Pipeline win KVF title after five-year wait
By
Stanley Mativo
Published on: January 22, 2023 05:53 (EAT)
Kenya Pipeline have been crowned the Kenya Volleyball Federation National Women's League champions after defeating KCB 3-1 sets in the playoffs at the Kasarani Indoor Arena.
Victory on Sunday saw the Oilers recapture the league title after a five-year wait. They emerged top of the round-robin playoffs with nine points, four ahead of KCB who finished runners up for the third year running.
In the title decider, Pipeline came down a set (18-25) to thrash the African champions 25-22, 25-19 and 26-24 with Outside Hitter Pamela Adhiambo leading with lethal attacks as the Bankers seemingly lacked the Sharon Chepchumba firepower.
The immediate champions Kenya Prisons finished third on two points sealing the final African Club Championship slot while most-improved DCI placed fourth with two points after picking a single point against KCB and Prisons.
Pipeline, who have been at their impeccable best this season, went unbeaten during the regular season finishing with 15 points and dropped only a set during the end-season playoffs. They had defeated Kenya Prisons and DCI 3-0 on Friday and Saturday respectively.
Head coach Paul Gitau said his two year project had paid off following mass exodus in 2019 even as he cited areas of improvement in the squad.
"I found an empty team and I started a project which was not easy but finally it was worth it. We have been struggling to regain our firepower after we lost many players to our rivals in 2019 and I can say patience is what has helped us conquer again. The work is not yet complete but at least we're somewhere," Gitau, who joined Pipeline in 2020 told Citizen Digital.
He added that his focus is to reach the final of this year's African Clubs Championships.
"I don't want to give my players the pressure of winning the African title. My target is to improve the third finish but if we reach the final and win, that would be a bonus to us."
His opposite number Japheth Munala attributed his loss to the absence of the newly recruited players and ever-green attacker Chepchumba who signed with Greece third-tier side Aris Hessaloniki Volleyball Club last year.
"We've recruited more than five players but they couldn't play because they were not registered with us during the league. We've missed the services of Chepchumba who has been crucial to us in these kind of matches."
The end-of-the-season playoffs had been delayed after the league was paused to pave the way for the national team to participate in the World Championships last year.
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