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Defending champions Pipeline ready for Zone V challenge
Kenya Pipeline middle blocker Gladys Ekaru (right) celebrates a point during their Paul Bitok International tournament match against Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) at Kasarani Indoor Arena in Nairobi on April 8, 2023.
What you need to know:
- Pipeline coach Geoffrey Omondi has named a strong 14-member squad, with seven players set to make their debut in the competition. The team departs for Uganda Tuesday evening via road.
Newly appointed Kenya Pipeline women’s volleyball team captain Gladys Ekaru is determined to reclaim her spot in the national team, Malkia Strikers.
Ekaru, who missed the Paris Olympic Games due to maternity leave, will lead the Oilers in the Confederation of Africa Volleyball (CAVB) Zone V Clubs Championship, which serves off Wednesday and runs until March 4 at the Lugogo Indoor Arena and Old Kampala Arena in Uganda.
The Zone V Championship features top men’s and women’s clubs from East African nations. Pipeline enters the tournament as the defending champions, having defeated Rwanda Revenue Authority 3-0 in the last edition held in Kigali, Rwanda. On the men’s side, Rwanda National Police are the reigning champions after beating Uganda’s Sport S 3-1.
Ekaru, who was not part of last year’s title-winning squad, takes over the captaincy from setter Rose Magoi, who recently retired. The former Kwanthanze Secondary School middle blocker is focused on getting back to top form while leading her team to defend their title.
“I have my individual and team goals. Right now, the focus is on the club championship. We are the only Kenyan representatives at the event, and we want to represent Kenya well and defend the title. The team has trained well, and we hope that the effort we have put in will bear fruit.
There is no time to rest—immediately after this, we have league matches and the African Clubs Championship in Nigeria. We hope to use the Zone V championship as a buildup,” said Ekaru.
Debut
Pipeline coach Geoffrey Omondi has named a strong 14-member squad, with seven players set to make their debut in the competition. The team departs for Uganda Tuesday evening via road.
Among the new faces are opposite hitters Betty Sifuna and Mariam Musa, setters Emmaculate Nekesa and Faith Imodia, as well as experienced Noel Murambi, middle blocker Marian Sokoiyo, and captain Ekaru.
Sifuna, previously a libero, was recently converted into an outside hitter. She was overlooked in the 2023 edition by former coach Paul Gitau. Murambi, who can also play as an outside hitter but will feature as an opposite hitter, and Ekaru were both on maternity leave last season.
Musa, Nekesa, and Sokoiyo joined Pipeline from KCB Women’s Volleyball Team, while Imodia was previously with the Directorate of Criminal Investigations.
