Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) are the favourites to defend their National Heroes Community Volleyball tournament that will be held at the Koitaleel University College in Mosoriot.
The soldiers defeated Home Grown team to win the title at the inaugural event last year and as second edition is set to serve off this weekend, Saturday and Sunday will start with league matches on Friday.
Event director Paul Bitok, while naming some of the teams that have so far confirmed said that last year, at its inauguration, they hosted 88 teams and this year they expect to go up following the introduction of top teams due to the upgrade.
“We are expecting all league teams to compete in this tournament. Last year, we had a record of 88 teams and this year, we expect more after the elevation to the national league,” said Bitok.
With top teams facing off at the tournament will start with the league on Friday where GSU in men and Kenya Prisons to battle to retain their title.
“Following last year’s tournament, we had to mingle with students encouraging some to join sports where they formed a team to participate in the tournament. In all this, I would like to confirm that GSU, Kenya Prisons, KDF, KPC KCB, Forest Rangers among others,” said Bitok.
He added that there will be different categories like university and colleges as well as self-supporting teams.
“In the schools’ category, we had Chepril who went ahead to win both national and East Africa secondary school title in Nakuru and Arusha, Tanzania respectively. Soin Primary and Simat were crowned the national primary and secondary school’s champions,” he said.
KVF vice president Charles Nyaberi expressed his gratitude to institution for the institute as a leading university in sports.
“This is not just the sport but empowering the local community who will witness and enjoy the tournament. Last year, it was a branch event but the national committee of KVF decided to upgrade the championships to a national event and it will be an annual event. we also added a league leg that will be played on Friday where all the top teams will play for both Division one and we have also introduced Division two who will play on Friday, that means we will have an extra advantage,” he added.
“This region is talent rich in volleyball having many professional players and that is why we have given this tournament that much needed support. It is only fair to give back and help unearth talents and develop new talents that will be molded to be professional players. Professional players don’t just occur but they started from somewhere and in search tournaments are meant to expose more talents and this is taking the sport to the community,” added Nyaberi.