James Waindi
17 April 2008
Nairobi — Veteran setter Halima Bakari is among six players dropped from the Kenya Commercial Bank volleyball team to the Africa Club Championships in Cairo, Egypt.
Bakari,38, has been first choice in the team for the last four years and steered the bankers to the third overall spot during last year's Clubs event, but has lost his position to teenage school leavers Florence Bosire and Loise Tarus.
KCB coach Paul Bitok who also doubles up as the national team coach was confident that his final squad of 12 players could clinch the continental title.
Other players dropped from the team include Trevena Nyongesa, Grace Sitienei, Peris Kemboi, Milka Nango and Monica Metto.
"My selection was purely on merit since I have assessed each and every player's individual strength in our month long training. We are taking a very strong side to the continental event and I am confident of winning this year's tournament," said Bitok.
Left attacker Esther Mwombe and centre player Margaret Indakala recovered from knee and ankle injuries to make the final squad. Veteran international Dorcas Ndasaba remains the captain. KCB will be out to regain the continental club title that they lost last year, when the Africa Clubs Championships throw off on April 27 to May 4 in Cairo, Egypt.
Bitok said he expected stiff challenge at the tournament, but stressed that they were well prepared for any type of contest.
"We have been training hard for long hours because we anticipate stiff opposition from the host clubs as well as two other top Kenyan Clubs."
"There is a possibility of landing in the same pool with giants Al Ahly and Prisons or Kenya Pipeline when the draw is made on April 26 and this will be very tough," Bitok said.
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Coach Botok is not only a liar,but also a trickster type of coach.Before dropping veteran setter Halima from the team,he did not inform her that she was there as a player,but as an official.So she was with the team as an official and not as a player,though she could very well have retained her rightfull place as a player if she had trained as a player.This is an unacceptable and an unprofessional way to drop a veteran and reliable player.Why he rushed to the media to announce that he had dropped someone who was not even aware that she was a player in the first place spells of malice towards the player(Halima).Lets wait and see whether Coach Bitok is gentleman enough to explain or apologise to the agrieved party about this debacle.
Disapointed fan.