some negative effect on the teams' preparations or even participation," said Kioni. This will mean that the fans in Nairobi will miss out on this big occasion. However, we will do everything possible to see that our clubs have the best preparations which will give them a vantage position to lift the title," said Kioni.
Kenyan clubs last claimed the title in 2005 in Mauritius when KCB edged out Al-Ahly 3-2 in the finals with the outgoing champions Kenya Pipeline having been dumped at the semi-finals stage.
The bankers lost to the Egyptians in Cairo a year later and failed in their second attempt last year to reclaim the title.
Now, Kenya Prisons promises to wrest the crown from the Egyptians after they surprised bigwigs KCB and Kenya Pipeline to claim the league title last year.
Source: Xinhua
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